According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 6.5% of workers were remote in 2019.
We know what happened in the years following and why that number has risen to around 35%, according to research from the Pew Research Center.
Working remotely is not a trend. A lot of employees who have the option to work from home do it. This saves them on commuting time, it provides mental and emotional benefits, and it leads to a more flexible lifestyle.
It’s not for everyone. However, we now know that remote work is more than a pandemic-era trend. It’s a new normal for a lot of industries and a lot of the tenants who are renting your homes.
So, how can you optimize your Santa Rosa rental property to attract remote workers?
Reaching Remote Workers with Your Santa Rosa Rental Property
Why is it worth your time and resources to make your property more desirable to this one subset of Santa Rosa tenants?
A valid question. We think it makes sense to appeal to remote workers because of the increasing demand for homes that allow for a comfortable living and working environment. Tenants who are working or even studying from home typically look for fast and reliable internet. They want a dedicated workspace, even if it’s just a space for a desk.
These tenants are also seeking amenities that promote health and wellness. They want to be close to recreational and entertainment opportunities so they can fully embrace work-life balance. By aligning your rental property with these needs, you can increase its appeal, reduce vacancy rates, and even charge a higher market rent for your thoughtfully designed space.
All remote workers are different; there isn’t a single tenant profile. Some of them will work tech jobs and others will be freelancers juggling multiple gigs to keep themselves afloat. In general, however, these are the things we believe that remote workers value the most when it comes to choosing a rental home.
These are the practical and general ways that we believe Santa Rosa rental property owners can improve their properties in a way that attracts remote workers.
Prioritize High-Speed Internet
Fast, reliable internet is non-negotiable for remote workers. Many depend on video conferencing and cloud-based tools to stay productive. You will have to decide if you’re going to provide internet services and roll that cost into the rental amount. While this might create extra work for you, it can be extremely attractive to remote workers when they can move into a home and not worry about setting up connectivity themselves. If you’re planning to provide smart home tech features, having an internet connection already will also help you provide those amenities.
Remote workers don’t necessarily expect to have internet provided for them. Most tenants are accustomed to setting up their own service. For this reason, you can really set yourself apart from other homes on the Santa Rosa rental market when you’re willing to provide Wi-Fi.
Consider partnering with local internet providers to offer a high-speed plan or ensure your property is wired for optimal connectivity. Highlight this feature in your listing—it could be what really attracts a lot of potential renters.
If you’re not going to provide internet, make sure you can recommend reliable and high quality internet service providers to tenants before they move in.
Create a Dedicated Workspace
Rental homes that are especially attractive to remote workers will have a dedicated working space. Ideally, that’s a home office or a den. Even if you don’t have that kind of square footage available in your rental home, there’s still an opportunity to provide a dedicated workspace, which will get the attention of this tenant demographic.
Remote workers thrive in distraction-free environments. Transform a nook, a mudroom, or even a corner of the living area into a functional office. Include a built-in desk or bookshelves if you’re already renovating your property. Make sure there’s sufficient lighting. Even a small, well-planned workspace can make your rental more attractive to tenants who work from home.
Enhance Soundproofing
Remote workers will need to have some distraction-free time to get their work done, and a rental home that’s noisy isn’t going to be their first choice.
Noise can be a significant problem during work hours, so it might be a good idea to invest in soundproofing measures such as heavy curtains, thicker carpets, or even the installation of soundproofing panels.
Highlight these features to potential tenants when you’re marketing your property. We have found that they are an overlooked but highly valued perk for remote working professionals.
Add Modern Tech Amenities
Smart home technology is a game-changer for remote workers. When rental property owners want to know what kind of updates and upgrades they should make to ensure their property remains appealing for any sort of tenant, we immediately begin talking about smart home features. While we once spoke about the merits of fresh paint and hardwood floors (these are still great upgrades), the most meaningful renovations that can be made involve technology.
This is what Santa Rosa tenants want, and it’s especially what remote working Santa Rosa tenants want. We have already discussed the potential for providing internet services. What else do these tech-savvy residents look for in a modern rental home that makes it easy to work?
Here’s what we’ve learned by serving those tenants:
- Smart thermostats are an excellent addition for remote workers. Why? Because they spend more of their time at home than your tenants who leave the property in order to go to work. Smart thermostats are intuitive; they can regulate the temperature inside of the home based on the day of the week, the time of day, and the number of people who are at home.
- Keyless entry systems are also popular among remote working tenants. The fewer keys anyone has to carry around, the better we feel. By allowing for remote access to your property, you are also increasing security. There’s less of a chance that keys will be stolen, lost, or copied. You can also change the entry code or combination between tenants, reducing the turnover tasks that can get both tedious and expensive.
- Voice-activated assistants. Your remote tenants will show up with their Siri or their Alexa or their other digital assistant activated and ready to sync into whatever systems your property will provide. Make it easy for tenants to turn on the lights, the coffeemaker, or the dishwasher with a simple voice command.
Tenants will also appreciate video doorbells so they can see who is outside before they decide whether or not to open up the door. They can track package deliveries this way, too.
These features offer both convenience and efficiency. Tech-savvy tenants will appreciate these upgrades—and they may even justify higher rent prices.
Design for Health and Wellness
Remote work blurs the lines between personal and professional life, which makes wellness-focused spaces more important than ever. Tenants are looking for ways to stay healthy on a physical and mental basis. This is more of a priority than ever before. Smart landlords in Santa Rosa will consider these upgrades:
- Natural lighting. If it’s an easy installation, consider larger windows or skylights to improve mental well-being and reduce the need for harsh overhead lighting. This is aesthetic for all rental properties, and it’s also functional for tenants who are using their home as an office every day.
- Outdoor spaces. Fresh air will be an absolute asset to work-from-home residents. Even if it’s just a balcony or a patio, you can create an inviting space for those work breaks.
- Fitness options. If you’re renting out a unit or a condo in a community where there’s a fitness center or a yoga studio, you’re going to be able to market that easily to your future tenants. If your rental property has space that can be utilized as a home gym, consider using that in your advertising as well. Highlight nearby facilities that will help your tenants feel good about their options for staying in shape.
By emphasizing health and wellness, you create a property that feels more like a sanctuary than just a living space.
Highlight Nearby Amenities
Proximity to coffee shops, parks, co-working spaces, and local entertainment adds major value for remote workers who value balance and connection. Include this information in your property listing and marketing materials. You might even consider providing a welcome packet with a curated list of local hotspots.
Renting to remote tenants is not unlike renting to any tenant who shows an interest in your property. However, with the number of remote working professionals growing within the Santa Rosa tenant pool, we think it’s important to meditate on how your property might be more competitive among this demographic of highly qualified renters.
Need help putting some of these things into place? That’s why we’re here. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at Prestige Real Estate & Property Management. We manage homes in Sonoma County, including Santa Rosa, Windsor, Sebastopol, Petaluma, and Rohnert Park.
