During lockdown, as our homes became ‘our castles’, many of us started to pay more attention to our surroundings, noticing what we liked and didn’t like about our properties, what we needed most, and what could improve our quality of life.
Some people, for example, have found remote working to be good for their work-life balance. As a result, an increasing number of businesses are beginning to infuse more flexibility into their model, and according to experts, this seismic shift is here to stay.
So, how does this affect New Zealanders’ housing needs and design? Here’s some good food for thought for vendors who are looking to win the hearts of buyers with well-planned on-trend renovations.
The end of open-plan living?
The past few months have shown us first-hand the pros and cons of having all members of our household at home simultaneously.
Open-plan living has been on trend for several years, but some buyers may feel the need to have separate spaces now, and look for a property designed to carved out some personal space when needed.
Functional home-office design
Anyone who has tried working from home when children are around knows how challenging the lack of privacy can be, particularly when you don’t have a dedicated home office to work out of.
“It’s likely that the home office will become a major interior design trend in the coming decades as millennials make up the majority of global workforces, because this group prefers flexible or mobile workspaces,” according to Archipro.co.nz. If your vendors are considering targeting the millennial market, adding an elegantly-styled home office can be an option.
Thermal comfort and energy efficiency
As one architect recently pointed out on TheConversation.com, “an increase in the number of homeworkers could see a wider preoccupation with thermal comfort and the energy efficiency of their homes.”
Buyers may favour properties with low noise pollution and good indoor air quality, as well as increased insulation, draught-proofing, and double or triple-glazing. If your vendors are planning to give their property a spruce-up, these are key factors to consider.
Nature, health and self-sufficiency
During lockdown, having outdoor space has turned out to be a real plus, especially for families with young children. This sentiment may continue in the new normal. In the post-Covid world, outdoor areas may not only be used for entertaining guests, but also for outdoor gyms and veggie gardens.
“A growing preoccupation with exercise and health could see more people thinking about the impact internal environments can have on our well-being – prioritising natural light and access to nature,” architect Tara Hipwood wrote. “This could even lead to more people becoming interested in producing their own energy at home using solar panels or other renewables.”
Again, these are all great ‘extras’ your vendor could implement in their renovation project.
Happiness and wellbeing
Lastly, recent events have highlighted the importance of taking care of our physical and mental health. We learned that our homes can be our sanctuaries – a haven where we can shelter at the end of a long day at work. And there are many ways to bring Zen into a home, using natural light, calming colour combinations, and the all-important indoor-outdoor flow.
Get in touch: We can help
Recent Trademe data revealed that first-home buyer demand was up in May, which may lead to a busy property market in winter and beyond. If your vendors are weighing up their options and thinking about ways to give their property’s value a boost, we can help.
Click here to learn more about our Renovate Now, Pay Later finance tool, and get in touch with our friendly team today to get the conversation started.
Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current development or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance.