Midwest RE News: Dan Brown Looks Back at 2020
One year gone: What have CRE pros missed most during 12 months of COVID-19?
MARCH 14, 2021
Maybe it was March 12 when the NCAA canceled its March Madness college basketball tournaments. Or maybe it was when your children’s school announced that it would shut down for “two weeks.” Or maybe you realized just how much of an impact COVID-19 would have on your life when your den, kitchen or guest bedroom became your office.
It’s been about a year now since COVID-19 upended life, and the commercial real estate business, in the United States. But this March looks brighter. Vaccines are rolling out, with U.S. states now dispensing an average of more than 2 million shots each day. At the same time, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all falling.
The hope is that the worst days of the pandemic are behind us. But on the one-year anniversary of the first stay-at-home orders, we asked several commercial real estate professionals what they’ve missed most during this long year, and what they looked forward to in the second half of 2021.
Here’s what they had to say.
Managing principal, president
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Before the pandemic, the workday was always hectic but there was a more even flow of activity. I could get to the office early and plan my day before heading out to appointments. Now it seems that everyone’s schedule is shifting, with varying work and home schedules — and the ever-changing school schedules. It’s harder to juggle everything and find that time to get ahead of the day.
There is also a tremendous need for flexibility right now and that can be positive but it also impacts the work flow. Many people are working different hours due to their kids’ school schedules, so that affects our schedules and how we interact in the office.
We have a large open meeting space in our office that allows us to congregate and still keep a safe distance from each other. Our ability to still meet in person and talk about transactions, client needs and the overall flow of business has been a big help. The pandemic has created so much social isolation that can really put a strain on our lives.
I’m excited for the post-pandemic world so that we can connect with people in person, do more traveling and see our kids get back to a normal social life.
