The pandemic forced many people to work from home, increasing an already-growing segment of the population that had been seeing significant gains in the last decade. To accommodate this work from home trend, you have to know how it will impact your residential community’s maintenance needs as well as understand what you have to do to keep up with it.
Many of your tenants and home owners likely work from home. Accommodating them will not only help you satisfy their work from home needs but it will also help you appeal to new and prospective tenants. From home office workspaces in individual units to co-working spaces in common areas, there are many ways you can achieve this.
Just a few quick ideas include creation and maintenance of:
- Smaller conference rooms
- Private single-use areas
- Construction of multi-media spaces
- Secure, high-speed Internet access, printers, copiers, and scanners
- Charging stations
- Comfortable seating
- Updated replacement windows for more natural light.
Let’s go into more depth on accommodating the impact of the work from home trend in your residential community. This may entail renovations of your existing spaces or require new construction.
Exterior Maintenance Needs
When it comes to accommodating your tenants as they work from home, there are some exterior maintenance chores you must keep up with to keep them happy. Updated siding to block excessive outside noise will help them concentrate better. Window and door replacement or weather sealing will ensure their comfort in the inside of the property as they go about their work.
Address moisture damage and leaks in roofs to prevent the growth of mold, which could negatively impact the health of tenants who are spending so much time daily in their homes. And seasonal maintenance on structures such as decks and pathways can ensure the safety of tenants who escape outdoors for breaks during the work day.
Shaping Your Investment
For landlords and property managers looking to shape their next investment, it’s important to know what potential tenants are looking for and the areas and services they need. People don’t just need a living space to relax in, cook in, and entertain in. They need a space that serves a dynamic, multi-functional purpose so they can do all those things plus work and study.
Since the onset of the remote working boom, two big things have changed in terms of residential communities and real estate: location and space. Instead of looking for a small apartment near public transportation centers or major highways so they can more easily commute every day, renters and owners are willing to pay good money for units with extra space for more efficiently working from home.
They’d prefer to be close to essential amenities, such as multi-media centers and co-working common areas. They also want to be near areas that offer a place to unwind or take breaks throughout the day while working from home, such as pools on site, game rooms, cafes, benches and trails.
Shift in Real Estate Demands
The post-pandemic priority on health and well-being has led to a shift in demand when it comes to real estate. This is translating to a focus on cleaner buildings, smarter systems, HVAC structures, touchless entries, sensors, and complete technological integration.
The rush to adopt touchless technologies in particular helps not only the commuting-from-home population in practical ways but helps to reduce person-to-person contact with high-touch surfaces. Some ideas include employing virtual doorman systems for better security and operational savings for properties that formerly relied on in-person concierge staff but had to do away with them due to COVID concerns or lack of budget. Virtual doorman systems may comprise automated doors and fixtures, and set locations where tenants can order and receive deliveries from Amazon Prime, Fed-Ex, Door Dash, and local grocery stores.
Office Space
More and more work from home tenants are looking for units with dedicated office spaces. People are no longer satisfied with the standard configuration of bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen. They want a space that separates their day, that they can physically enter and exit at the start and end of their workday.
Home offices complete with updated features are all the rage right now. These rooms should be comfortable with plenty of natural lighting, outlets, extra storage, and built-in book shelves. After all, tenants will be conceivably spending up to eight hours a day in this room. Comfort is key.
Contact Allstar Construction and Maintenance
If you manage a residential community in the Twin Cities and you’re looking for inspiration on how to set your property apart, we can help you appeal to the work from home clientele you’re trying to accommodate and target. To learn more, contact us at 952-234-9995.
