With thousands of employees forced to work from home during the lockdown, estate agents have reported that priorities are changing among housebuyers, who have had time to re-evaluate their priorities.
Gill Hunt, president of the Jersey Estate Agents Association, said that one of the things that has particularly re-emerged as a trend is the desire for a home study.
‘It has become more prevalent now, certainly then before. When people are looking, they want to have a decent space where they can close the door and use it ideally as a proper office,’ she said.
‘You previously had studies but they became a little bit less important. But since Covid-19, it seems to have changed back. I think more people are aware that they can work from home, do flexi-hours and easily hold meetings and all those sorts of things.
‘It’s not something that people say we will only move in if we have it, but it’s an extra “nice to have” and could sway a decision on a house.’
Her views were shared by Jojo DiCasa of luxury property developers DiCasa, who said that a home office was now top of the ‘request list’ for homebuyers.
‘Our lives have completely changed since Covid-19 and the biggest area of impact is of course the new working norm for commerce and industry,’ she said.
‘Our viewers feel that Covid-19 and other such potential pandemics are on the horizon and won’t really go away so it’s about preparing for that in our homes, with functional work-space solutions.’
Ms Hunt said that other emerging trends included more ‘quiet space’ in homes and increased desire for two-generational homes, where extended families co-habit.
‘Other things that people are looking for more are gardens, nature, outside space and that type of thing. Areas where people are just psychologically being able to have some quiet space,’ she said.
‘We’ve also had people looking for two-generational homes that they can combine together. If they’re not getting what they want, where you have the parents or the grown-up daughter-in-law and son, for example, they are looking to combine their assets to maybe buy a nicer property with a garden and where they can be together. That has become a little bit more prevalent.
‘Parents are maybe thinking, “We’re not using all the space, but actually we could combine our assets or buy somewhere where we can be together as a family”.
‘I think it’s down to the fact that people have had a bit more time to focus on what’s important in life and have re-evaluated.’
