Compared to how terrible the pandemic has been for so many, I’ve been lucky. I’ve avoided getting sick, and I have a great job that keeps me busy, well-fed, and out of the house.
It hasn’t exactly been a picnic. Beyond an occasional elbow-bump, I haven’t touched another human being since last March. I miss seeing my friends and family, and I actively detest and dread Zoom meetings.
On balance, though, I’ve gotten along pretty well.
Then came the recent ice/snow/snow storm. As I write this, my car is stuck in the garage for the fourth day because I can’t get up the drive to the street. Suddenly, at this late date, I have a window into the world of Covid lockdown – something I knew about, but didn’t really know.
Here I sit, with nowhere to go and no way to get there, and I totally get why people have been focused on their homes. There’s nothing else to look at! Sales of household goods, furniture, window treatments, and home improvement supplies are booming.
According to numerous news reports, post pandemic, many folks will never return to the office as before. Even fully employed, many of us will be “stuck” at home on a permanent basis.
What does this mean for the concept of “home” now and post-pandemic?
It’s time to get it right. If you’re going to be there all day, every day, now’s the time to make it what you want it to be.
Need an office? I happen to have a great purpose-built office in my 1962 ranch – a rare thing in a ranch, and very welcome. But not typical. If you don’t have a spare bedroom to use, maybe it’s time to add one. Or upsize.
Need to stash the kids while you squeeze in one more late-afternoon Zoom meeting? Maybe it’s time to finish that basement. Or maybe it’s time to buy one.
Sick of looking at your existing ______ (fill in the blank here: kitchen, bathroom, picture window, deck that needs re-staining, cracked driveway …) Maybe it’s time to do some upgrades. Maybe it’s time to start over.
Do you just need more elbow room? Does the house feel cramped these days with everybodyat home all the time.Maybe it’s time to add a room or a whole wing. Or, maybe it’s time to upsize.
As usual in life, there’s good news and bad news.
Good: Interest rates are still low. You can buy more house. Bad: Inventory is tight. It's tough to get the right house. Good: Inventory is tight. Your house will sell if you want to buy another one. Good: If you upgrade or add-on, you can avoid all the buy/sell hassle. Bad: If you upgrade or add-on, you’ll go though remodeling hassle (often quite severe!) assuming you can find someone to do the work (good luck with that!).
Good: A smart realtor can help you sort out these conflicting factors and decide on the right path – even if it’s an upgrade rather than a sale.