Is a Home Office Important to Buyers?
Working from home is a concept that is likely here to stay. At least to some extent!
Businesses have worked hard to figure out, plan and develop solutions for continued efficiency in this ever-changing post-pandemic world. In Waterloo Region, employers are actively keeping up with the flexibility many employees have found a welcome change due to the pandemic and "trying out" working from home. At REMAX and throughout the real estate industry, we see people trying to keep up with the surge of escalating housing prices, shortages of supply/demand and the growing interest in home buyers to have a suitable and functional workspace in their homes.
This has created a new trend in residential real estate that impacts the industry beyond commercial real estate. Sellers must be aware that potential buyers want a home office space in their real estate wishlist more than ever before. A home office is no longer a "nice to have" option for most homeowners but a pivotal part of needed space. Some of our clients argue that home office space may be as important as the kitchen. Additionally, with school learning, often available with digital access and work from home a part of many work schedules, realtors understand that remote work and school may likely continue to be integral to home environments. As a result, sellers, realtors, stagers and builders must rise to the home office as a new essential. Buyers are looking for ways to adequately accommodate the new working methods, including quiet working spaces in the home for office and learning times.
There are likely hybrid scenarios that will take place for years, so if you want to sell your home, renovating or staging a home office space is an absolute must. Supporting home buyers with clear solutions to promote their success during the coming years will make it more appealing to the work-from-home enthusiast.
The beautiful thing about staging a home for a home office is the personal touches that are becoming less evident in the refurbished office spaces that use hotelling or hot desks as an efficient new option. Home offices can showcase family photos or sentimental gift trinkets on desks. Creativity and style can thrive on being consistent with home decor. Wellness can become an evident part of the surroundings using natural light and holistic elements to highlight all the cozy and appealing workspaces potential buyers can imagine. Proudly showing a child's artwork or family photos in a home office space invites your identity, purpose and personality to shine through. A home office that helps potential buyers visualize accepting the occasional hug interruption before naps or after school pick-up helps working parents feel involved and positively participatory in family routines.
Simple ways to warm up your home office include adding:
Natural elements such as wood, plants, water features or flowers
Essential oils and diffusers
Artificial or Real plant clusters
Natural light with sensitivity to glare and heat
Ergonomic furniture options such as a stand-up desk and functional chair
Decor that makes you smile or sparks joy in a personal way
Balancing that personal space also comes with challenges, as is well documented from the pandemic stories of working parents home-schooling at the same time from the kitchen table. Privacy for focused work, collaborative virtual meetings and stillness during peak demands can be better accommodated now for the working from home family.
Home builders and sellers will likely acquire and spark peaked interest by creating or showcasing spaces that clearly identify the opportunities for the hybrid or remote worker. You want your home office to appeal to potential homeowners during these continued economic shifts and unprecedented turns. Offering a functional appeal to complement your other spaces provides a more comprehensive and holistic approach.
Are you curious about how to create or imagine an appealing home office space in your house?
We would love to help you prepare and meet your work-from-home needs.
