We’ve reached the midpoint of 2023 and the social distancing, masking, and lockdowns of Covid-19 have been left in the past. But some changes that grew out of the difficult days of 2020 and 2021 are sticking around, as are many of the lessons homeowners and contractors alike learned during the recent global pandemic.
Here are seven that stand out, especially here in Grand Rapids and the West Michigan region overall:
Lesson 1: Procrastination
Countless Michiganders who had been putting off home improvement projects found themselves with time on their hands during lockdown and decided to finally tackle those home improvement projects they had been putting off, usually for years.
Unfortunately, this rush to remodel and the supply chain interruptions occurring at the same time led to massive cost spikes and shortages in both materials and skilled labor, with many homeowners regretting having put off those important projects all that time beforehand.
Many others (we won’t name names) started work on their homes during Covid-19 and the stay-at-home orders, but haven’t gotten around to completely finishing their projects yet.
Lesson 2: Home Offices
With more people than ever before working from home, taking classes at home, leading meetings from home, and gaming or socializing from home, homeowners across the country realized all at once how important it can be to have a dedicated, presentable, and fully furnished home office or offices.
Today, in-home workspaces and workstations remain a major consideration for both new home construction and remodeling projects across West Michigan.
Lesson 3: Functional Kitchens
Breadmaking famously surged early on in the pandemic as people suddenly had nowhere to go and nothing to do, but plenty of worries to stress eat over. More importantly, many homeowners experienced the overwhelming frustration of a dated, cramped, and poorly optimized kitchen design every single day while locked-in with their loved ones/cellmates, further driving interest in kitchen updates and remodels.
Lesson 4: Multigenerational Living
While Covid was a difficult experience for everyone, it was especially hard on many older adults who, due to their heightened risk of serious illness, were more strictly isolated from loved ones for worryingly long periods at a time.
This, for many families, has driven a renewed interest in building out generational living arrangements in their single-family homes, whether that be a simple second bedroom, an in-home furnished apartment for extra privacy and independence, or a separate structure often referred to as a granny pod or AUD set up nearby on the property.
Lesson 5: Universal Design
Multigenerational living and severe illness have also further increased the demand for universal design features that make West Michigan homes more accessible for people of all ages and abilities, including those with plans to age-in-place for as long as possible.
Grab bars, wider doorways, pull-out cabinetry, and no-step entries are just a few examples of low-cost but high-impact solutions that can make a real difference for those with either temporary or lasting physical limitations.
Lesson 6: Outdoor Spaces
While Covid-19 drove many out of their offices and into their homes, it also drove those same people to get out of their homes, escaping the monotony to parks, trails, and campgrounds across the mitten state.
Likewise, socializing and entertaining moved from the kitchen and living room to the front and back yard, prompting renewed interest in homeowners building out comfortable and attractive exterior spaces like patios, decks, grill stations, workshops, and gardens.
Lesson 7: DIY Vs. Done Right
Lastly, with more time on their hands to wander around their home than ever before, many homeowners moved forward and, armed with YouTube tutorials, boldly attempted DIY projects that they probably never would have given a shot before.
But when it comes to something as complex and valuable as a home, many homeowners also quickly realized that there are some home projects best left to the professionals. And that’s where we come in!
At Amber Valley Construction we’re proud of our work and excited at the chance we have every day to help our friends and neighbors build their dream homes. Whether you have a roof that needs some attention, a kitchen or bathroom that’s letting you down, or a vision for the ultimate summertime deck or patio, we are here to make it a reality on-time, with great communication, and at a fair price.
Contact us today to get started!