If you want to get the most out of your home office then think about rearranging it so that it works for your needs. A typical home office is great but if you want it to be used often then you need to make some adjustments so that it helps you with your real estate and investment needs and allows you to focus on adding value to your properties. If you want some tips on what your real estate-based home office needs then keep reading.
Use technology to your advantage
With so many great advancements in tech in the last few decades, it’s easy to see why so many investors use it to help them out. Outfit your home office with a smart system such as Google Home or Amazon’s Alexa and let the technology do the work for you. These systems allow you to control many of the electronics in your office and they can even be used to help you find properties.
Alert systems can be used to let you know if you have received an email and you will hear an audible tone from the speaker so you don’t have to be stuck behind your desk. You can also use various real estate apps that are compatible with these smart systems to give you an alert when a new property is listed that fits your criteria.
Get familiar with the area
Although, you might feel like you know your investment properties are like the back of your hand, it’s good to have a visual layout of where your homes are. Get a large printed and laminated map made from your local printers so you can use it in your office. The lamination makes it easy to write and wipe so it’s easy for you to adjust if you buy or sell. It also makes it easier for you to visually see the property’s address in relation to the rest of the town.
If you want a classier way to have a map included in your office then look into getting one professionally made. Maps can be made out of etched wood or 3d printed in plastic with as many or as few details as you’d like. These are very modern and chic additions to any real estate-based office.
Keep it quiet
In recent times many meetings have started to be completed online over in-person which has led to many people choosing their home office to do them. If you have a family at home or other background noise, it can be difficult for everyone to focus on online interaction. If you haven’t already, look into what you can do to keep the sound out of your home office and you won’t have to worry about the chaos beyond the door.
Thick carpeting, furniture, and soundproofing paint or curtains are quick ways to make sure the sound stays out of the room during important calls. Another fun idea is putting a “red light, green light” system into play to avoid any family members jumping in on your zoom meetings. Simple wifi-enabled lights can be placed outside the office door and turned from red to green from your phone to signify that your family is good to come in.
Get comfortable
Real estate investment is a job that requires you to spend plenty of time on the computer or on your phone so you don’t want to end your day feeling as sore as you would after a hard workout. Make sure you get yourself a comfortable chair and desk so you don’t have to worry about the time you spend sitting in it.
There are so many desk chairs on the market that are built for long hours of usage so look for a chair that is built for comfort over style and you will thank yourself in the future. A desk is another investment that should have your comfort level in mind so go with an adjustable desk that allows you to move from a standing to a sitting desk with a few quick steps.
Bring in the media
Putting a television in your office sounds like a recipe for distraction but it can be a great way to see details on property photos much better and it’s a good way to catch up on some HGTV when you’re not busy. Many sellers have started to use Youtube and other video websites to show off their properties and it’s great to be able to watch it on a large screen instead of your phone.
If you don’t want to risk your productivity by bringing in the tv then invest in a higher quality computer monitor so you can see photos in a much better resolution. These can be connected easily to your phone via wifi so you can send the photos from the smaller screen to your monitor and catch any hidden details you might miss. Things like water damage, mold, and smoke damage can easily be hidden with poorly done photos in a low resolution so it’s important to be able to see every corner as clearly as possible.
It’s easy to turn your home office into the perfect place to deal with all of your real estate investment needs. Keep it personal and you’ll feel like you’re not even working by the time you’re done with your day. It’s a great idea to have a space where you can focus on what you need to keep your real estate investments running smoothly.
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