SANTA CLARA, Calif.,
April 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- With about 95 percent of the U.S. under orders to stay home
due to COVID-19, realtor.com® today released the
results of a consumer survey highlighting how these orders have
impacted how people feel about their homes. While many people love
having a quiet neighborhood and a backyard; some are struggling to
work, live and parent in small spaces; while others have already
taken on home improvement projects to help make their home more
livable.
Realtor.com® and Toluna Insights surveyed 1,300
consumers during the week of April 5
to better understand what works (and what doesn't) about their
current space and how preferences for future homes might shift.
"After more than a month of stay at home orders, it's safe to
say Americans are really getting to know what home features work
and don't work for their families," said Nate Johnson, CMO, realtor.com®. "Our
survey data shows that a great neighborhood, outdoor space and
large square footage, are some of the most desirable home features
during the COVID-19 crisis. As we move forward, we expect the
shelter in place experience to have a significant influence on home
buying trends and how buyers prioritize home features,
neighborhoods and home improvement projects."
People love their quiet neighborhoods, yards and close
proximity to amenities
What do people love about their
current home while sheltering in place? Topping the list are quiet
neighborhoods and outdoor spaces. Older respondents were especially
likely to enjoy their quiet neighborhood (16 percent of those 55+)
while parents were more likely to appreciate flexible spaces inside
the home (8 percent versus 5 percent of non-parents). The most
important features for respondents overall were:
- A quiet neighborhood (13 percent)
- Outdoor space (13 percent)
- Close proximity to grocery stores and pharmacies (13
percent)
- An updated kitchen for more cooking at home (10 percent)
- Natural light (9 percent)
- Flexible spaces for crafting, gaming, etc. (6 percent)
More space and updated kitchens top the shelter in place wish
lists
When asked if they could change one thing about their
home to make it more livable during quarantine, more space topped
the list for respondents, followed by an updated kitchen and a home
gym. Eighteen to 34 year-olds were most likely to be interested in
a home gym (16 percent), while parents were more than twice as
likely to want a home office or extra bedroom (9 percent versus 4
percent of non-parents). Top choices included:
- More space (19 percent)
- Updated kitchen (13 percent)
- Home gym (11 percent)
- Update the style/aesthetics (9 percent)
- More natural light (9 percent)
- Add a yard or patio (9 percent)
- Add a bathroom (6 percent)
Owners much more likely to be satisfied with their current
home than renters
When asked about their must-have features
for their next home after sheltering in place, the majority of
people revealed they are looking for more space and an outdoor
area. Owners are much more likely to be satisfied with their
current home (14 percent versus 6 percent). Overall responses
include:
- More space (16 percent)
- More/better outdoor space (14 percent)
- Updated kitchen (13 percent)
- More/better technology, faster WiFi, etc. (13 percent)
- None of these things, I'm happy with my home (11 percent)
- Separation from the neighbors (10 percent)
- More bedrooms (9 percent)
It's a good time for home improvement
The data also
showed many people are taking advantage of the extra free time to
make their home more comfortable now. In fact, 32 percent of those
surveyed have already undertaken home improvement or small
around-the-house projects and an additional 15 percent plan to do
so. The most common projects were:
- Clean out the closets or garage (21 percent)
- Gardening and planting (17 percent)
- Painting (13 percent)
- Redecorating a room (10 percent)
- Rearranging the furniture (9 percent)
- Adding artwork or decor (7 percent)
- Adding a home gym or workout space (5 percent)
- Adding an office or workspace (4 percent)
Realtor.com® is committed to making buying, selling
and living in homes easier and more rewarding. To assist both
consumers and professionals, realtor.com® has added
several product enhancements including more Livestream Open Houses,
virtual tours and video chats.
To learn more, visit realtor.com®'s COVID-19 site for
information, resources and tools to help consumers navigate these
uncertain times: https://www.realtor.com/covid-19/
About realtor.com®
Realtor.com®
makes buying, selling and living in homes easier and more rewarding
for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of
digital real estate 20 years ago, and today through its website and
mobile apps is a trusted source for the information, tools and
professional expertise that help people move confidently through
every step of their home journey. Using proprietary data science
and machine learning
technology, realtor.com® pairs buyers and
sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the
guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For
professionals, realtor.com® is a trusted
provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help
them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is
operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV]
subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National
Association of REALTORS®. For more information,
visit realtor.com®.
Media Contact:
Nicole
Murphy, nicole.murphy@move.com
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SOURCE realtor.com