COVID-19 has changed much of our lives and now people are working from home or doing distance learning. Although folks can do these anywhere in the home – even outside if they’d like – people are vying for a home office.
A home office gives homeowners the feeling that they can do their work in a dedicated space, and once their work day is over, they can close the door and forget about it. The home office is becoming a hot commodity so much so, HomeLight’s Q3 2020 survey shows that 45% of real estate agents say homeowners are turning a spare room into a home office. The survey also shows 14% of agents are adding features specific for home learning, like built-in desks, storage bins, and bookshelves.
If you’re tired of sitting in the living room or dining room table and want to build a home office, here are a few things to keep in mind!
1. Set a realistic budget
One of the things that homeowners love to do when starting a project is to look at various design ideas online. The fancy furniture, the luxurious finishes, and so on are fun to look at and picture in your own home… But these things add up and can get very expensive!
That’s why you need to set a budget for your project. Not only do you have to set a budget, you have to have the discipline to stick to it!
2. Give yourself plenty of time to complete it
It doesn’t matter how long you think a project will take to complete, you should always give yourself an extra day or two (or more if it’s going to be a huge renovation) to get it done. Some projects may only take an afternoon to finish (like painting a room) and other tasks like removing and replacing the floor will take a bit longer.
The point of giving yourself a little more time than you expect to need is because you don’t want to hurry through it just to meet a deadline. That’s when things go wrong and would take even more time!
3. Decide what item(s) you want to splurge on
Although you have a budget and need to stick to it, that doesn’t mean you can’t spend your money on nicer things. Think about what you’re doing to the room and what items you’ll need in it. Then you can choose where you can splurge.
Let’s say you’re someone who works best in the morning. You could allocate a portion of your budget to install a large window that would bathe the room in sunlight. Maybe you have a bad back and need an aerodynamic office chair, you could spend a little more money and purchase a good chair.
Of course, keep in mind that if you splurge on some things, you’ll have to save on others!
4. Hire a contractor if you’re doing extensive renovations
There are some things that the average homeowner can do without the help of a certified contractor. Things like painting, rearranging furniture and possibly even switching out light fixtures can be done on your own. However, if you need electrical work done, replacing windows, or even refinishing hardwood flooring, you may want to hire a professional so you know the job is done right.
If you do hire a contractor, make sure you factor labor into your budget.
5. Step away from the project if you’re overwhelmed
These are stressful times, to be sure. Adding a renovation project on top of that isn’t going to help matters either. When you feel overwhelmed or frustrated as the project progresses, don’t force yourself to keep working – that’s when accidents and mistakes happen.
It’s perfectly fine to take a step back and give yourself some time to calm down. Once you’re feeling better, you’ll be less likely to make a mistake once you start again. Taking a break isn’t just good for your sanity, it’s great for your safety!
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