How COVID-19 Could Change What Homebuyers Want

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed how we live and work. Governors issued stay at home orders in many of their states, forcing schools to close and to switch to digital learning and employees to work from home. Being home for days on end, many homeowners have started noticing things they would like to change about their house, or find themselves adding new items to their “wants” list for their next home. Here are some of the items we predict home buyers may be looking for when they purchase their first or next home after living through COVID-19:

Bigger Kitchens and Pantries

As the threat of COVID-19 started to spread, thousands of people flocked to the grocery stores to stock up on food. Panicked shoppers snatched up everything from staples like fresh meats, bread and milk, to non-perishable items such as pastas, canned goods and cereals. With stay at home orders in place and trips to the grocery store being one of the only essential activities that people can participate in, many homeowners hope to buy enough groceries to last a few weeks until their next necessary trip. Because many families are spending more time at home, preparing more home cooked meals, and keeping more groceries in the house than usual, we predict that many future home buyers will be looking for larger pantries in which to store food as well as more counter space to work from.

Home Office

Working from home without a home office is proving a challenge for many Americans. Working from the dining room table or living room isn’t the easiest set-up, especially if you have a spouse and/or children who are also working and learning from home. If a designated home office wasn’t on a buyer’s list before, it’s sure to be on there now. Whether it’s a formal office with French doors or opting for an additional bedroom to use as an office, this item will definitely be climbing up the scale of importance for many buyers.

Gym/Recreation Room

With the closure of gyms and community recreation facilities, we may see an increase in home buyers wanting a home gym or a spacious rec room in their basement with room for weights, yoga mats, treadmills or other workout equipment. We also expect to see more interest in outdoor recreational spaces, but more on that later.

Media/Entertainment Room

What do you do when you’re quarantined at home, and the weather isn’t nice enough to step outside for a walk, bike ride, etc? You watch a movie, binge the newest Netflix series, or play games! While the family room is a comfortable place to watch a movie and you can break out a board or card game on the dining room table, many home buyers may now be putting more thought into having a specific media or entertainment room in their new home.

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