Is the home office here to stay?

Almost a year ago, the pandemic sent people to shelter at home. Businesses and schools were conducted online, creating a need for designated space in the home for work and study. As people have gradually made their way back into their offices, some have chosen to remain as remote workers. Is the home office here to stay?

A recent New York Times article reported, “Coronavirus will not kill the office. If anything, it figures to be more dynamic than ever. The ability to work remotely will not drive most people away from cities and offices, but it will enable many to live and work in new ways and places.”

Work-from-home (WFH) has its benefits:

• Without commuting, remote workers can use that time more productively.
• Work-life balance is improved.
• Workers save money on gas, vehicle wear and tear, and dining out.
• A dedicated home office is a tax deduction for homeowners.
• It’s more comfortable to work from home!

The WFH “trial period” in 2020 made it clear that at least some form of WFH is a positive option for a significant percentage of workers. Whether working full-time at home or taking a hybrid approach of mixing in a few days in the office, some people love the independence of getting work done at home. 

Another benefit of remote working is that employees have a greater choice of where they can live. Removing commuting from the equation gives them the ability to find affordable homes in areas where they want to live.

“The defining characteristic of this new version of the creative class may not be where it lives, but its ability to live anywhere it wants. Put differently, people move to certain cities in search of better-paying jobs, but it’s now possible to earn high (if not the highest) salaries from almost anywhere,” said  NYT reporter Dror Poleg in the January 2021 article.

Homes designed for WFH

In the Raleigh-Durham Metro area, we’re seeing more homebuyers looking for a home with a dedicated space for an office. Flex rooms are often being used for that purpose. The formal dining room is another good option for an office, particularly with the addition of doors in place of the open entry.

Some of Baker Residential’s floor plans, like The Ansley, and The Brampton, feature a first-floor suite that is easily converted to a home office—complete with ample space, storage, and a full bath. The location of these suites in the back of the floor plan also add privacy that’s a desirable feature of a home office.

We currently have a brand new home available at 2340 Vandiver Way in our Apex, NC, community of Providence at Yates Pond. Built in The Ashland II floor plan, the 5-bedroom home includes both a first-floor suite and a spacious study with French doors.

Our McKenzie-Ridge Manors model home is for sale at 2925 Kenna Creek Bend in Apex. This 4-bedroom, 3,600-square-foot home has a large living area in the top floor. It would make a great workspace where you can spread out and incorporate extras like a conference area and design/photo studio, particularly with the natural light that fills the space.

Work = pleasure

Are you working from home? Do you have the right space to support productivity? If WFH is a long-term option for you, think about how your home supports this choice. Baker Residential is a family-owned homebuilder that understands the needs of today’s busy families—and that includes your newly acquired work-from-home lifestyle. We’re expanding our homes for sale in the Raleigh-Durham Metro area, with new communities coming this year. Get in touch with us to explore the choices for townhomes and single-family homes that are built to our high standard for quality, style, convenience, and energy efficiency.