Things to Look For in a New House When You Work From Home

Recently, working from home has had a significant boost and is more common than ever before. Moreover, as more jobs become available for remote workers, the idea of commuting to an office might be less desirable for some.

Working from home presents various challenges, so it’s good to adapt your living space to improve productivity. So, if you’re in the market for a new house, here are the elements to look for to make working from home that much better.

A Dedicated Work Area

Consider a home with a guest bedroom or home office so that you can maintain a division of work and personal home space. Ideally, you can separate your living area from your work area, making it easier to focus on business tasks. So, then, when working from home, you can avoid mixing your two lives as much as possible.

For example, you can set aside a specific number of hours for “work” and stay in the room during that period. If you need to take a break, step outside your home office for as long as necessary.

Natural Lighting

It’s hard to overstate how much nature can improve our moods and productivity. Working alongside plants and natural sunlight can help you stay focused and motivated. If possible, you may want to have a home with a covered patio or something similar. This way, you can do your work outside without worrying too much about the elements. Just make sure you can see your computer screen clearly.

Excellent Wi-Fi

Some homes are better suited to transmitting Wi-Fi than others. As a rule, concrete and brick houses can block or interfere with your signal, making it harder to maintain a strong connection. Also, where you live can make a difference. As a rule, rural areas have less access to wireless internet, while cities and suburbs are much more Wi-Fi friendly.

Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling

If you work from home, you have to consider how the weather changes throughout the year. However, while an office likely has central air, does your home? If not, you could wind up melting in the summer and freezing in the winter. So, you should consider opting for a house that comes with a central HVAC system. Also, since you’ll be home more often, you need to be sure your utility bills won’t skyrocket as a result.

Pro-tip: change your HVAC filters and get the system inspected at least once per year. Ideally, a month or two before the coming season. For example, if winter is around the corner, get it inspected in October or November.

Get Moving Help Today

Once you find your perfect work-from-home solution, you’ll need help moving into your new house. Fortunately, we can make the transition as smooth and streamlined as possible. We can even pack your boxes for you and help you settle into your house. Contact us today to find out more.

How to Create a Moving Budget

Proper planning is critical to ensuring a smooth residential relocation. Creating a realistic budget is part of that planning. Here are some tips on creating a moving budget.

Take Inventory

Moving costs generally depend on how far and how much you have to move. Your first step is to decide what will go with you to your new place. List everything that will go, beginning with oversized items such as a piano or large sofa. Go from room to room with your list to ensure you don’t miss anything.

Develop a Budget Template

Once you’ve listed items, you can determine estimated costs. Then research average moving costs for professional movers in your area. Remember to include distance, the amount of stuff you have, and additional charges for specialty items such as artwork, pool tables, and pianos.

Once you’ve done your research, you’ll interview at least three experienced, reputable moving companies and obtain their estimates or bids. Then, you’ll revise your template, as necessary, depending upon these estimates.

Even if you plan to do most of the work yourself, you’ll still have costs, such as truck and equipment rental and transportation. Also, when you consider these costs, be sure to include the value of your time, especially since you will likely need to take time off from work. In most cases, hiring professional movers to do most or all of the work is most cost-effective in the long run.

If you need to store items, list an estimate for that. Also include deposits that you may have to pay for apartments or utility costs and short-term housing expenses, if necessary.

Once you’ve estimated costs, add at least 5 percent for contingencies.

Plan for Everyday Expenses

You’ll still have to pay most of your everyday expenses while you are in the process of moving. Every day expenses include school lunches for kids, dog-walking, and groceries. So be sure to budget for those when you calculate how much you can spend on your move.

Find Ways to Save for Your Move

You want to be sure you have enough money to pay for a reputable mover and buy or acquire appropriate boxes for packing. You can trim money from categories in your household budget to use for moving expenses. For example, if you typically eat out in restaurants, consider eating at home more or choosing less expensive restaurants. Put off buying new clothes (you’ll have less to move) and consider buying some household items and groceries in bulk.

Create an Emergency Fund

Despite the best budgeting, sometimes emergencies occur. For example, you may need to make a quick repair in your new home or find you need to make your old home spotless. You may need to take more time off work to help yourself or your kids get settled. If you buy or build a home, you may need to spend more time in temporary housing.

Having an emergency fund can help you deal with these unexpected costs. The emergency fund generally equals about three months of expenses.

Ready to Move?

Having a moving budget in place will make your experience less stressful. As you prepare for your move, select the best professional movers for your needs. Contact us today for a free estimate. We have the experience and know-how to tackle your move.