Frequent lockdowns and stay-at-home orders have made our home more central to our day-to-day lives than ever before, whether that’s a makeshift classroom, a pop-up home office, or an adequate workout studio. 

For homeowners and real estate professionals across the country, REALTOR.ca has been a go-to resource during the pandemic. In fact, in 2020,  REALTOR.ca received 374 million visits by 73 million visitors, a trend that doesn’t look to be slowing down. There were over 1.7 billion views of property pages, with 29% of people saying the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their intention to buy or sell.

When the first set of lockdowns were initiated in March 2020 and social distancing measures were implemented, REALTORS® could no longer host in-person showings and open houses. In addition to providing more data to its members and consumers, REALTOR.ca has proactively promoted the use of live-stream and virtual showing alternatives while integrating such tools within the website for its users. 

On Living Room, we’ve documented the many ways in which we’ve been adapting to and learning about the impacts of COVID-19 from a homeowner’s perspective. Here we’ve taken a look at the ways the pandemic has changed not only our at-home lives, but the buying and selling process for everyone.

How the pandemic changed our at-home lives

Creating a quiet study nook for at-home schooling

With classrooms closed for long stretches of the year, kids of all school ages have transitioned to learning at home. While some kids have gone back to school, there are still a lot participating in lessons and lectures that have transferred to online platforms. These students need a relaxing and organized space that will help them do their best work. This DIY guide helps parents find the right spot in their home to put together a study area, and offers helpful tips on what supplies to provide and how to make the space inspire learning. 

Making room for a home office

Whether your cat loves to interrupt your Zoom calls, or you miss the regular water cooler chats with colleagues, a large portion of the workforce is now working from home whether they want to or not. Carving out a dedicated workspace is the key to pumping out a productive nine-to-five. You may want to invest in a few handy office accessories that can make the work-from-experience experience more comfortable. 

Revamping and reorganizing your kitchen pantry

Long lines and reduced hours at grocery stores forced us to get creative in how we plan and shop for food. Keeping pantry and freezer staples on hand is a great way to make nutritious meals amidst limited home delivery slots and a desire to avoid spending too much time outside the home. Here are a few suggestions on what you can stock up on when it comes to canned, dry and fresh essentials. 

Knowing how to disinfect and clean your home more effectively

During the early stages of the pandemic, Lysol wipes and disinfectant sprays were sold out almost overnight as people stocked up on germ-fighting cleaning products. Now that we know more about how the virus spreads, we can more effectively kill the bacteria and viruses that enter our homes. Here are a few pointers on how to thoroughly disinfect, clean and wipe down the different surfaces in your home.

Updating your interiors to boost mental health

Being indoors for many days at a time can be taxing on our mental health. A few changes around the home can lend a hand in lifting our spirits, whether it’s finding ways to introduce more natural light into each room or incorporating organic elements that foster connections to the outdoors.

How the pandemic changed home buying and selling

Attending virtual open houses

A bustling weekend open house can be a lot of fun for a house hunter, but this common real estate practice shifted to mitigate the spread of the virus. Instead, REALTORS® switched to digital open house alternatives, which still allow prospective buyers to tour and inquire about properties in real time from the safety of their current homes. We compiled the ten most important questions you should ask the listing agent if you’re planning to attend one of these open house livestreams. 

Switching to searching for and buying homes virtually

Before the pandemic, it would seem unbelievable to buy a home without first seeing it in person. Now, not so much. With the help of the REALTOR.ca mobile app, Warren and Brent recruited an agent to sell their Ottawa, Ontario home and purchase a new place in Victoria, British Columbia, all without seeing the property before moving in. In this story, you can learn more about how they did it. 

Moving your business completely online with the help of digital tools

Switching to a completely virtual way of working was a big transition for REALTORS®, whose profession is built on in-person interactions. Although learning how to use new technology can be daunting at first, the use of virtual open houses, video showings, and 3D tours have helped REALTORS® excel at their jobs during the pandemic. With a few quick-and-easy tips, real estate professionals can take their online business to the next level. 

Understanding how COVID-19 affects the offer process

Putting in an offer in the era of COVID-19 has meant navigating new social distancing rules, offer clauses, and expectations on both the buying and selling sides. Based on first-hand experience, you can learn more about what to anticipate when submitting an offer on your dream home.

Understanding how the arrival of a vaccine will impact the housing market

As vaccination efforts continue to roll out across the country, there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel. While the housing market has staged a remarkable rebound since the spring of 2020 where home sales activity hit record lows, the pandemic continues to shape the market’s performance. Here’s how the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine could impact future interest rates, housing affordability and the Canadian economy. 

Changing how we live, work, and play has been no easy task. However, it’s been inspiring to see how people have adapted and thrived under the circumstances! From at-home classrooms to virtual home buying, we can’t wait to see what innovative ideas come next.