Home is no longer just the place where you hang your hat, but is becoming the place to open up your briefcase as well.
Over 4,700 consumers responded to an online poll on coldwellbanker.com and Coldwell Banker On Location that asked the question, “Besides as a bedroom, how would you use an extra room in your house?” 52% of respondents said they would like to turn that extra room into an office. A “family space” was the number two response with 28% percent with “exercise room” and “space to entertain” both coming in with 9% of the remaining votes.
Personally, I would have voted for “space to entertain” as dreams of home theatre dance in my head, but I can see why “office” turned out to be the most popular response. The Census Bureau reported in January that they saw a significant increase in the number of people working from home estimating that there are 11.3 million “homepreneurs” in America.
With an updated census taking place this year, I’m willing to be we’ll see these work from home numbers increase even more.
Will your next home be as much for work as it is for living space? Are you one of these “homepreneurs?” Share your thoughts and even photos of your “home office” in the comments below.
Photo: Flickr user joey.parsons
You will see this more and more in the future. A lot of employers realize that with technology, they can track efficiency from abroad. A very easy expense they can cut. Lets hope they continue to go this route as opposed to layoffs!
Absolutely! 9 out of my last 10 homebuyer clients specified home office space in their top criteria, right after location and number of bedrooms.
I agree with Steve Olson and Kristine Baugh. With today’s technology an office can be handled almost anywhere. Although I personally feel that most people do better in an office environment where they interface with other co-worker to learn from and to compete.
Big corporations are utilizing technology, as a resource to allow nearly 76% of their work force working from anywhere there is an Internet connection.
My personal opinion is that this terrific option needs improvement. People do need to interface and virtual interfacing is not near the same. Also, with people working form home, the company is saving boatloads of cash. It would be to the corporations benefit to compensate the employees for the use of a home space mobile phones and Internet connection.