The Coronavirus Has Changed What Buyers Are Looking For In a House

I think we’ve all come to the honest realization that the world we once lived in is gone. Things have changed. Everything has changed. The way that we hang out with our friends. The way that we hang out with our family… Wait. The way that we ONLY hang out with our family.

All of that togetherness is changing the way people live their lives and the things they value in a home. Let’s look at a few things that are becoming far more important to Average Joe Buyer.

Kitchens

So many times in the past, I’ve seen busy families who purchase homes because of their proximity to a school district or because the bedrooms are big or the garage and driveway has extra slots for the extra cars belonging to a family full of teenagers. Kitchens were useful because they contained conveniences like the toaster over, the microwave, and that mega juicer you just had to have but rarely use.

Now? The lack of restaurant options, especially in small communities like Los Alamos, means that homeowners are using their kitchens in ways they’ve not had to in ages. Even if you’re getting takeout and bringing it home, the kitchen is seeing far more traffic (or the dishwasher is!) than ever before. Suddenly, kitchens matter. Buyers want big eat in kitchens with tons of space, pantries that can handle kids who are no longer eating at school, and up to date appliances. The kitchen has suddenly become important to everyone and not just to a few home gourmets.

Home Office

Telecommuting is the new normal. No doubt about it. And considering the direction things are moving, there’s no doubt that this isn’t likely to change anytime soon. That means the home office has become the most important thing that anyone thinks about. The availability of any space that could be turned into a home office in a pinch has just become your home’s biggest selling point. Have an atrium or a little breakfast nook? Boom! Extra office. Have a spare bedroom? Boom! Instant school room. Yeah. Don’t forget those kiddos. Homes are now doing triple duty. Schoolroom. Workplace. And my personal favorite. Daycare.

Multiple Living Areas

All of a Sudden One Family Room Just Isn’t Enough!

In newer homes in places like Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Las Cruces, and even some of the newer housing developments here in Los Alamos County, a second living area or a bonus room is a given. Most of the homes in our community were built long before this was a popular concept. Not that there haven’t been tons of renovations or rehab projects with just that idea in mind, but all of a sudden buyers are VERY interested in homes that boast a second living area. After all, families that live and work together eventually need a break! What a great thing to have a basement or an upstairs loft where you can send the kids to enjoy their screen time while you binge watch Outlander and try to relax from your long day of pretending that you were super productive while working at home in a job that was never designed for a telecommute.

Outdoor Living Spaces

The backyard or side yard in some cases, has become a viable new place to hang out when all of the living space inside becomes either full of kids, or just boring. Patios and decks are suddenly far more attractive to potential buyers than ever before. Want to wow them when they come to view your house? Arrange your outdoor furniture to invite a buyer to imagine lounging after work with a book. Add a barbeque grill and I bet you’ll hook them in a second.

At the end of the day, our lives will never go back to the way that they were. And that means the real estate market – even the one in Los Alamos – is going to have to change too.