EspaceProprio, which brings together a group of companies that
offer support services related to home ownership including
DuProprio, Confia and RenoAssistance, unveils the results of its
latest Well-being at home survey. This major study of more than
2,000 Quebecers examined their relationship with their home and
cities of residence, as well as their housing concerns and
aspirations.
There’s no place like homeNo
less than 92% of Quebecers say they feel best when at home. This
feeling is reflected in their stay-at-home habits as nearly half of
the people surveyed (44%) report they are at home almost all of the
time, while 47% spend a majority of their time there after work.
Relaxation and personal time (39%) top the list of activities
taking up the most time at home, followed by work (32%), chores
(13%) and cooking (10%).
“The pandemic obviously had a huge impact on the
connection we feel to our home by reinforcing the idea of creating
a cocoon in our image. For a majority of us and more than ever
before, this place has become the centre of our lives and
well-being. The advent of telework means that people now spend more
time at home and that has driven them to redefine certain spaces.
The result: people enjoy being at home, feel in their element there
and adapt it to their taste,” says Pascal Laflamme, Chief Operating
Officer and Chief Integrated Experience Officer at
EspaceProprio.
A home in your image The vast
majority of respondents (82%) believe their home reflects their
image, a perception especially reinforced among homeowners (88%)
and those who have recently renovated (87%). When asked about their
dream interior, people surveyed placed contemporary/modern décor
first (24%) before traditional (15%), country (14%) or minimalist
(9%).
Regional profileBest
places to liveThe EspaceProprio index that measures
at-home satisfaction averages 7.7 out of 10 across the province. At
the top of the list, people who live in Abitibi, Nord-du-Québec and
Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean are the most satisfied with their home (8.0
out of 10), while Montreal finds itself at the bottom with an
average of 7.3.
Where are the ideal cities?
Residents in the Capitale-Nationale, Lower St. Lawrence, on the
North Shore and in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine Islands think
their city is the most suitable to live (7.5 out of 10).
Conversely, residents of Laval (6.8), Lanaudière (6.7) and
Outaouais (6.7) say their city does not meet their
expectations.
Overall, about three out of four people (76%)
say they are connected to their current city, an attachment that
increases with age to reach 85% among those aged 65-74, who can no
longer see themselves living anywhere else.
Montreal: busy and stressful
At-home satisfaction (7.3 out of 10) and pride (7.1 out of 10)
rates are lower in Montreal. More than three out of four
Montrealers (78%) say they are attached to their city. City
residents stay at home less and feel more stimulated, active and
busy than anywhere else in Quebec. In the current real estate
context, their home is more often (32%) a stress factor than
elsewhere (26% for the Quebec population). When asked about their
future aspirations at home, people living in Montreal were more
likely to mention the desire for tranquility (30%) and a bigger
property (28%).
National Capital: a special relationship
with their cityWith an at-home satisfaction rate in line
with the provincial average (7.7), Quebec City residents stand out
for how they describe the relationship with their city. A record
42% of them say they are very attached to their city. Along the
same lines, Quebec City (60%) and Chaudière-Appalaches (62%) also
have the highest proportion of Quebecers who say they feel happy in
their city.
Call of the wildWhen asked
where their ideal home would be (urban, suburbs, rural), only 25%
of respondents would live in an urban setting (compared to 37% who
say they currently live there). It is often more of a necessity
than a choice to live in a city so a third of people surveyed (33%)
note their current situation is not where they would actually like
to be.
Regarding housing aspirations, closer to nature
(26%) and more peace of mind (24%) are the most common factors in
Quebec. This desire to be around nature is consistent throughout
the province, an indication of the top billing given to green
spaces. While the appeal of a larger property (39%) or a larger
plot of land (33%) is most appealing to 18-34 year-olds, the idea
of reducing maintenance and responsibilities (31%) is most
appealing to those aged 55 and over.
Single-family homes get top
billingQuebecers maintain their love affair with
single-family homes as nearly half of respondents (45%) see
themselves living in one in 10 years, far in front of all other
housing types (condo: 17%, apartment: 13%, multi-generational home:
7%). Even among ages 65-74, the trend to want to grow old at home
is genuine since 39% of them see themselves still in their house in
10 years’ time.
Concessions to become a
homeownerNo big surprise that nearly two-thirds (64%) of
tenants in the province aspire to become future homeowners,
especially among those aged 18-34 (89%). In the current landscape
of home ownership, many aspiring homeowners resign themselves to
making concessions such as buying a property requiring minor
repairs (42%), working more (37%) or moving further away (34%).
Maintenance and renovations: send in the
cavalryFor 37% of respondents, home maintenance takes up
too much of their time and that number rises to 46% among those
aged 35-44 who are in the thick of their working lives. When it
comes to renovations, one out of three people (32%) say they lack
talent despite having good intentions and one-fourth (27%) prefer
to let someone else do the work. That being said, those who decided
to renovate over the last two years are clearly more satisfied (8.1
out of 10), have pride in their home (8.0) and spend more time
there.
“The results show there is a real need for
Quebec homeowners to be accompanied and supported in their property
maintenance and renovations. Lack of time, knowledge and technical
ability are challenges many people face once they buy a home. The
results of this study show that people who take action are
ultimately happier at home,” adds Pascal Laflamme.
Survey methodologyThe Ad hoc
Recherche web panel survey was conducted from December 4 to 13,
2023, on behalf of EspaceProprio, among 2,014 Quebecers aged 18 to
74. Data were weighted by region, age, gender, language and
residence status (owner/tenant) to best represent the study
population. Some regions were grouped together in order to achieve
a sufficient number of respondents for each regional grouping.
About EspaceProprio The
EspaceProprio ecosystem was created in Quebec in 2022. With over
420 employees in Quebec and Ontario, EspaceProprio is an initiative
of Desjardins Group that brings together a group of companies
offering support services for current and prospective homeowners.
For everything from renovation and maintenance to the sale or
purchase of a property, EspaceProprio’s mission is to provide
current and aspiring homeowners with the tools they need to realize
their real estate ambitions. The full lineup of EspaceProprio
services includes DuProprio, which empowers homeowners to sell
their homes broker-free with assistance from a professional team,
RenoAssistance, which provides made-to-measure support for
renovating and maintaining residential and commercial
properties and Confia, a real estate brokerage which
recommends partner brokers who are dedicated to helping people buy
and sell property. EspaceProprio's advisory service provides speedy
access to a network of reliable, competent professionals. Because a
house is more than a place to live, it’s a place of
fulfillment.
Media information:Laurence
Lafforgue-LapointeBusiness and Public Relations AdvisorCell.:
514 583-1316laurence.lafforgue@espaceproprio.com