2020: Looking back and looking forward. What has COVID19 done to the building industry?

This year has been one for the books, quite literally. 2020 and the effects of COVID19 will be talked about for years to come. It will be something they teach children about in schools, it has shaped many children’s formative years, it has closed down businesses, ignited others, and painfully taken lives. But what has it done to the building industry? Some say; “to know where you are going, you must know where you have come from”. Before we can set intentions, plans and goals for 2021, let’s take a look at the occurrences of 2020 and the implications on the future.

2020 dun dun DONE: 

It is well known around the globe that New Zealand has been one of the leaders and most successful countries in regards to the fight against COVID-19. A lot of this is due to our governments’ quick response in locking down borders and enforcing temporary restrictions on businesses and social gatherings. So, yay us! That is something to be proud of and boast to our neighbours across the ditch. 

Unavoidably these off and on shutdowns and restrictions have caused delays in multiple industries. While the building and construction industry is considered “lucky” by some, as it is a sector the government has committed to investing in. There is no doubt that these shifts will be felt for months and even years to come. 

Many construction and development projects have been delayed or flat out cancelled because:

-The owner/client no longer has the income or funding

-The construction or design team has had to lay-off employees and simply no longer has the man (or woman) power to keep up with the demand of back-logged projects

-The required imported materials have been delayed 

While the market has started to stabilise, some sectors are actually finding competition rates higher than usual. This could be due to 2 factors; some businesses have had to raise their rates to recoup their losses, while others have lowered their rates to accommodate for the times. 

The overall sentiment from industry stakeholders is one of optimism and gratitude. We for one, are grateful for the privilege of living in the country that we do, and are optimistic that the industry is on the pathway to recovery.

What else has 2020 brought to be grateful for?

Well, if you haven’t heard of it already Superhome has released The Healthy Home Design Guide for industry members and is accessible to the public. This guide has been pieced together by over 70 industry professionals with the ultimate goal of educating industry stakeholders and raising the standards of New Zealand housing. This guide aims to elevate the standard code-compliant dwellings across the country to create homes that are healthy, affordable and sustainable for our people. 

2021, are we there yet?

Many people are asking when life will return to “normal” around the globe. Although our daily lives here are generally what they once were at surface value, the effects of 2020 are something that our industry and community continue to experience. Over time we will transition into a new normal which is much of what we have begun to experience within our immediate community.

Looking forward, what do you think the future will look like? Perhaps this shift has brought to light a gap for you? Or forced you to re-evaluate your home, workspace and beyond? What are your BIG plans for 2021?

Let us know in the comments, and cheers to the New Year!