Spending more time at home during the pandemic, how can you make your space work for you? And if it’s time for a new home, what does the real estate market look like now?
Flyhomes hosted a chat on these topics featuring Allison Rhodes Messner, Co-Founder & CEO of Yardzen; Elyssa Wasserberg, DC, CEES from Humanscale; and Sophia Lu, a Director at Flyhomes. The talk was moderated by Sam Kasle, EVP of Brokerage at Flyhomes.
As a founder of the leading online landscape design service, Allison is an expert on all things to do with outdoor living.
A Certified Ergonomic Specialist with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences, Elyssa has extensive experience in all aspects of ergonomic program development, including assessments and ergonomic training.
Sophia leads teams working with hundreds of homebuying clients, primarily in Seattle, Portland, and Boston, making her an expert on the real estate market and a pro at helping people find homes they love.
Top takeaways from the talk
- Everyone on the panel has taken steps to make their home work better during the pandemic. Allison planted a vegetable garden with her second- and fourth- grade kids. They’re fans of Italian food and have been enjoying making sauces. It’s also important for their family to each have dedicated spaces of their own both inside and out. Elyssa immediately found affordable ways to make her workspace more comfortable, using towels with her chair to support her back and books as a monitor riser. Over time, she’s slowly swapped out these makeshift solutions for “official” ergonomic tools. Sophia bought a single-family home and moved there, leaving behind her condo because the small space wasn’t sustainable for both herself and her roommate to be working from home in long-term.
- You don’t have to spend money to improve how your home functions. Sophia recommends relocating to different parts of your home during the work day to get a change of scenery and remind yourself to move. Evaluate your lighting, Elyssa recommends. Make sure the sun doesn’t shine directly on your computer monitor, for example. Ideally, the light source should be perpendicular to your workspace. Allison is a fan of bringing greens from your yard inside to connect your indoor space with the outdoors. You can simply take clean kitchen scissors outside and prune a plant or two.
- You don’t even have to spend a lot to “renovate” your yard. Allison says the first step is taking an inventory of what you have. If your patio is worn or dated, you might be able to seal or paint it for a completely fresh look. The same is true for fences, and she notes that black fences are a big trend right now. Next, think about how you really want to use your outdoor space and prioritize those purchases. If outdoor dining is your dream, focus on a table and chairs. But skip them and save that money for an Adirondack chair if you’re more excited by the idea of sipping wine on your porch at the end of the day.
- The way you sit in your work chair has a big impact on how you feel. You may not even realize how much better your body will feel when you’re aligned correctly. Elyssa says even people with adjustable chairs often don’t take the time to adjust them. You want your gaze to fall at the top of your monitor—otherwise you’ll be bending your neck up or down all day. If you have a standing desk, you should sit for about 45 minutes and stand for about 15; the key is to keep moving between the two to keep your blood flowing and supplying oxygen. You can use things you already have to ensure that you’re sitting comfortably, too. A pillow at the curve of your back offers lumbar support, and even Elyssa has used a yoga block as a footrest.
- The real estate market is very competitive. At the start of 2020, the market was at historic highs in all the markets where Flyhomes operates (Seattle, Bay Area, Southern California, Boston, and Portland), Sophia says. Even after a lull when the pandemic first hit, there continues to be a shortage of homes for sale paired with strong demand from buyers. Many people want to move because of the freedom to work from anywhere, the need for more space, or a new willingness to move out of an urban area. Sophia recommends being patient and prepared to make a strong offer as sellers are often receiving 15-20 offers in markets like Seattle and the Bay Area. If you’re thinking about selling your home, she says it’s a good time to take advantage of this high demand. If you have three or more bedrooms, consider staging one as an office to showcase work-from-home readiness.
Watch the video to see the full conversation.
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