Many of us have been touched by COVID-19 in deeply personal ways, whether we’ve fought the virus ourselves or suffered the loss of someone we love, a job we value and/or the lifestyle we once enjoyed. This is a cascade of change, for all of us, and it’s going to take time to adjust. 

One big change you may not have expected is actually pretty positive: the pandemic is shifting our values in ways that make life healthier and more meaningful, foster deeper connections, and can even help our pocketbooks and the planet. Let’s take a look at what this means. 

Change is happening everywhere. The pandemic is altering lifestyles, housing and economic realities for millions of Americans. Where we can bounce back, fortunately, we’re doing it. Work from home? Used to it. Zoom calls all day? We’re pros. Elbow bumps in lieu of handshakes? A little awkward, but doable. It might not always be pleasant, but we’re adapting.

Over the last 100 years or so, the American economy—and, in many ways, our culture—has been hyper-focused on efficiency and specialization. Interestingly, this focus has changed our lives and relationships too. In a speech given at the 2019 Aspen Ideas Festival, author and CEO Marc Freedman shared how post-industrialized America began to “specialize” experiences by age in a way that previous societies had not, and the trend has only accelerated over the years. This kind of segmentation is efficient for marketers, education, military service and medicine… but we’ve lost something along the way.

During a recent short transition from my last homesharing arrangement to my current one, I stayed at an Airbnb. That’s where I learned about and experienced their "Superhost" classification, and it made me think about what the Silvernest equivalent might look like.

No doubt about it, these are strange days for most of us. COVID-19 is changing daily life very quickly and on a global scale. Naturally, when the rest of the world seems crazy, home is where we feel most comfortable and safe.

If you're homesharing or have roommates, shelter-in-place can be stressful—even for the best of friends and most loving of family members. But the truth is, you and your roommate must rely on each other more than ever right now—you’re in it together, quite literally!

Here are our tips for making this time at home with your roommate(s) as smooth as possible.

Watch Sara Connell interview Silvernest CEO Wendi Burkhardt for the Women Starting Movements Series.

What makes your house “home?” Is it the memories you’ve made in the surrounding neighborhood or city? Are you still enamored by a favorite feature? Do you find yourself daydreaming in a particularly comfortable spot? For many homeowners, the answers to these questions come naturally. And yet, it can be difficult to communicate those answers in a way that will turn a potential housemate’s head. 

The description you choose for your Silvernest listing is a chance to sell potential renters on the opportunity to share your home. It’s a crucial first impression we recommend you spend some time on, and we’re here to help. Here are five steps to make your homeshare listing stand out from the crowd. 

In addition to your legally binding lease, it is important to create a homesharing agreement with your housemate.

Security and trust are essential components of a happy homesharing relationship. Living with another person means getting up close and personal, which is why Silvernest is built with security and compatibility in mind. Here’s a list of seven ways Silvernest puts your security front and center.