In a study carried out by Direct Line Insurance, it is believed a dedicated home office space can add £17,500 to the value of a property. The insurance company found that a dedicated space for working can boost house prices by 4% compared to similar homes.
Some of the highlights in the Direct Line study includes:
- Study rooms and dedicated office space appearing in 35% of listings
- 29% of vendors listing an external studio space as a home office
- 9% of converted lofts being classed as a home office
- 6% of mezzanine space or landings being classed as home office space
If you are looking for space which as the most potential for office space, 81% of estate agents who spoke to Direct Line cited sheds and outdoor buildings.
Where do you currently work?
In a study carried out with homeworkers, Direct Line found:
- 10% have a dedicated pre-existing workspace
- 19% are using a desk, table or even an ironing board in their living room
- 19% are using a spare bedroom
- 16% are using their own bedroom
- 10% are using their dining room
- 9% of remote workers are using their kitchen
Direct Line say that the employer survey returns suggest one in seven workers don’t expect to return to the office. An even larger number of respondents believe their time in the office will be reduced drastically.
Remote working is likely to be a permanent thing as we move forward
Dan Simpson of Direct Line’s Home Insurance Division said; “As their home office is likely to become a permanent fixture in their lives, it’s understandable many people are now starting to think about the changes and improvements they could make to their property to make home working more comfortable. Anyone considering building work just needs to remember to inform their insurer before the work is carried out and update them on any additional rooms created so they have the correct level of cover.”
James Law, of Stacks Property Search, says “There’s no question that a completely separate office is the ideal arrangement, whether that’s a purpose-built room in the garden or grounds, a converted outbuilding, or even a caravan. There’s still a sense of ‘going to work’, household noise is kept to a minimum, and you’re not compromising space in the house.”
James added; “Property buyers who are looking for property that will provide workspace for one or more members of the family should ensure that they have firm plans for which rooms will be allocated in the same way that buyers tend to think about bedrooms when viewing. Workspace should be considered a priority, not something that can be compromised on. Don’t be afraid to completely re-think how space is used, just because somethings always been a dining room, or a snug, or a bedroom doesn’t mean it can’t be reallocated.”
Whatever your circumstances are, or what move you would like to make next; we are here for you. Stones Residential prides itself on offering the best standard of service to our clients, and we work hard to help you achieve your property goals. If you would like to arrange an appointment or get more details on how we can help you sell your property, contact us today online or by calling us on 020 8954 0045.
