January 12, 2021

Working from Home is Here to Stay: Is Your Living Space Sized for Success?

2020 was a year unlike any other and one that will undoubtedly hold a permanent place in our personal memories and in the history books. The coronavirus pandemic changed all facets of our lives in an instant including how we live, do business, work and educate our kids. Even now as we enter a new year, we continue to grapple with the ongoing effects of COVID-19. Some impacts are short-term while others endure and have started to settle in—especially those that surround the spontaneous blending of our work and home lives.

The home transformed into an office and a classroom practically overnight as employees transitioned to work from home and students pivoted to online learning. Remote work became the new norm as companies announced both long-term and permanent plans for staff to work remotely, while school districts started the academic year online. This simultaneous merging of lifestyle changes caused people to pine for extra space to accommodate their personal and professional needs, and so they reconfigured their dwellings and sized up in square footage. 

A glimpse at the new “working from home” economy

Working remotely is not a novel concept but COVID-19 kick started a working from home wave. Companies, employees and teachers around the globe interacted virtually to keep business booming and students learning. Now, nine long months into the pandemic, experts are saying the work from home trend will likely continue into 2021 and beyond.    

According to Stanford Economist Nicholas Bloom, 42% of the U.S. labor force is currently working from home full-time. 33% are not working and the remaining 26% are working on-site which if you do the math, means that almost twice as many employees are working from home as in an office. By sheer numbers alone, the U.S. is now a working from home economy. 

Google, Uber and Facebook are among the major companies embracing the virtual work model and are allowing their staff to remain remote for the foreseeable future. Some companies like Twitter and Zillow have taken it a step further, telling employees to work from home permanently. Others are adopting a hybrid approach where employees come into the office a few days a week and work from home the rest. In fact, a recent Gartner survey revealed that more than 80% of company leaders plan to permit employees to work remotely for part of the work week upon reopening post-pandemic.

Benefits of remote work methods

The massive transition to remote work during the pandemic was a necessity for office-based companies that wanted to sustain operations, and with a large majority of businesses planning to continue this trend, benefits for both employers and employees are continuing to come to light. There are a multitude of reasons why remote work has evolved into a win, win scenario including that it increases employee productivity and retention, attracts and retains talent, leads to improved mental health and is environmentally friendly. In fact, Venterra Realty is such a strong proponent of a work from home environment that it transitioned the majority of its Houston staff to work remotely. 

The pandemic proved that working remotely produces benefits across the board, and it’s for these compelling reasons that it is likely here to stay. With everyone spending more time at home, it’s now also essential to have a dedicated space within your dwelling where you can complete your work quietly, consistently and efficiently. 

Venterra Realty offers residents living spaces sized for success

The mass move to remote work for many Americans has dramatically affected how and where workers want to live. Working from home has also become less temporary and more permanent as the months go by, prompting workers to take advantage of their new location independence. 

Many workers no longer have commutes and are fleeing the city for more space giving them more real estate options than ever. Working from home daily has made the home much more essential too making home office space an imperative to keep workers happy and productive. Plus, families may require even more space if their partners are also working from home or they have kids logging in for online learning. A clear separation between living and workspace ensures that everyone has a quiet and isolated area, free from interruptions, distractions, kids and pets. The kitchen table and couch just aren’t conducive anymore, and Venterra Realty has the space and square footage to ensure that their resident’s living space is sized for success.

Venterra Realty proudly manages apartment communities in 15 U.S. cities and provides housing to over 32,000 people. Venterra’s extensive property portfolio includes 32 communities with work from home floor plans that feature dedicated home offices, lofts, and flex spaces with built in desks. New residents receive Venterra’s 30-Day Live It. Love It. Guarantee™ which means that if they aren’t completely satisfied with their apartment for any reason within the first 30 days, they can move out. Existing residents who need more space or a change in scenery can easily transfer from one apartment to another—within their current community or to another Venterra property. Plus, with Venterra’s SmartLeasing program, prospective residents don’t pay to apply for an apartment at all—only once they are approved and reserve a move-in date. 

Make your next move to a Venterra Community

As companies continue to extend remote work opportunities into 2021, and more people realize they are not tied down to their current location for their job, the rental and real estate markets are likely to continue to transform. If you’re ready to make your next move, we invite you to browse Venterra’s communities and contact us to further explore your options for working from home success.