A new definition of luxury living is emerging thanks to Covid-19 forcing so many to work from home for more than a year. As a result, buyers are placing more emphasis on design and the artistic expression in the homes they're looking to invest in.
"Exceptional outdoor space with views to match, innovative and sophisticated home offices that evoke creativity all form part of the quintessential features that reflect a buyer’s distinctive tastes when it comes to considering a location property."
This is according to Julia Finnis-Bedford, owner of Amazing Spaces and co-founder and director of the newly launched Amazing Spaces Lifestyle Investments.
READ: Demand for ultra-luxury SA homes 'skyrocket' | Be wary of these pitfalls
International film locations company, Amazing Spaces, has paired film crews from all over the globe with the most sublime settings offered by South African properties since 2000.
"Our exclusive portfolio ranges from rare designer penthouses and celebrity homes to large private estates with unrivalled access to nature and adorned with some of the finest interior finishes. These locations are highly sought-after by some of the world’s top photographers who naturally demand only the best. In many ways our buyers are like the photographers we’ve worked with for so many years. They have an eye for the extraordinary and we have the homes to match.”
This Art Deco penthouse apartment in Cape Town's City Centre, designed by Robert Silke, is a prime example of this.
"Timing is everything and while the high-end property market has always intrigued foreign investors, the pandemic has made it even more desirable with low interest rates and excellent value for money," says Andrew Dewey, director and co-founder of Amazing Spaces Lifestyle Investments.
“We consider the properties we sell to be scarce resources and before listing a property we ensure they meet at least three of the following criteria.
'Selling a lifestyle'
"They must have some historical significance and tell a story. We look at whether the home was designed by a renowned architect. If it embodies any artistic architectural features worth noting. How technologically smart the home is, as well as the size of the building and the land, and of course its location.
"We are not in the business to sell homes; we sell lifestyles,” says Dewey.
READ: SA Lifestyle Estates see highest demand in 10 years | Here's where they're most affordable
“We’ve carved out a niche within the sector for which we are focusing our efforts on especially seeing we have a network of potential buyers and sellers already in place. And as the vaccine rollout gains momentum, we’re likely to see an even bigger surge in demand for this type of property in the long-term.”
“Buyers seem to also have become far savvier about home innovation and design and are looking for an ideal balance when it comes to matching it with comfort and personal style. We are therefore placing a lot more emphasis on how we train our sales staff, who will need to understand the structural and technical functionalities of each home. This after all constitutes a new normal for what was previously termed luxury.”
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