Impact of WFH trends on housing market
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It was a general update from one of the directors to his team but you could use the little raise hand thing if you wanted to ask a question. I was surprised how well it worked to be honest.
Teams calls with that many people are fine if the facilitator does their job well, I mean proper discussions too and not just delivering information. Use of the little hand and the chat sidebar are key to getting it to work. Using webcams also helps so you can tell when someone wants to come in. Oh and everyone not speaking being on mute of course.
Back to topic, I doubt there will be any meaningful difference long term. I fully expect most businesses to slowly migrate back to the office and end up where they were pre-lock down in a years time. Many will have long term leases in place which they’ll not be able to easily break and therefore they’ll want to fill it again when they can.
Back to topic, I doubt there will be any meaningful difference long term. I fully expect most businesses to slowly migrate back to the office and end up where they were pre-lock down in a years time. Many will have long term leases in place which they’ll not be able to easily break and therefore they’ll want to fill it again when they can.
I suspect WFH will become the normal. Think about technology companies like google, amazon, youtube, twitter etc I'm sure they have the ability to allow their employees to WFH because their networks are damn stable and they were prepared for this type of situation.
In the long run imagine how much money these companies could save if they either close their big offices down or limit how many employees they need in an office.
If this did happen I believe we will see a sharp rise in this scenario where the wifi signal will be one of the most important aspects of buying a property instead of say transport links to establish how to get into work. Crazy though. Could take a while but just my thoughts.
In the long run imagine how much money these companies could save if they either close their big offices down or limit how many employees they need in an office.
If this did happen I believe we will see a sharp rise in this scenario where the wifi signal will be one of the most important aspects of buying a property instead of say transport links to establish how to get into work. Crazy though. Could take a while but just my thoughts.
You say that but they are starting to trickle back into the office.
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/06/09/apple-park-employee-return-june-15/
One by one the majority will go back to the office, perhaps not every day at first but over time the time spent in the office will slowly return unless employees start resisting.
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/06/09/apple-park-employee-return-june-15/
One by one the majority will go back to the office, perhaps not every day at first but over time the time spent in the office will slowly return unless employees start resisting.
Caporegime
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No longer need to work in London to do a London job.
Can see people working remotely from anywhere they desire.
Can see people working remotely from anywhere they desire.
IMO, those living and working in London zones are more likely be willing to spend an additional half hour each way for the occasions trip to the office. Therefore popular commuter towns will be seen as more appealing for the larger gardens, better air quality, better evening and weekend hobby opportunities.
The opposite has proven to be the case with my employer, the office staff are proving more productive because of the relaxed nature of WFH, my wife WFH as her office is closed and lives it as she spends more time with me and the kids than ever before (that will likely change soon as they go back to child care and I get more work (only emergency in call for me)), other than office banter she isn't missing much.
Commute is only a few seconds and as we have a home.office it's easy for her to keep work and home life apart.
We've had a discussion today and instead of going into the office everyday, going forward they are suggesting 2 days a month in the office as it's been proven that working from home is not an issue and everyone can crack on and get the work done no problem.
My stepmum's company is completely the opposite, (she's the HR person) and despite the entire workforce bar her and the director being on furlough he wants her to come into the office as he's made it quite clear he doesn't trust people to work from home, I did say to her that what's he doing hiring these people if he doesn't trust them, she's not got long left though as she's retiring end of the month but he must be an absolute nightmare to work for.
My stepmum's company is completely the opposite, (she's the HR person) and despite the entire workforce bar her and the director being on furlough he wants her to come into the office as he's made it quite clear he doesn't trust people to work from home, I did say to her that what's he doing hiring these people if he doesn't trust them, she's not got long left though as she's retiring end of the month but he must be an absolute nightmare to work for.
Re housing market, I think there are larger forces at work here. Money supply, BOMD etc, school locations etc are all larger factors?
My company went remote, years ago, by accident, landlord chucked us out at short notice. It was only meant to be temporary but it stuck. Turns out the problem is having two systems trying to interact. If everyone is in the same boat, it's fine.
However, who knows if it will stick. I can see it becoming a bit of a perk for more experienced staff , with others having to hotdesk etc to get training?
My company went remote, years ago, by accident, landlord chucked us out at short notice. It was only meant to be temporary but it stuck. Turns out the problem is having two systems trying to interact. If everyone is in the same boat, it's fine.
However, who knows if it will stick. I can see it becoming a bit of a perk for more experienced staff , with others having to hotdesk etc to get training?
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Caporegime
My company has been championing WFH for the last 7 years. Atos who own us, have moved to a much smaller London office with majority hot desks. I haven't been to the London office in over a year. I still need access to London which is only 35 mins to Euston from Bletchley.
Not sure I agree, yes there are colleagues where employers may have suspicions (Zoom calls and staff are sitting in gardens with BBQ smoke drifting by
) but its factored.Increasingly working irregular hours is a common trend, many staff are working all sorts of strange hours (myself included) waking up at dawn and logging on = longer hours. However, its give and take, the company who I work for are very fair and encourage employees to take regular breaks (if you want to do say, a grocer shop, no issue) as they know no time is lost. Been working from home for a while so its no massive change - although I agree with the wife of @BigBoy, I miss the office banter, social aspect and my commuter buddies (made some great friends who I am missing)!
oh in that case I guess companies could still use half the office space compared to now.
maybe it would be more ideal and mentally better off for people to be working home shifts for a week and then in the office to catch up on banter the next.
could be a nice balance from the stresses of work for a modern society if people start pushing for it
maybe it would be more ideal and mentally better off for people to be working home shifts for a week and then in the office to catch up on banter the next.
could be a nice balance from the stresses of work for a modern society if people start pushing for it
When things get back to "normal" the wife has requested two days in office three from home. It makes no difference with her work load just easier to roll out of bed at 6.50am and into the home office for 7am than it is having to travel 40mins and be all dolled up in work gear.
It will be interesting to see what happens. My husband and I decided to move to a more rural area (much cheaper house prices) with a bit of an eye to the future for WFH and/or driverless vehicles making a commute easier. At the time I agreed with my office to WFH 1 day per week and my husband is usually home 2 days per week. Obviously we didn't know about COVID19 at the time but I'm now so thankful that we made the move when we did as both of our future working practices will change. My husband has been told by his employer that he will be WFH until at least September 2021. I'm in discussion with my office but I can't imagine going back into the office for more than 2, possibly 3 days per week maximum, as it's just unnecessary. I've been more productive at home, without the 2 hour round-trip commute.
My guess is that properties in this area will increase in demand as people start to value having more space at home and access to the countryside.
My guess is that properties in this area will increase in demand as people start to value having more space at home and access to the countryside.
Caporegime
With all this WFH I am looking forward to the day I can work from a beach in the South of France and then fly in for the two days a month I need to be in the office
Many years ago we had a contractor who had strange working hours on the project I was on. I later found out he was travelling around Europe in a camper van and would stop at certain times of the day to connect to the internet and do some work. He would regularly do meetings from coffee shops to use their wifi.
If we agree on the trend, what is the impact on house prices?
Will the country become less London centric?
Will flats become less attractive? Gardens have premium?
Will family areas won't change any, as children and schools add stability?
Will the country become less London centric?
Will flats become less attractive? Gardens have premium?
Will family areas won't change any, as children and schools add stability?