Up until now, the home office wasn’t a priority on a house hunter’s like. But, now that millions of people are working from home or doing distance learning, the home office is highly sought after. In fact, HomeLight’s Q3 survey reveals 45% of surveyed real estate agents say their clients want one or more home offices! The survey goes on to show that 14% of agents have clients who are improvising and are turning a spare room into a dedicated classroom for their school age children.
If you’re struggling to find a quiet space to get your work done or your children are easily distracted when they’re on a Zoom call with a teacher, a home office may be in your future. Before diving in, here are some things you should keep in mind.
1. Budget
Unless you have an unlimited bank account, creating a budget should be the very first thing you do before tackling any renovation project. When thinking about the budget, you’ll want to consider the cost for materials (paint, flooring, lighting, etc.), labor (if you’re hiring a contractor), decor and furniture.
If you’re trying to be frugal, you can buy second hand furniture and decor from flea markets or thrift stores. You can add your own touch to them by painting them, refinishing or reupholstering the items. You can also save money by doing things yourself if it’s within your skill set. That means if you don’t know a thing about running wires, hire an electrician!
2. Timeline
Whether you’re slapping a fresh coat of paint on the walls or breathing new life into old flooring, you’re going to want to have enough time to get the job done, and get it done right. Yes, some projects (like painting) can be done on a weekend, which is fine and well. It’s the larger projects that you’ll want to plan extra days for.
Things like putting in new flooring, replacing the windows, or building a built-in workstation… They’re going to take more time than you think! So, whatever you think will be enough time to get a task done, add an extra day or two so you have plenty of wiggle room.
3. Splurge
Yes, you may be on a budget, but that doesn’t mean you have to be frugal with everything. You can splurge a little bit on things that will add a little joy and comfort to your new office. For example, maybe you’ve always wanted a plush rug under your desk so you can wiggle your toes in it’s softness while brainstorming. Maybe you’ve always loved the look of a stained glass desk lamp and you want one for your own desk. These things can be expensive, but if they make you happy, then you can always rework your budget to accommodate.
4. Contractor
If you’re going to do something extreme, like creating an addition for the home office, you are not going to be able to do it yourself. You’re going to need a contractor who is licensed and insured! But, you don’t want to choose just anyone. Do some research and find the top rated contractor in your area. You can also ask the people in your life if they have any recommendations.
5. Relax
Working on a big project can be stressful, especially if you’re almost at the top of your budget, if something goes wrong, or even if the kids are getting in the way. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s perfectly okay to take a break and get your head right. Once you’re calm and more relaxed, then you can come back to the project more focused and determined!
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