Published: 26/05/2021
Of all the things in the past year which impact what we think of our homes, and what we want to see next, remote working is one of the most significant.
Working from home for a couple of hours or on a one-off occasion is extremely different to working from home on a permanent basis. This is even more true if you consider there are many people living and working in the same home.
At BR Estate Agent, we know many households are re-evaluating their home, and whether it is fit for purpose. We speak with many prospective buyers and existing homeowners about this matter. If you are keen to move, we are here to assist you.
Also, we stay in touch with the latest national studies, helping you to make an informed decision when it comes to your next move.
A study by a leading insurance company looked at the impact of remote working on homeowners across the country.
The study conducted by Aviva highlights the following findings:
- 34% of homeworkers currently use an office inside their property
- 43% plan to use an office inside their home in the future
- The number of people who currently work in an outbuilding or converted shed is 10%, but expected to rise to 13%
Where do you work when you are home?
Some of the ways people are working from home include:
- 48% are using tables in rooms designed for another use
- 22% are using sofas and armchairs
- 14% are working from their bed
- 31% of homeworkers aged under 25 have said they work from their bed on occasions
ONS data indicated 46.6% of people employed in the UK worked from home in April of last year. 86% of these people were working remotely because of the pandemic, which equates to 13 million people.
How do you feel about working from home?
Aviva carried out a study in autumn last year, and they found many people considered remote working as a positive aspect. The study spoke to close to 1,400 professionals who were working remotely. The study found:
- 48% of respondents said it was less stressful than their standard working practice
- 57% benefitted from the lack of commuting
- 29% enjoyed more time with their family
- 42% said they enjoyed not worrying about what they had to wear
- 19% of respondents said they found working from home more stressful
- 27% of respondents said they don’t have a suitable space to work
- 19% felt they were competing with others for space
- 18% of respondents said it was too noisy at home
Gareth Hemming, MD, Personal Lines, Aviva, says: “Flexible working and home-working practices have been around for some time, but they have really come into their own in the last year. Many employees report they have been less stressed and more productive as a result of working from home. They have had the flexibility to work around their personal lives and they have been trusted to work in a way that suits them.”
Gareth also said; “While home-working is not the choice of every individual, we are likely to see more flexibility as a basic benchmark for the future, with many people working remotely, at least some of the time. Many insurance providers adapted their home products during the pandemic to allow people to work from home without making any changes to their policies, but if customers are unsure about their cover, they should speak to their insurer to check that it is suitable for their circumstances.”
If you are looking to make a move in the Bromley property market, and you would like to speak with local experts, please get in touch. If you would like to arrange a property valuation, contact us and we will set this up for you. You can phone your BR Estate Agent on 020 3633 8620 from 9am till 9pm seven days a week or visit our website www.br-estateagent.co.uk for more information.