Published October 20, 2020
6 Home Updates to Consider During COVID-19 Era and Beyond
Certain home renovations have taken off since March of this year, and for one (or both) of two reasons: 1) It's a good time to get the renovation done due to the pandemic's effect on home and work life, and/or 2) people are spending a lot of time at home and are itching to spend their money to upgrade their home in some way. Then that raises the question, why have these specific upgrades taken off?
Whatever the reasons, people are interested in these particular upgrades right now, and we see them staying relevant for a number of years.
1. Home Office/Classroom
When life as we know it changed for the unforeseeable future back in March as the severity of the outbreak began to skyrocket, businesses had no choice but to adapt. Remote work became a standard as we'd never known it before, and like businesses, individuals had to adapt to their new regular. Over 7 months into the pandemic with no end in sight, remote employees continue to find ways to adjust to life at home, and parents have tried to find ways to optimize their children's remote learning.
Considering the increase in productivity and cutting of expenses in many industries, it's extremely unlikely that the workforce will ever go back to the way it was in January. Keeping this in mind, a greater number of millennial and younger boomer buyers will want a productivity-friendly space than ever before. If there's no other practical place to develop a home office or classroom, consider staging your guest room as an office.
2. Upgraded Outdoor Space
Summer may be over, but it's never too early to start thinking about next year. It's no surprise that people get bored while they're working and generally operating from home! People are looking for ways to make the most of their time at home, and a key part of that is outdoor living: decks, pools, patios, and more.
CNBC reports that "searches for pool and spa professionals three times what they were a year ago," and that "deck and patio professionals all saw more than double the demand." Now's as good a time as ever to splurge on that pool!
3. Home Gym
Have you ever worn a mask throughout an entire workout? If so, you understand why a home gym where that's not an issue is borderline must-have for those with an active lifestyle. Even in the future when the pandemic is all but forgotten, how convenient will it be for yourself and/or potential buyers that you don't have to leave your house to get a little cardio in?
You don't have to have a full-fledged Planet Fitness in your basement, but if you can spare the space in any corner of your house for a few pieces of equipment, it'll make your house that much more attractive for a large demographic of homebuyers.
4. Kitchen
CNBC reports that there was a 40% increase in kitchen remodels this June compared to last June. With people spending more time at home, home kitchens have become a more integral part of both life and entertainment than ever before. The kitchen was already one of the most trafficked rooms in the house, so given the increase in traffic resulting from remote work/school, it makes sense that homeowners want to replace their 15-year old fridge or update the paint-chipped cabinets.
5. Bathroom
Like kitchens, bathroom remodels saw a 40% jump in demand in June compared to a year ago. The general population is perhaps more health-conscious than it's ever been, as people are washing their hands and cleaning surfaces more often (per CDC). It's safe to assume that this will continue in some capacity for years down the road, so there's one more reason to renovate a bathroom or two if you can find it in the budget.
6. Laundry Room
Just as people have been cleaning themselves and their houses more often, they have been getting laundry done more than ever. This means washing clothes more frequently after going out and cycling through linens at a faster rate. Regardless, updating machines lessens your hassle and often your environmental footprint; plus more space for sorting, folding, and ironing stands as an overlooked luxury.
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