The Home Office: What Buyers and Sellers Should Consider
by Jill Heineck, Associate Broker
Heineck & Company @ Keller Williams Realty Peachtree Road
More and more people are working from home. But the trend is relatively new and most houses have been built and designed for living, sleeping, and playing – not working. So options for a home office are usually an extra bedroom, a formal living or dining area, a detached space or bonus room over the garage, and the much maligned basement.
Sellers: Help Buyers See Their Office Space
When you’re preparing to list and market your house, staging a room as a home office can be a huge advantage. Buyers like to have a visual of where their work space can be. (Even if a buyer doesn’t need a home office, staging the space can do double duty as a study or homework space for kids.) Consider an open loft area that currently serves as an oversized landing. Or, a formal living room in the front of the house that currently serves as a play room. Convert it into a staged home office, complete with French doors.
Buyers: Think About What Works for You
When you’re in the market for a house, don’t let your new home office happen by default. Make sure your Realtor® knows what kind of work you do and what you’re looking for. If you’re a work-at-home newbie, think about the pros and cons of your current space. If you’re a seasoned veteran, great! You probably know just what you want. But this is also an opportunity to bring a fresh perspective and an open mind to the houses you look at.
Open or Closed?
Even the IRS acknowledges that a home office doesn’t have to have four walls and a door to qualify for the home-office deduction (the space must, however, be used exclusively for business). The real question is what will make you happy working – and living – in your new home. Does the extra bedroom at the far end of the house feel too remote, or not get enough natural light? A formal, more-open living or dining space closer to the heart of the house might do the trick instead. On the other hand, if you’re someone who likes (or needs) to draw a clear line between work and home life, an extra bedroom, bonus room, or even a basement is the way to go.
Of course, if a big, sunny window is a must, that rules out many basements, but the subterranean space shouldn’t be dismissed automatically. Depending on the ceiling height and other features, a basement can be turned into a great, inviting space that offers privacy not just for you but for any clients that visit.