Has flexible working changed the Chelmsford property market?

Defining the modern working week in 2018 isn’t a straightforward process. As we embrace technology, the lines between daily commutes to work and working from remote locations become less transparent. From a property perspective, this means people with flexible working patterns can be more selective about the location of their next home. But what does this mean for Chelmsford?

A ‘virtual office’ is a term that has become popular recently as more employees are given the option of working from home. By avoiding the ‘daily grind’, property searchers can relieve themselves from the burden of having to look for a home that offers them easy access to their work. Nor do they need to worry about longer commutes if it’s not every day.

In Chelmsford, all the signs show that local people are working harder than ever. In fact 57.8 per cent of local workers aged 16 to 74 work between 31 and 48 hours per week. More interestingly, 14.4 per cent of the workforce actually work 49 hours or more, which means they’re either working a six day week or working 8am-6pm five days per week.

As the number of people working remotely increases, there will be a greater emphasis on factors like broadband speeds rather than proximity to a transport station. This means that homes located further out of towns and cities could see a spike in popularity as demand rises. Flexible working hours will also afford sellers and buyers more time to focus on selling their home and buying a new one.

Buy-to-let landlords will often look at a property’s proximity to transport when searching for their next investment. Most renters like to rent property that combines both affordability and easy access to their work. As the number of people who blend working from home and travelling into an office increases, landlords can expand their horizons and invest in properties that aren’t in traditional locations.

In summary, there is a clear indication that our approach to the working day is evolving. This is having a roll-on effect on the property market and is helping to shape people’s decisions when it comes to buying and selling homes. If you have any property-related queries, mosey on down to our office, and we’d be happy to answer them.

Read the full report here CPU Mar 18