Home Buying Tips If You Work From Home
Posted on: 24 July 2019
Shopping for a home can always be a challenge, but it can be even more challenging if you work from a home office the majority of the time. The following guide can help you know what to look for in a single-family home so it won't just fit the needs of your family, but also the needs of your business.
Skip the open plan homes
Open plan homes are popular among buyers because they seem bigger on the inside than they actually are, but they can be a real problem if you work from home. The reason is that an open plan tends to be noisier and more distracting. With fewer walls, kids voices will carry further. This means that it can be difficult to work when your children are playing or have friends over. Also, if you plan to carve your office out of the corner of a room, like the dining room, then it can be distracting in an open plan house if the rest of the family wants to watch a movie in the living area while you are working.
Consider multi-story houses
For many families, the single-story ranch house is the height of desirability simply because it puts parents and children near each other and there are no stairs to navigate. But, much like an open plan home, it can be distracting for the home worker to be on the same floor as the rest of the family. If you still aren't sold on a two story home, then look at alternatives. For example, you can get a ranch-style home that has a finished basement where you can place the office. Or, a split-level home may provide just enough distance to avoid distractions when you are working.
Check out zoning regulations
Zoning won't effect every type of business or job. It's mainly a concern if you have clients visiting or if you manufacture anything at home. In this case, you need to make sure you can legally run the business out of the house you are looking at. If it isn't zoned correctly, don't despair. Some municipalities have cottage industry exceptions. Depending on the size and type of business, you may still be able to run it out of your home in an area zoned residential. Often, these exceptions require that you live in the home and that traffic to your home for business purposes doesn't exceed a specific limit.
For more help in finding the perfect single-family home, contact a real estate agent in your area.
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