4 in demand features that home buyers want in a post-quarantine world

Extra space to work – or study – from home

Whether it’s a home office, classroom or personal gym, an extra room or finished basement can serve as a designated space for family members to focus – or spend time apart when needed.

People will look for finished basement areas, or a larger floor plan with an office or den-type room. They won’t want a completely open concept so much anymore. People are going to start to think about, ‘What if I need a room to make a school room?’

Home buyers are scrutinizing use of space more than they have in the past. Home offices were once just a bonus room. They are now sought after and for many, a necessity.

Campbell River residents are working from home more than ever and home buyers are looking for effective home office space.

In-law suite to keep loved ones close

For many, staying home has meant staying apart, inspiring some to consider homes that could bring the family under one roof.

We’ve seen buyers that were looking for just a normal, two-story home and now they want something where they can bring in-laws closer.

With so many retirees making Campbell River home, finding space for visiting family to stay for extended periods of time is more important than ever.

Even before local shutdowns, many Realtors were already seeing an increase in interest in bigger kitchens, homes with two master suites, and finished walk-out spaces that could serve as a second living space.

Upgraded amenities to replace public areas

Kids, parents, dogs – everyone has pent-up energy to burn these days. A private outdoor space allows room to play and a spot to enjoy a patio drink without ever leaving home.

And with summer fast approaching, homeowners are starting to make investments in ways to cool down at home and more home buyers are wanting swimming pools.

As theaters remain shuttered for the time being, film lovers are also looking for ways to bring the movie-going experience home this summer.

Over the last five years with the advent of smart TVs and streaming media we’ve seen increased buyer-demand for in home theaters. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly accelerated this demand.

The Campbell River area offers an endless list of recreational options, but during quarantine having more amenities at home is valuable.

A location that allows them to keep their distance

Many homebuyers may be rethinking their dreams of living in a big city.

A big change we may see nationally is that people are going to look to move where they aren’t living on top of each other. But these smaller cities still need to be large enough to offer employment options, an art scene and recreation opportunities.

For many companies, the move to working remotely has been a smooth transition. If more employees continue to work from home, it also opens up more areas in their home search as commute times could become less of a concern.

Many rural areas have very good public schools, larger single-family homes and acreage. If people continue to work from home and are not tied to the city they work in, they could have the yard and everything else they want. It’s too early to say for sure, but we can see this becoming a trend.