If you are househunting in the year 2021 (and beyond), no doubt a home office is more than a tempting feature. For many of us, it’s become a must-have now that working from home is the new normal.
During the year 2020, millions of professionals found themselves suddenly working from home. Whether you were prepared for this or not depended heavily on whether your home had room for a home office. A guest room, an under-used den, or even a breakfast nook was all you needed to start setting up a real office at home. But, many homes simply weren’t equipped with the extra space. Now that you’re shopping for a new house, naturally, you want to find a home that is ideal both for your family lifestyle and your new work-from-home requirements.
With over 80% of employers providing some remote work and nearly 50% of employers creating full-time remote jobs, there’s no denying that home offices are something most households are now planning for. Let’s dive into the ways in which you can ensure your new home is perfect for living and working.
The Right House for Your Household
Househunting starts by matching homes to the needs of your household. You want the right number of bedrooms for family members, the right number of bathrooms for sanity, and a kitchen layout that suits your cooking style. You may need a yard for the dogs, a garage for the car, or a bathtub for the children. List your family must-haves as your starting place for finding the perfect new house for working from home.
Your Style of Home Working
Next, define how you like to work from home. Are you looking for a place with an extra bedroom to make into an enclosed office? Or would you rather a sunny breakfast nook where you can observe the house from your organized, open-style home office?
Some people need room for filing cabinets, some need extra power outlets for work devices. You may want a window in your office, or you might be happier converting a basement den into your private home workspace. You might need more or less square footage for your home office, or prefer a spacious master suite so you can work near your sleeping partner.
Envision Your Home Office Space in Each House
As you tour each home while house-hunting (virtually or personally), envision your home office in the space where it might go. Stand in the extra bedroom and imagine where the desk will go, where your bookshelves will stand, and consider whether the closet door should be removed to make room. It’s better to keep looking than to choose a place with insufficient home-office space.
You’ll know the right area when you find it because your envisioned workflow will fit perfectly into the space provided.
Use a Floorplan App to Test Furnished Layouts
You can also use a floorplan app to simulate the layout of each house. Get a real estimate for the ‘footprint’ of desks, chairs, and shelves. This can help visual thinkers to clarify whether the home office space in each house is big enough for office furniture. In addition, you can experiment with office designs without hauling around furniture to see the potentially productivity-boosting results of good design.
Househunting to Make Your Home Office a Reality
When you find a home that has everything your family needs and the perfect home office space, make your plan come to life. Bid on the home or apply to rent – depending on your circumstances. When you move in, move your home office furniture directly to the designated space. You can get started right away by deciding where your desk will go for the most enjoyable and focus-enhancing workspace.
The Perfect Home for Living and Working
Here at Denver Dyllan Real Estate, we know that times are changing and so are home-buyer priorities. If you need a home with room for an office, we are here to help. Contact us today to find the perfect house for living and working.