As the leaves start to drop, our vision and thoughts progress into the New Year. 2015 was an excellent year for the commercial real estate industry, with increased employee retention driving enthusiasm and technology advancements streamlining operations. Here’s more to the millennial generation than being obsessed with smart tablets and the mental focus of working to live — and it’s inevitable that you understand this new group because this generation of our future is having a major impact on today’s real estate industry.
As the millennial generation becomes the center stage of the workplace, their preferences for modern design and space has become a priority. The trend toward, collaborative open work space, and warm friendly office space will continue to trend into 2016.
The millennial generation is particularly keen on office amenities that make it exciting to be at work. Companies are focused on meeting their expectations in order to retain and attract top talent. Lounge space, coffee bars, and outdoor amenities are some of the key components they are seeking. The norm is flexible workspaces –technological advancement for specific duties, not assigned personnel. The millennials are also focused on the environment, and green building space is a big plus for them, as are convenient locations that reduce travel time and are conveniently located close to home.
Along the lines of time-efficiency, seamless information routing, Millennials will also be seeking simplified methods for retrieving their information. For example, a text-to-confirm a meeting or a task request—meaning Millennial managers will confirm that a punch list was completed by simply sending a text to the account manager. Some property walk through may take place online with mobile technology. Social media will continue to be a popular norm as an outlet to access articles and publish new property trends or special requests.
The American dream of purchasing a home has lost popularity for the millennials. Now, they are interested in renting for longer periods of time, instead of a property purchase, and that’s directly impacting the availability of multi-unit complexes and the types of amenities they are present.
According to the National Association Of Home Builders, there were over 300,000 multi-family units that began construction in 2014, which was up over 10 percent over the previous and doubled the growth rate from the previous year.
Multi-family properties are upping their game with amenities to satisfy the millennial, like pathway trails, outdoor spaces, green roof terraces, bicycle compartments and even dry cleaning services. Some luxury-living communities have staged lobbies, similar to what you’d find in five star hotels, to dominate and attract this millennial generation.
From how they deliver there communication with this group to the luxury amenities they provide, property developers and the like are incorporating technological advances in their properties.
Millennials are from the high-tech world and expect it in their work space.
According to building design and construction there are communities and work places upgrading with USB ports, Wireless internet, modern cafes and other amenities that are popular with the millennial groups.
The building industry is starting to invest in new technology allowing tenants the convenience to control and regulate there heating, lighting and cooling. Millennials like things now and want to have the control over their area and especially in their living space.
Some places of employment are already advancing employee requirements, giving them the choice to get outside of the office. The new norm is different than the past, and that’s something millennials are going to expect in the future.
According to Paladino, a large percentage of the millennials believe attendance at the office on a regular basis is unnecessary. More and more employees are taking their work to offsite locations — like Peete’s Coffee, Star Bucks and Boulangerie — developers and property managers must change with the new millennial movement. To attract millennials, supervisors and department leads should make the work space appealing and inviting. Millennials want to have open spaces not small closed in cubicles.
Millennials appreciate the freedom to work outdoors, so property managers should consider expanding outdoor working space since this is becoming popular trend with the millennial group. Outdoor Patios and Lounge areas will create the diversity that attracts the Millennials.
This X generation responds well to visual changes and building upgrades.
They like modern retail design over a stand-alone, big boxes and conventional retailcenters, according to Robert Wulff, Director of George Mason’s Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship. So, there’s going to be combinations of big box and modern-type space in a more organic way to capture their attention.
Millennials also appreciate a fresh change, so developers must stay focused and on the move for change. Commercial property will require timely upgrades, such as improved signage or even a patio area.
Millennials have a keen focus for sustainable living more so than past years, and that’s influencing where they live and work.
Urban cities are attractive to this millennial group, especially places that offer public transit system, conveniently transportation and having bicycle facilities. This group will populate these types of areas in the near future. Sustainability is a key component that attracts this group; especially properties that are LEED certified and environmentally friendly.
You must advance with this generation, millennials are already impacting the real estate industry in a big way, and this new trend will continue to expand in the coming years.
This new trend will require business owners and developers to make a choice to be a part of this trend or not, simple changes could mean adding an outdoor lounging area, a Patio or a new JAVA bar with Wi-Fi.
At FloraTerra, we are committed to keeping our clients engaged with these new trends. We are a full-service commercial landscaping company covering the Bay Area.
So, if you’re looking for a landscape maintenance partner for your commercial property, let our experts at FloraTerra conduct a complimentary property assessment of your site. You can also call us at 408-275-1200 or contact us online.
FloraTerra provides community landscaping services and commercial office landscaping in and around the bay area , providing a complete range of services, including sustainable landscape improvements, drought friendly landscaping for Shopping Centers, Retail Mall Landscaping, R & D Developments, Luxury Apartment Landscaping, Residential Estate Landscaping, HOA condominium Landscaping Company, Condominium Developments and Commercial Office Parks, and Corporate Campus Landscaping.
ABOUT FloraTerra Landscape Management
FloraTerra of Silicon Valley and its affiliates, are based in San Jose, California. As a leading contractor and Landscape Management Company of commercial and multi-residential properties, since its origin the company and its affiliates have installed and maintain some of the most prestigious properties in the bay area. For more information about FloraTerra please visit http://www.floraterra.com.
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