Last updated on September 11th, 2020 at 11:18 pm
Last Updated on September 11, 2020 by
COVID has changed many things. One thing that has changed and perhaps more permanently is the home office. Having a home office is of course not something new, however, with the advent of home wifi, many buyers have opted out of a home office.
Whats wrong with couch?
Who needs a dedicated room when the couch and a laptop will suffice? The advent of COVID has forced people to use their homes as an actual office, not just doing a little work at home. How many of us have been on a call with someone working from home?
You hear the dogs bark, the kids fighting and the spouse yelling that it’s time to leave for shopping. Most of my family located in various communities are or have been working from home. There are some benefits, but the lack of a private space has made it difficult for many.
The new paradigm
This new paradigm means that most people who work from their homes need a dedicated quiet space for privacy. That dining room table or the patio table just will not cut it any longer. People with kids at home can have found it difficult working in large open spaces
The whole idea of the recent trend towards a completely open house is changing. Buyers who will be working from their home permanently want an actual office in the home. Someplace where they can have a video call without background noise from TV’s. the dog and others.
Builders were creating home office spaces for many years and some new home builders have reverted to this configuration in recent months. Buyers who were looking for a three-bedroom home to house the family are now looking for a four-bedroom house.
That open concept, not so much anymore
A number of homes have a room without doors off the entry area or attached to the most active room in the house. These rooms can be converted to offices by installing doors.
We are all pleased with the advent of wifi, running cables along walls, through attics, and punching holes through walls is over. This means that any room in the house can be used as an office provided it has a door and meets the inside dimensions that are necessary to hold a desk, chair, work surfaces, filing cabinets, etc.
Rooms with large walls that do not contain closet doors or windows are useful for whiteboards and to hang a large monitor if more than one person will be using the room. Let me tell you about my home office.
My home office is great
I have a home office that is located on the second floor of my home, it happens that this home has a single very large room on the second floor. There is only one room on the second floor. I moved my desk so that it was in front of the two large windows. My desk faces the windows with my monitors backing up to the windows.
When I need inspiration, I look out the windows at the trees, birds, and sky. It’s pleasant and I do not feel “caged”. My home office is ideal. When we planned to buy the home, I was going to use one of the five bedrooms. I found that they were too close to the kitchen and the TV. Moving it to the top floor where I am isolated is great.
I believe that the room has to have natural light to facilitate a good work environment. There should be adequate electrical outlets or get plug strips to distribute your equipment around e.g. printer, charging cords, extra monitors, etc.
You need natural light
Get a ceiling fan if you do not have one. Lighting is very important. I bought a 4′ led work light, the type used in garages. On dull days and in the evening, it lights the workspace like being in sunlight. I bought an inductive charger for my iPhone that allows the phone to stand up and I can view the screen while it is charging. No pulling it off the cord every time I need it and that’s often.
There are some good things about working from home and those of you who have been working from home lately know them so I will not go into that for now except to explore some of the financial advantages.
Tax breaks can help pay for your home and office
You can deduct an office in the home if you work for an employer. Ask the employer for a letter stating that you are, required to work from home. Measure your dedicated room (a good reason to have a fixed space). Determine what percentage of the entire house your office comprises e.g. 15%. Apply this percentage against costs. Costs will include mortgage, maintenance, utilities, and many other things.
If you buy furniture, computers and anything else for the office, even pictures on the wall, deduct them. Keep records of what you bought and how much you paid. You can help offset the mortgage payment for a new home with a real office space using the deduction described above.
Ask your employer for an allowance
Better yet, get your employer to provide a home allowance of, for example, $500 per month. Use that allowance to help buy the right size home. If this is a continuous allowance, the mortgage broker can use it on your ratios and income to get you qualified.
We opened our new office in Gulfport, MS in July but I intend to keep my office at home. You may be in a similar situation where the boss wants you in the office for two or three days per week. You can work from home for the remainder of the time.
The cloud makes it all possible
This is where the cloud comes in. If you are not using cloud software e.g. Google, Microsoft for your projects, writing, spreadsheets, etc, you should. This means that you have access to everything regardless of where you are physically.
The cloud allows for remote working without taking home a briefcase full of files as people did back in the day. You should have little problem having two offices with technology today.
At this point, you know you need a space for your home office. Not a playroom for the kids. A space where you can have an electronic meeting without interruption. A space where you can layout your plans and they are in the same place a day later. You need a home office, a dedicated room that meets all your needs.
Perhaps it’s time to look around for that perfect house that has a dedicated home office already. Your ideal home may have a room that can be made into a home office with little modification. This is where our expertise comes in.
We can help
Logan-Anderson (a plug for our business), can find the perfect home with a home office or space that can be modified. If the space can be modified at minimal cost, we could perhaps have the seller pay to have this done at closing. Check out this website that shows how you can create that perfect space.
The principals of our firm both have home offices and have had for years. We have helped others find homes with home office spaces. We want to be the first experts on the Mississippi Gulf Coast who find the greatest number of home office spaces in ideal homes. You can help us achieve that goal by contacting us to help you.
Please leave comments about this article and browse our site. If you are interested in selling or buying a home, contact us.
Our thanks to: Needpix.com flickr.com pickist.com thebluediamondgallery.com for their art.
