In a recent survey by ZipRealty it was discovered that a new priority for prospective home buyers is a home office. 39% of prospective home buyers want a home office. A home without an office was a deal breaker for many women. Women now view home offices as more important than a playroom, dining room or luxurious bathroom. This trend reflects the reality of more women working at home.
If you are a realtor, home seller or home stager you want to make a home office that home buyers can picture themselves being happy and productively.
Here are 3 tips on how to arrange a home office for Ahh Factor – the ahhh of “I would love to work here.” As opposed to the Wow Factor of “oh, what a pretty room.”
- If possible, move the desk away from the wall and near a window, so sunlight bathes the workspace in natural light. Position the desk perpendicular to the window. Not facing out the window – a source of backlight glare and eye strain.
- Place a table lamp on the desk with a translucent shade to create an area of softly diffused and functional light. A table lamp looks elegant and professional. And architectural psychology tells us people feel drawn to light.
- Place a plant on the desk or somewhere in the room where it can be seen from the desk. Bring a little nature indoors.
You can do these three simple solutions with little or no expense and make the home office welcoming to your prospective buyers.
After you have rearranged and fine-tuned the home office for sale, take a look at your own home office and try the same improvements there. You will be delighted how you feel and function better with your “new” home office.
Have you rearranged a home office to improve function and work flow? What did you do and how do you feel about the results? Please share your comments.
If you want to learn more about how architectural psychology helps you to create a home office that is warm and efficient check out The Smarter Home Office.
Photo by coffeego
