| Choosing the ideal location for your home office isn't | | | | Garage |
| always as easy as some people may think. As a | | | | Using your garage as a home office isn't a bad idea at |
| matter of fact it can be one of the toughest decisions | | | | all. Obviously you don't want to just fit a desk, chair |
| to make in the early stages of your business. Most | | | | and computer in the middle of existing garage junk so |
| homes are already quite limited in the amount of space | | | | do make sure that you at least convert part of the |
| they have. Trying, then, to fit a home office into this | | | | garage into a proper home office. You could always |
| limited space can make matters more complicated | | | | partition off a section of the garage and dedicate that |
| than you may have ever considered. | | | | solely to your home office functions? If you have |
| What choices do you have? Let's have a look at | | | | enough space of course. |
| each. | | | | A major concern with using your garage as a home |
| Attic | | | | office is security. The garage is technically "outside" |
| Converting your attic for use as a home office is a | | | | your home so make sure that you have proper |
| wonderful idea. You'd have privacy and a dedicated | | | | security alarms and doors fitted to prevent intrusion. If |
| working area that's away from your friends and family. | | | | you're really serious about your business you could |
| Although an ideal location a proper attic conversion | | | | always convert the garage into an office by removing |
| can cost several thousands dollars to complete | | | | the garage door and having a wall built there instead. |
| properly. It's not just a matter of putting down some | | | | This may seem extreme but would provide a |
| flooring and fitting some power points on the walls. It | | | | complete solution to most security concerns. |
| needs to be properly ventilated and insulated to cater | | | | You'll also need to ensure that the garage is properly |
| for all types of weather. You'll also need some Velux | | | | heated, air conditioned and insulated. Otherwise you |
| windows fitted to make sure you have natural air and | | | | may find yourself in a well equipped office thats cold, |
| light coming into the new home office in your attic. | | | | uncomfortable to work in and even damp. |
| Another question worth asking is whether or not your | | | | Spare Bedroom |
| attic is actually capable of being converted - not all are. | | | | This is one of the favorite spots in any house to use |
| It depends on how the roofing timbers are arranged | | | | as a home office. Why? It comes with the advantage |
| and on the overall structure of the house. A local attic | | | | of being indoors, it's already painted and decorated and |
| conversion specialist will be able to help more with | | | | is, of course, heated and quite comfortable to work (or |
| advice on this. Just make sure that if you do decide to | | | | sleep) in. The vast majority of at-home-workers tend |
| go down this route that you have a proper stairs fitted | | | | to favor the spare bedroom as a home office for the |
| - some attic conversions only come supplied with | | | | reasons of simplicity and convenience. It's just a matter |
| ladders which simply isn't convenient or safe for any | | | | of putting in your furniture and your computer and |
| real business purpose. | | | | away you go right? Well kinda. |
| Basement | | | | The problem with using a spare bedroom is this. It was |
| Using your basement as a home office is a great idea | | | | a bedroom first and an office second. It's hard to get |
| normally. As a matter of fact a famous entrepreneur | | | | people to change how they see it in that regard. If you |
| friend of mine runs his entire business from his | | | | choose to make a spare bedroom your office then |
| basement. It allows him all the space he needs and | | | | make sure that it's function as an office comes before |
| again the privacy that a business requires to be run | | | | anything else. Do you really want guests sleeping near |
| properly. | | | | valuable equipment and/or sensitive business |
| Using your basement as a home office is very similar | | | | documents? Nope. Didn't think so. If necessary convert |
| to the idea of converting your attic except that far | | | | it fully to an office and throw away the "spare |
| less work is required for this room to become a | | | | bedroom" title altogether. You'll be glad you did. |
| functional home office; in that flooring and other such | | | | Family Rooms/Utility Rooms |
| items are rarely required in a basement. With all the | | | | Unless you have no other choice in where to locate |
| space that a basement provides it can easily become | | | | your home office then set it up here. Experience has |
| a case of home office clutter so make sure you have | | | | shown that trying to work productively when your kids |
| a dedicated area of the basement to work from that's | | | | family/friends are running/chatting/eating around you is |
| as far away from any utility items ,such as washing | | | | pretty much impossible. The same can be said of the |
| machines, as is possible. | | | | utility room - they tend to be far too noisy to be of any |
| The primary concerns with using a basement as a | | | | real use. Use these locations only as a last resort. |
| home office is dampness and any moisture related | | | | A key factor in setting up an office at home is for |
| damage to computer and other electronic equipment. | | | | those in your family and social circle to realize that it is |
| Printers and fax machines in particular hate dampness | | | | in fact an office and not just someplace for them to |
| and this can lead to no end of printing headaches. | | | | call in to for a chat and a coffee. If you're serious |
| Make sure your basement is well insulated, | | | | about your home business then be serious about your |
| damp-proofed and properly air-conditioned also. | | | | home office also. |