Real Estate – Home Redefined

How we use and feel our home during Covid-19?

For some of us our home was our sanctuary only, away from work and noise. The majority of home Buyers and Tenants used to choose their property according to style, budget, proximity from schools or family, distance from work etc. Nowadays, we have an additional concern and some of these needs are now strengthened and some changed.

During the lock-down, our home had a new meaning. We used it as our lock-down safe place, office, playground, school for children etc.

I am strongly thinking about the families that live in small apartments and not houses these days. I do too, the difference is that I have no children. So living in an apartment or living in a house with a garden has a huge impact on how Individuals and families experiencing the restrictions of staying home. 

Is the way we choose our home going to change?

There are a lot of opinions going around how this pandemic will change our needs when buying or renting a home or how we will use our home from now on.

It seems that we will see families moving in the outskirts of cities in a healthier and safer environment away from the crowded city centers. For individuals, it will be a matter of perspective. Personally, I have decided that I will explore my options of moving to the outskirts of Limassol. So let's say we have the same budget to buy or rent an apartment in the city center or a house in the outskirts, now I am almost certain that other factors will be in the equation because we are already thinking differently.

Do we need a dedicated office space or room in our home? 

This depends on how the new normal will be. It can be a combination of office and working from home. Depends also on how this pandemic will unfold in the future and how companies and corporations will react to remain active looking for ways to reduce costs, apart from health & safety of the employees which is critical. Time will show the pros and cons of companies and employees and if it’s going to be safer and more cost-effective a combination of both.

Is moving to the outskirts and nature be on top of the list?

Definitely, but this comes with other sacrifices that we will need to face every day and require to adjust our routines. If we move further than our work that means we need to wake up earlier, need more time to reach to work, change schedules etc. But is it worth going back every day to a quieter, safer, bigger home? For completely remote workers this perhaps will be an ideal scenario, right? For families with children is even more complex.

Do we need more community-oriented projects close to the city?

I believe this will be the next trend. Developers should focus more on the lifestyle of the residential community projects. It will be easier to manage and people will have the benefit of using the gym, park, tennis, swimming pool and other activities within their community. If there will be a question of ‘Do you prefer to live in the outskirts or live in a community-oriented project close to the city' I would choose the second. You?

Our needs changed instantly and we didn’t have the time to prepare our home. Probably for many, the new normal will create other needs and change the way we live. Going back, means getting back to our previous routine. Kids go back to school and their activities, adults go back to work so again our needs will be different. The interesting part is that schools might be different for a while and work as well. I guess we just have to wait to see.

I enjoyed working from home yet I missed the office environment. The interaction with colleagues and the vibe of the office is something that I would prefer joining every day.

What would you prefer?

Stay Safe,

Maria Pastellas