Masks are required in public places.
Social distancing
Limited crowd sizes.
Those are a few changes implemented within the last four months. The world has been placed in a position to adjust to the COVID19 pandemic. Every industry has been affected by COVID19 differently. Every country has been affected by COVID19 differently too.
The effects are even making a huge impact on the economy. Some businesses have had the opportunity to pivot and flourish while others have been placed in a standstill. Event coordinators around the world have been forced to adjust and think of creative ways to engage.
As our numbers continue to positive numbers increase, the hospitality and event industry are still in limbo. Let’s discuss how the housing industry has adjusted to the changes.
How do we adjust to the new normal?
Will we be able to go back to the old normal?
What are the trends we are facing?
The LuxeGiving team has been affected both from the event and hospitality industry adjustments. It’s been interesting to see how different markets within the housing industry have made adjustments. Let’s take a look at how condos, apartments, and retirement communities are making adjustments to accommodate their tenants.
Condo Buildings
According to Condo Manager.com article 6 Tips on Social Distancing in Condos, “For many condo owners, their unit is not only just an investment but also their home. Most condo communities involve many residents living in close quarters and that creates situations where there is frequent contact between members of the community. This poses a greater challenge in adhering to the suggested principles of social distancing.”
Condos and apartments face some of the same challenges. The social gathering areas, amenity spaces, and elevators can be difficult to manage through social distancing. The writer did mention these following tips to practice social distancing you can enforce:
- When a meeting is required, conduct online video meetings with tools such as Zoom or Google Hangout.
- For home tours for buyers/sellers of condo units, do the tours by Facetime or other mobile video calling tools.
- Shut down all common areas such as gym, pools, and party room.
- Take elevators either in small groups or alone.
- Call property managers or concierges instead of speaking with them in person.
- Shop online for goods and groceries.
As some properties are still operating remotely, some of these tips are easier to implement than others. The upcoming weeks will expose how these changes are helping to reduce the risk of spreading within a community.
Luxury Apartment Complexes
Multifamily buildings are following similar changes and adjustments like condo building. Property managers and investors are having to make some difficult choices within the luxury market to maintain tenant satisfaction and safety simultaneously. According to Mansion Global’s article How Luxury Buildings Are Adjusting for a Future of Social Distancing, mentions as management companies “start to look ahead to the long haul of summer with social distancing measures and coronavirus-related fears very much still in place.” Adjustments are being made through contact-less deliveries, moving rules to amenity space limitations.
As properties have to tackle keeping their building COVID19 free, guests and visitors are under monitoring. Certain precautions are being made even with moving. “And in cases when movers are allowed in, it tends to be with the understanding that elevators and other common areas involved in the process will be thoroughly cleaned afterward.”
Buildings will use sign-in systems to manage entries into spaces. Some communities have decided to “remain closed for the foreseeable future, even as things open up.”
Senior Living Facilities
Lastly, senior living facilities have been under a tight microscope during COVID19. The tenants are at highest risk for COVID19 complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has clear considerations with retirement and independent living communities. You can view the CDC guidelines for the complete listing HERE.
According to The Conversation article Social Distancing: 6 Ways To Help Older Adults Change Their Routine, it mentions “all long-term and retirement facilities have been closed for visitation to non-health-care workers, there are still many older adults living in our communities — alone or with family members. Already a group vulnerable to both COVID-19 and social isolation, social distancing can, therefore, be challenging for older adults because they have fewer chances to interact with other people, leave their homes and go to public places.”
The facility staff has been challenged with tasks on still hosting events and entertainment activities through different measures. The CDC guidelines listed regular social events as a higher risk for senior living facilities. We have seen some communities institute more restrictions than condos and apartments.
The changes may seem like an inconvenience at this moment. With every management company and investor having to adjust, our new norm will be a space with managing the changes. Safety is the biggest goal for these changes. Social distancing can help prevent a major breakout within your property.
How has your property adjusted to these current times?