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Home Work
If you are among the millions of Americans who work out of their home, you are on the front lines of a revolution. Whether you are an employee who telecommutes from your home to headquarters by fax or modem, or a lone-eagle entrepreneur who is launching a new business from home base, there are many things you can do to make your office more comfortable and productive.
Consider hiring a design professional to help you plan an efficient work space. Most interior designers, architects, and design/build firms have experience with home offices, and can provide expert advice. The money you spend on the front-end with good design can pay dividends for years in terms of increased efficiency.
For many people, a key to productivity is isolation from the noise and distractions of the household. An office out of the family's traffic pattern, perhaps in a corner of the basement, or a "back" bedroom, will minimize the chance that your important conference call will be interrupted by the demands of the household. If your business requires clients and suppliers to visit you, a separate outside entrance can be invaluable. It adds a measure of professionalism, privacy, and convenience, and may well be worth the investment. If your office will be in a basement, an outside stair can usually be added, and can provide light, ventilation, and a fire escape as well as access for visitors.
The addition of sound insulation can be effective in blocking out extraneous noise. Effective techniques for sound walls (and ceilings) include "double walls" with insulation woven between staggered studs. A simpler (and cheaper) solution can involve resilient "z" channel with soundboard and an extra layer of 5/8" drywall. Solid-core doors, weather-stripping, and automatic thresholds minimize transmission through and around the door-in extreme situations, double air-lock doors can be effective.
In some cases, the heating ductwork may need attention. Metal ductwork can act as a noise conduit, distributing sounds throughout the house. It may be necessary to replace a section of metal ductwork with flexible, insulated duct to absorb the sound, perhaps adding a couple of jogs in the pipe to be effective. In other cases, it may be necessary to close-up return-air plenums, or remove the supply duct altogether, and add supplemental electric baseboard heat for the office area.
The convenient use of an office chair usually requires a hard surface to roll on. While plastic carpet protectors are available, hardwood or Vinyl flooring may be a better option. Hard floors can also reduce the dust and static electricity that cause problems with office equipment such as computers, copiers, printers, and fax machines.
It is usually wise to provide separate power lines to serve home offices. A dedicated line to computers will minimize problems with interference from other appliances in the home. Copy machines are notorious for causing room lights to dim in synch with heating elements that cycle on and off. Again, a dedicated power line is the solution.
Separate telephone lines for the business will usually help keep peace in the family by avoiding competition for an important resource. Consider an extra line for the fax or modem, also. If you are an Internet power user, special high-capacity ISDN phone lines are available to increase data transmission speed and reliability. There are even direct satellite connections with extremely high data transmission rates available to make you the envy of all your "techie" friends. An intercom can also be effective for efficient communication with the rest of the family.
Don't overlook the importance of comfort on productivity. Light, ventilation, views, storage, music, and temperature are all important elements of a good work environment. Expenditures for such issues can actually make you money by increasing your output and creativity.
Good light, whether natural or artificial, is critical. A new window or skylight can be a good source of light and ventilation. If your office will be in a basement, consider cutting-in a new, large window in an outside wall. A well -done "area well" can provide a pocket garden, as well as a view of the outside. Don't overlook the psychological impact of having a new escape route in case of fire. The effect of extra light and a view to the outside can be dramatic. I've seen it change a dark basement room into an inspiring place to work.
An efficient work space requires plenty of storage for files, equipment, reference materials, etc. Adequate counter space is also important. If you have trouble finding desks and cabinets that fit your space, consider having some custom cabinets built. Remember, you may be spending half your waking hours in this office. You deserve a convenient and comfortable place to work.
If available space is a problem, it may be worth building an office addition. When you consider the savings on rent and commuting, and then factor in the convenience, an addition may make sense. A home office is also an amenity which can add greatly to the home's value on resale.
Don't forget to consider how your home business may be affected by the local and federal government. If your business involves many people, or lots of traffic, you should check local zoning laws. If you are a consultant, and work alone, zoning won't likely be a problem with your home office. If you are running a mail-order business out of your house, and the UPS truck is visiting your home 50 times a day, or your employees are filling the cul-de-sac with their cars, you may have a problem. If in doubt, check with your local zoning department before you start.
The IRS will be a partner in your business, whether you like it or not. There are special rules regarding business deduction of home offices which have changed recently. Be sure to check with your accountant to ensure you are taking the proper deductions. You will certainly need to keep careful records on all remodeling expenses related to your home office. You may also want to claim a portion of taxes, utilities, etc., which will require careful documentation.
