The Evolution of the Humble Home Office

Historically, interior design has been driven in new directions by technological advancement.  Homes once designed around a central hearth made way for open plan living with access to more methods of heating.  Improvements in building materials allowed for less load-bearing walls creating flexible floorplans.  Undoubtedly our homes have evolved as we have.

This begs the question, while our current work-from-home requirements may seem temporary, will many businesses rethink their entire structure in the immediate future?  Will Zoom workspaces and distance learning quickly become the new norm?

There is no question many industries will be reconsidering their expensive office spaces when they realise the same outputs are achievable without the financial outlay.  This is an uncertain time for commercial real estate owners.  But how does this translate to residential real estate?

With consistently strong buyer interest and more far-reaching enquiries than ever, it’s apparent that a significant proportion of buyers may be contemplating working from home permanently. Without travel requirements, people will be able to live in their desired suburb rather than circulating around work.

So as with any other sales transaction, if sellers can identify what buyers need, they can plan to meet that need.  Therefore, at this significant time in history, what was once a secondary consideration, the humble home office is now hot property.

So how can you create a home office space in any size home?  If your budget allows for professional staging, this is something your stylist should already have at the forefront of their design options.  For people giving it a go on their own, look online for clever solutions that you can recreate in your space.  Your agent can advise whether your home can sacrifice an entire bedroom to stage as a home office.  While this is not likely, the simple addition of a desk to create a multi-purpose space will enable buyers to see how the layout can work for them.

So in this uncertain time, utilise the expertise of others such as sales agents and home stagers to make your home more relevant to buyers than ever.  A sign of the times, the home office is here to stay.