Unleashing your potential: Homeworking features to impress
A home office or a designated working space is one of the trending spaces homebuyers are looking for. The trick is finding a way to balance professional and personal lives, creating a productive and inspiring home office space.
A new law came into effect on the 6th April in Britain which gives employees the legal right to request flexible working from their first day in a job. Before the pandemic, only around one in eight working adults reported working from home, but this has now risen. In 2023, according to data from the Office of National Statistics, 44% of people in the UK worked from home at least some of the time (hybrid or full-time remote), but is that now set to rise?
Keep the essentials
In today's era of remote working, it's essential to assist prospective buyers in envisaging where they can place a computer, aid their children with schoolwork, or conduct private Zoom meetings. Selling a property becomes challenging when the space fails to reach its full potential or doesn't match the property's overall aesthetic.
In terms of home office staging, a minimalist approach is often the best. The room should be furnished adequately without seeming crowded, and it's vital to ensure buyers can navigate the room comfortably without tripping over furniture. Storage is imperative to keep clutter at bay; think about using built-in shelves, cabinets, and desk space to create a more organised workspace.
For remote workers lacking a dedicated home office, a multitasking kitchen or living room often serves as the workstation, posing challenges to work-life balance. A dual-purpose hideaway office desk provides ample storage space and allows you to tuck your workspace away at the end of the day. This aids in switching off and effectively conceals any workspace mess, maintaining home aesthetics.
Ample natural lighting is a crucial factor for potential property purchasers, especially when it comes to home offices. A brightly lit, lively workspace can improve productivity and boost one's mood, creating a conducive working atmosphere. Whether it's answering phone calls or joining virtual meetings, privacy is vital in any home office. Buyers are searching for areas that are peaceful and separate from the rest of the house, ensuring an uninterrupted work area.
Create character
Maintain balance in your room by minimalistic accessorising. It's crucial to retain a unified style among objects placed on tables and shelves. Follow a particular theme concerning colour, material, and size. Neutral shades involve hues of silver, black, white, and tan. Incorporate potted succulents and plants to breathe life into your decor, evoking a serene vibe in your workspace.
New-build properties often pose a challenge as they lack distinct architectural features, such as chimney recesses and alcoves, perfect for desk spaces, essential for modern home office ideas. Using vintage items can bestow distinctive character and originality to your home office, especially when the walls are white, or extensive bookshelves prevent artwork display. Styling vintage pieces requires respecting the architectural integrity of the house. Some homes embrace antiques, while others find an eclectic blend of vintage and contemporary ideal.
Add statements
Contrary to shared workspaces, home offices provide a unique canvas for expressing your individuality. A distinctive wallpaper design is an effective means to inject vibrancy and style. Overusing all-encompassing office wall décor concepts can feel overpowering. Instead, consider applying striking wallpaper to a feature wall or a partition separating a desk space from a storage area.
Before introducing artwork into an office, stroll around the space and contemplate the desired art form, size and style – hasty decisions off-plan are unadvisable. If your office shares its environment with your living area, painting is a swift and simple solution to demarcate the space. Darker hues prove highly effective in smaller areas such as home offices, inducing a comforting ambiance that promotes focus.
Giving potential buyers a workspace that makes a statement and has character will enable them to envisage working there and gives them a sense of home. When someone gets that feeling, they are already starting to consider making an offer.
Technology practicalities
Having an efficient workspace is critical, especially in home offices. This means carefully considering the layout, particularly the power supply arrangements. Overcrowded extension leads and insufficient outlets in inconvenient locations can cause frustration and hinder productivity. Regardless of whether your space is a dedicated home office or a multipurpose room, considering practicalities, such as appropriate power sources and device management, is key.
The strength of your broadband will also be a key factor to any potential buyer especially in the home working space. Make sure you can provide this information to demonstrate that your property is fully equipped for anyone looking for the ideal home for homeworking. No potential buyer wants the expense of moving electrics, and trailing cables give the impression that a space is badly designed. It is little irks like this that can start giving niggles to potential buyers; therefore, resolve these issues now and you could be on your way to a sale.
Home offices are here to stay
If you’re thinking of selling your Thanet home think about how you can create a home working space to entice potential buyers. For more insights to buyers wants and needs, call 01843 222701 or email client.services@oakwoodhomes.biz.
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