Real Estate Predictions and Cultural Impact of COVID-19

COVD-19 (Coronavirus) may have changed our way of life forever! Remember pre-911 when we wouldn't have dreamed airports would pat us down before boarding a plane? Personally, I'm excited about some of the impacts of the viral threat: telemedicine is more common now that federal rules aren't so unreasonable, handshaking falling by the wayside (I never understood wiping hands together as a form of greeting), and working from home becoming more acceptable thanks to remote communication like ZOOM finally being mainstream.

However, other cultural changes may also come about because of the economic impact of our extended quarantine. Good or bad . . . who knows, but different . . . you can bet on it. How does it affect what will be popular and how we will market homes differently? Here are my predictions from a Realtor perspective.

Backyards will become a first choice spot for free time.

Our mindset has been changed by the constant flood of health education surrounding the pandemic. We feel safer hanging out in our backyards than running around a populated amusement park, and a dinner party of eight is more relaxing than grazing at a food festival. Because of this, outdoor living and backyard recreation will be more important than ever. Backyards will become as important as kitchens in marketing a home.

(taken on my last vacation)

 If you're getting ready to sell a home, consider adding a pool fountain, setting up a removable sandbox, planting a colorful serenity garden, or investing in some outdoor furniture and firepit. I fell in love with a home I bought in Kentucky because the pool had this pool fountain gently shooting out of the shallow end. When my agent found out the pool fountain wasn't included with the sale, she promised to buy me one s a closing gift so I would buy the home and it worked!

I find my best ideas are inspired by memories of places where I felt relaxed. I took this picture during a vacation because it was such a simple seating area created by a bush and some fabric. I wanted to remember how simple it was for future ideas. I wish I could find the picture I took of a backyard that had vines tied to the side and top of a simple wood trellis to create a beautiful sitting space surrounded in nature.

Dinner Parties will be more commonplace.

Another home feature related to crowd avoidance is space for a bigger table. A party of eight will no longer be a request for seating at a restaurant but a size requirement for a seating area. If the outdoor space isn't conducive to entertaining, then a dining room or open living space for entertaining friends may be just the ticket to sway a buyer.

If you're preparing to sell your home, consider setting up an area that looks like guests are about to arrive. It may be a table set for eight (cupcakes are cheap decorations), or an outdoor seating area with a cooler filled with fresh ice and sodas (try including a "help yourself" sign to create a welcomed feel).

Another creative staging idea is to set up that old popcorn machine somewhere in the tv room, or decorate an entertainment space with classic games and a well-stocked bar. Make it easy for that buyer to imagine having friends and family over for dinner. or drinks.

More families will embrace multigenerational living. 

This may be out of necessity, either because one big home is less expensive than two smaller ones or because a relative is cheaper than a daycare. We were already headed down this path since elderly parents can realistically live well into their 70's, 80's and even 90's. Job loss, remote work, and depleted savings are just additional factors that have made people reexamine living arrangements.

If you're looking at house plans, consider how important that first floor master might be in the future. And if you're building a home with a basement level, consider including an exterior door and a driveway for direct basement access without stairs. That way someone with mobility issues can enter and exit the lower level without trouble, and an adult child can live at home and still maintain some sense of privacy.

If you're planning to sell a home, highlight if you have a first floor master, second entertainment space, or separate living quarters. Stage a second floor or basement room to look like an inviting space to hang out. With any remodeling project, take into account that a home office space shouldn't be near where the rest of the family will be hanging out and making noise. If you can, sound-insulate the walls of an office or simply relocate the door between conflicting spaces. Also, converting a half bath to a full bath is more important than a walk-in closet or a large laundry room if you don't have at least two full baths already. If your home is family size, make sure any bath remodel considers the home has at least one tub. If your home is more retirement-friendly, installing a zero or low-level shower entry will attract more elderly buyers. Knowing your market is important in any smart home improvements project. (Here are some examples of multigenerational homes recently listed.)

Homeschooling will grow in popularity.

(Amish schoolhouse)

Since many parents were reluctantly forced to be homeschool teachers when schools shut down, some feel liberated by no longer thinking private school is the only alternative to living in a less desirable school district. Those second entertainment spaces may be acceptable as temporary homeschool spaces until the children are older.

So, does this Cookeville property have an unforeseen advantage now? It comes with a separate onsite schoolhouse. How about this home in Friendsville which features a schoolhouse feel, complete with tiny school chairs and blackboards on the bedroom wall? Does the simple mention of a homeschool room in the public remarks act as powerful marketing as this Knoxville home or this one is hoping? I think they're onto something.

If you're selling a home that isn't in the best part of town, consider creating a space that look like a homework or learning zone. Decorate the kid's room with a blackboard, and set up a homework desk in a quiet space.

If you really want to go all out, hang a sign like this one above the desk to reinforce your homeschool-friendly feel.

Another creative idea is to create an info "take" sheet about your neighborhood and among the list of local parks/pools, hospitals, and vets, include local homeschool organizations in the list.  Not everyone will be open to homeschooling, but presenting your home as functional for many lifestyles will broaden the pool of buyers.

Virtual home showings aren't going away.

If there is one thing I've learned during this Coronavirus time, it's that buyers have grown fond of virtual showings to weed out the winners and losers of listings from their living room. Virtual showings have also made it easier for out-of-town shoppers to check out a property without making a trip. Because of my experience with this new trend, I have a tip from me to you:  If you know the showing is a virtual one, don't leave your music or tv playing. The sounds make it impossible to record a walk-through for later resharing and sometimes the music is so loud the buyer can't have a virtual conversation during the walk-through. Now your first impulse may be to think that's good because you don't want your home all over the internet (virtual record scratch sound here) . . .  but if you're trying to sell your house and you already have photos published on the web, why wouldn't you want another agent promoting your home and attracting buyers free of charge? Check out my YouTube channel of virtual tours for some examples of virtual tours I made using recorded virtual walk-throughs.

Selling a home? Contact me. I'll take good care of you!