What will buyers want post-pandemic

Now we are all armed with our road maps out of the pandemic, will we see a return to the old ways, or will there be medium or long-term changes in our living and house-buying behaviour?

Craig Fuller of Stacks Property Search believes that some elements of our Covid lives will remain imprinted and will change buyer behaviour for at least the next decade. People will continue to update their homes to suit a lockdown lifestyle, and will factor these elements into their priority lists when buying.

Keep the positive changes

The experiences of the past year are likely to have a lasting impact on how people choose to live. Despite the challenges, many have adopted positive lifestyle changes that they intend to carry forward into the future.

Gardens have taken centre stage

Outdoor space became one of the most valued features of a home.

Homeowners have:

Invested in gazebos, verandas, and terraces.
Converted sheds into pubs, offices, or hobby spaces.
Installed garden cabins.
Taken up gardening and growing vegetables.

Gardens have become central to daily life and wellbeing.

Working from home

Remote and flexible working is expected to remain a significant part of working life.

The traditional five-day office commute appears less likely to return in full, meaning:

Home office space is increasingly important.
Buyers are evaluating properties based on where they can comfortably work from home.
Dedicated desk space has become a key consideration.

Outside entertaining

Quality outdoor entertaining space is becoming a priority for many buyers.

Desired features include:

Roof terraces and balconies for flats.
Large, functional gardens.
Strong connections between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Outdoor kitchens and sheltered seating areas.
Multiple zones that allow different household members to use the space independently.

Getting to know your neighbours

Front-facing outdoor spaces have encouraged stronger community connections.

Features such as:

Front garden seating areas.
Benches outside homes.
Open porches.

have created opportunities for informal socialising and helped neighbours build relationships in a relaxed and natural way.

Multi-generational living

Many families have experienced a return to multi-generational living, with adult children spending more time living at home.

As a result:

Some homeowners may delay downsizing.
Extra bedrooms and flexible living space remain valuable.
Families are increasingly seeing benefits in maintaining space for adult children to return home when needed.