Why remote work rental houses are sub-optimal and what needs to change
With all bets off for ‘normal life’ (at least for the time being) I’ve been observing some interesting trends showing how people are adapting.
AirBNB is saying “we are seeing profound shifts in the way we live and work”.
The volume of reviews by US guests mentioning “remote working” or “work remotely” since the start of the pandemic has nearly tripled from the same period last year. (AirBNB, Aug 2020)
It also looks like people are taking their pets with them and staying local. Airbnb reports a 90% spike on the “allow pets” search filter and the new-to-Airbnb guests are booking locations within 300 miles of their homes.
From these statistics, we can surmise that people want to go somewhere within driving distance of their homes, with their pets, to work.
This is a big change in routine for many, and I’m going to guess it’s a good novel alternative, based on the options available. However, from the conversations I’ve been having with people who have taken this route, I‘m seeing the following short-comings for this solution.
1. It can get lonely
People are no longer surrounded by culture, friends, variety and services that the city offers. Moving away from lively urban spaces, like San Francisco, can be a shock. Small towns, although quaint, generally lack a diversity of culture, opinions, particular food supplies and innovation.
Renting a house for work, not for a vacation, means spending long amounts of time without human interaction and familiar faces that can be found in the workplace or your local community.
The peace and quiet might be alluring at first, especially if you’ve escaped a busy family home or traffic-filled streets. For many, this becomes a little too empty and productivity and happiness can decline.
Even if people have their pets with them, there’s still a gap in what we are used to experiencing (and there’s only so much heavy petting our furry friends should be forced to endure!).
2. It can get expensive
The cost of renting a house short-term adds up. The average monthly one or two-bedroom property, within a two-hour range of San Francisco, is upward of $3,000. In many cases, it’s much higher. Some people are overcoming this by organizing a group of friends to occupy a large house together. This can be a smart way to lower the rent, however, it can introduce a time burden for the lead organizer to coordinate the group and get it happening. There can be challenges around harmonizing with a bunch of friends who are all trying to work in the same house, with no established protocols or oversight.
It is also typically time-consuming to research locations and ensure there is high-speed internet and figuring out if the property will work as a home and workspace.
3. It’s only temporary
As this is a short term solution, there’s little motivation or ability to customize the environment to be more satisfactory. This might include adapting the physical surrounding to be more conducive to focused work sessions, or to develop relationships with neighbors or like-minded people in the community (to overcome the loneliness).
Each location takes time to become familiar with the kitchen and the quirks of the particular house. And you’re on your own to figure it out. Just when you are getting the hang of things you have to turn around and pack up, then learn the ropes at your next location.
In consideration of these challenges, we’ve been working on a better solution at KASABA. Something that is cheaper, easier, and more social. We’re now inviting people to join a coworking cohort at our co-retreat village two hours north of San Francisco.
We take the heavy lifting out of coordinating a remote working group by providing a full-time host who is available to support each guest and facilitate a better dynamic for everyone.
There are specially designed, flexible spaces that allow for a optimized work environment that can be adapted for the needs of each cohort.
Given we have an average of 10 people per intake, there will be no lack of social interaction to keep people energized and happy.
It’s more like what you expect from a coworking hub - with accommodation, fresh air and a vegetable garden included.
Each cohort starts on the same day, when we set goals and collectively map activities for the following four weeks.
Joining a cohort is by application and there are limited numbers. We try to assemble a great group to increase cohesion and enjoyment for every participant.
Learn more about the coworking cohorts on the KASABA website and follow us on Instagram to get updates on when the next intake is happening.
