Hello World! Welcome Friends! Thanks to the plague of 2020, a lot of people have a home office that they didn’t anticipate having. Many made certain that any new home they were considering had a study. Others renovated for that fabulous study reveal. There was a time when a den was the domain of the wealthy. Think the Brady Bunch. These days, you can find a dedicated workspace in one-bedroom apartments. Man caves are not just for men anymore. They are also for women and children. Even the dog has his own private space.
The problem is that since the world changed, the need for personal space has greatly increased. The kids are doing hybrid and remote learning. Telemedicine is becoming more popular. Work from home is no longer an exotic concept. People are far more likely to watch a newly released Hollywood blockbuster from home. That is a lot of demand on the home. Not everyone can set up their computer around the kitchen table. Something has to give. So if your paycheck depends on working remotely, it makes sense for you to have a home office dedicated to the task. What you might not realize is that there are also good reasons to lease outside office space in addition to that home office. Here are a few.
A Place for Meetings
You can’t just meet at Starbucks for important conferences where sensitive information is discussed aloud. That would be the very definition of corporate malpractice. You also don’t want to make your home a meeting place for all your business contacts. There should be a professional and security wall of separation between your clients and your family.
What you need is a modern conference room with a proper conference table and comfortable chairs that are adjustable to fit all frames. Your kitchen furniture is not the right match for the function you need. In addition to the right furniture, you also need the right tech. Be sure to include a speakerphone system designed for professional use in a large room. Make sure there is plenty of access to power outlets. Assume that it is near the end of the day and everyone is going to have to plug in their laptop for the meeting. If you are going to be doing presentations, that room will also need to be equipped with a projector system. You can set up your own office with an appropriate conference room. Or you can lease access based on your needs. Either way, you can’t do it at home.
Security
If you are an attorney or accountant, you can do a lot of your work from your home office without issue. But you might also spend a good deal of time on the phone with clients. That is when you are going to need some privacy that home doesn’t provide. If you prefer using a speakerphone so that your hands are free to take notes, you will need an office outside of the home.
You might even need to keep a lot of paper files. For instance, lawyers have to keep documents for as long as seven years. Over time, that will represent multiple file cabinets, an industrial printer, and a secure paper shredder for when it is time to dispose of those documents. You probably won’t have room for those items in your home. Also, your home will not be as secure as a proper office that you lease. If your work is sensitive, some of it is going to have to be done someplace other than your home.
Audio and Video Production
These days, a lot of people are doing audio and video podcasts and blogs. This has become a revenue-producing side-hustle that should not be ignored. The bad news is that most home situations are terrible for any kind of live production work because of external noise, echo, and lighting. You can address these issues with a lot of money. Or you could just rent a space that is far more suited to your needs. You can still do your pre and post-production at home. But if your recordings matter, you will have to find some place outside of the home.
There is nothing wrong with maintaining a home office. But you will need another workspace for proper conferencing, security, and production.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
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Make Your Home Cozy This Winter
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Toodles,
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