As more and more people are moving from conventional office setups to flexible work-from-home setups, many of them are also looking to move from the big cities to smaller towns and suburbs. This means there’s an influx of inquiries for bigger homes with bigger yards. Smaller towns and suburban areas are notorious for large spaces and lower price tags. These make them the perfect place for people who are now doing remote work or working from home.
But before you dive into the real estate market, ask for a property assessment from a real estate assessor. Talk to your broker about the state of the property and its area. Moving from the big city to the suburbs is always a good idea especially if you just started your own family. However, you cannot allow yourself to make mistakes when you’re making a huge investment such as a new house.
An Extra Room for a Home Office
Since you are going to work from home, you need your own space to keep the kids and even your partner out of your way. An extra room is going to be a plus. If that is not possible, look at the garage, basement, and attic. Can you convert these areas into your home office? If so, you need to do a mini home renovation or redesign.
When choosing a home in the suburbs, make sure there is plenty of space available both indoors and outdoors. You are going to spend more time at home in secondary cities and smaller towns. If you lack space in your home, you might eventually feel cooped up. It might get boring for your kids, too.
Strong and Stable Internet Connection
One of the problems that a work-from-home setup faces is the internet connection. The area you will choose should have a stable data signal. Your work is dependent on the internet. Your boss needs you at least eight hours a day, so making yourself available online is one of the primary responsibilities of a home-based worker. And of course, you know your kids are going to cause a riot if there is no internet at home. For these younger generations, a stable internet connection is more important than the plumbing system in your property.
Whether you’re running a business from your home or working for someone, you need a strong and stable internet connection. Besides, how can you keep up with your family and friends in the city if the signal is unstable? The coronavirus pandemic only allows families to keep in touch over the internet. You need this connection now more than ever.
A Large Backyard
There’s another thing that the pandemic took away from you aside from the security of your job. It’s the great outdoors. People are retreating to their homes not only because the government asks them to, but also because they want to protect themselves and their families from the virus. That said, they want a large backyard for their homes now. They will use this for entertainment, outdoor activities, and simply to spend time with nature.
Some home-based workers also like to set their home office in the garden. Being around nature helps them concentrate better. This is one of the advantages of working from home. Workers have the flexibility of working in or out of their home offices.
Plenty of Sources of Natural Light
Home-based workers will also want houses with large or even floor-to-ceiling windows. These will allow a lot of natural light to enter the home. Back when you are still working in an office, the quality of indoor air gets you sick all the time. But now that you have more control over how much light streams inside your home office, you can choose a home that gets plenty of natural light.
That does not mean you have to risk your privacy. You can put drapes, curtains, and blinds on the windows, so you’ll have the privacy you need. Another option is to install a window tint that will keep intruders away from peeking inside your house.
In this unprecedented time when almost 40% of companies are offering positions to work from home, employees have to be extra resourceful and creative in creating a workspace at home. There are a lot of distractions while you work from home, but you can deter these by making sure you have a space that’s dedicated to working or studying. You should also make better home policies and rules, so everyone’s aware not to bother you when you’re “at work.”
