House Hunting for the Essentials
I have had many reflections during the COVID19 Pandemic, both about my life and my career. Clients and colleagues have asked me about my perspective on how this has affected the market, and how long it will affect mortgage rates, the economy and what the future of real estate is going to look like in the coming weeks, months and even years.
The truth is that I don't have the answers. I don't know the length or depth of this. With so many people losing jobs and security, with the government regulations impeding our ability to enjoy the places and ways we enjoyed our communities, there is a colossal impact on all of us. What I am learning is that clients should focus on their essentials.
With all of our stay home time, you may be wondering what is next.
Maybe you are soul searching about your life.
Perhaps you realize more about what matters to you.
Maybe you have ideas about what you want your new type of "normal" to be like when this is over.
You probably are thinking about the essentials you need and are grateful for in your life.
Staying home has meant we have needed to look at home in the eye and ascertain if we love it or want to leave it in the new normal. Perhaps you have done all the purging there is, and without realizing it, you have deeply invested into the otherwise daunting task of staging and preparing your home for sale. Maybe you have had the time, working or not working, from home, with or without children, and realizing it doesn't meet your needs anymore. The young couple in a gorgeous upscale downtown apartment without a balcony has suddenly been acutely made aware of the circumstances that fresh air is essential. That house they were going to get one day may now have become a priority to get.
Reflecting on what the essentials are in our lives in terms of our enforced stay home times can provide clarity on the essentials you may need to identify for your next home. Maybe you realized you love a luxurious bath, or that cozy spot for your reading and a place to store your books, perhaps you want a deck to step out to with your coffee in the morning.
These are the simple joys in life.
They are more than the aspects of the home that are on a wish list. They are the experiences and memories that you want to create. It is no longer so much about the features of a home, but rather how I will enjoy it once I am there. On my list, I now know my essentials include an outdoor space to savour my beverage, a quiet office area with a window, a table for puzzle making with family and a cozy chair with good lighting for reading.
Self-Isolation and staying home have given us all the chance to reflect on what are the little things that we savour each day.
And don't we deserve them?
With lower interest rates and our communities slowly opening up, it may be a window to put your reflective lists into proactive schemes. I would love to hear about your reflections!
There is no doubt that 2020 will not be a year any of us will soon forget, and as a realtor, one to reflect on for years and generations to come. When you reflect on the matters of your real estate dreams during the Pandemic, did the COVID19 crisis pause them or push you towards them?
If you need help putting your real estate essentials list into action, let's chat.
