Working At Home: 4 Ways To Protect Your Personal And Professional Needs

Hi everyone! I have no doubt that you are looking forward to the end of 2020! I know I am! It has been a very busy end of the year for me, for which I am grateful.

To finish out this year, I am pleased to have another guest blogger, Tina Martin from Ideaspired.com. Tina’s article is a timely topic. It offers some great tips and links for those of us who find ourselves working from home. I hope you enjoy Tina’s article!

Working At Home: 4 Ways To Protect Your Personal And Professional Needs

Are you a small business owner who wants to work from home? Well, you are in luck because it is easier than ever to do just that, thanks to the internet and the many platforms to communicate with your employees and customers. But it’s not as easy as simply walking up to your computer and making things happen — there are steps you must take to enhance your productivity and keep your home and personal lives separate. Here are four tips.

Protect your assets.

First, you will want to protect your physical and financial assets. This should start with making sure your current home is appraised to reflect its actual market value. Aspen Appraisal Services notes that this takes into account everything from the square footage to the condition of the house. Make sure that your appraiser has an opportunity to inspect your entire property and consult with your listing agent on how to market your home to get the most money.

Something else you can do before you buy a new home is to convert your business from a sole proprietorship to an LLC. Although regulations vary from state to state, you can often utilize an online formation service to get through the process quickly and easily. Keep in mind that forming an LLC will protect your personal assets should your business lose a substantial amount of cash.

Shop smart.

When you buy a new home to use as a workspace, you’ll want to shop smart. One of the first steps you can take is to make sure that you can legally run a business from home. Many residential zones forbid it, particularly if it will increase automotive traffic or cause localized noise.

When budget is a concern, you may also consider purchasing a home “as-is.” This means that you cannot request a price change or updates to the property if you find issues, like a leaky roof, mildew, structural problems, or termites. Choosing this option means you will likely save money, but you will need to ensure that your inspector does a thorough job of evaluating the property before you make an offer. Redfin cautions that buyers must be extremely diligent when buying a home as-is.

Renovate your existing space.

If buying a new home isn’t feasible, you may still be able to provide yourself a home office/workspace by renovating. Look for areas in your home that are not used often. This might be a basement, garage, or freestanding outbuilding.

Your home office should have electricity, running water, and a strong internet signal. You’ll also want to make sure that it is insulated and temperature-regulated to protect your equipment.

Design for Best Use.

Finally, when it is time to design your home office, prioritize efficiency and separation from your living space. Ideally, your office should be far enough away from the living room and bedrooms so that you cannot hear other people speaking. Keep your office clean and tidy so that you can be at your productive peak, and wrap up the day’s work on time every day. Make sure you have plenty of room for a sizable desk, chair, and any equipment you require.

Your home and office can easily be one and the same, but the preparations you make today will determine your productivity and efficiency later. Your decisions now will also help you get the most value out of your current property and protect your newest assets when it’s finally time to make your move. From getting a professional appraisal to making sure your AC is always working, the above four tips are often overlooked aspects of running a business from home but are issues you should attend to before you make the move.

And when you need an appraisal to start the process, Aspen Appraisal Services has you covered. Order an appraisal online, and get to know your house’s true value.

Image via Pexels

A big thank you to Tina for writing this article for the Cleveland Appraisal Blog! You can check more of her work at ideaspired.com.

I have new articles I am currently working on. Next week, I will start the new year off by tackling some new appraisal related topics. Whether this is your first time visiting my blog or have been visiting for years, thank you so much for being here! I hope that you find the content at the Cleveland Appraisal Blog useful, informative, and entertaining.

May 2021 be a better year for all. Keep hope alive!