How Much Does It Cost To Build An Office From Scratch?
In 2022, homeowners are facing a unique dilemma. With the intersection of new technology and the viability of working from home, the appeal of adding a home office has never been greater.
Professionals in virtually all fields can benefit from the addition of a home office. These work spaces can be crafted to match with a variety of different styles and needs. Some homeowners choose to repurpose an existing room to create a dedicated working area, while others opt to construct an addition to their property.
Home Stratosphere estimates that an addition in this arena will average between $20,000 and $30,000. Breaking ground on a new structural element on your property will always cost more than other approaches to home renovation, but they also provide additional long-term value. Yahoo Finance estimates that the addition of a guest bedroom—which can serve as a comparable addition to the home— will cost between $16,000 and $40,000 for 200 square feet, but can return as much as $65,200 in value.
Making a structural change to your property can increase the home's value and give you access to a dedicated workspace that makes work something to be enjoyed.
Factors for cost
Home offices can take on many different forms, therefore the price of a renovation project that brings an office space to the home can be influenced by a number of different factors. Office equipment, specialized wiring and hardware installations, and storage additions are some of the primary pricing features in the construction of a new home office, no matter what the renovation project looks like on a larger scale.
Construction versus conversion
The first thing you'll have to decide on when creating a new home office is whether to build in addition to the property or convert an existing room into a new workspace. HomeAdvisor estimates an average cost of $15,000 for a professional office remodel in your home, however, those on a budget can accomplish this task with a much lower price tag by eliminating some of the higher-end additions to the space.
Renovating an existing room is by far the least expensive option for a homeowner looking to create an office space in their property. An unused bedroom can offer a great workspace that provides all the functions of an office.
Hardware and furniture
Circle Furniture offers guidance on all things office furniture, and has high-quality desks ranging from around $800 up to standing conversion option that will run you about $2,500. The desk acts as the centerpiece for many home office setups, but this isn't the only piece of furniture you'll need to complete the transformation or new construction project. An office requires a chair, bookshelves, and sometimes even a comfortable place to sit and strategize or read data products, briefs, or reports.
Furniture also offers some insight into the mindset of the homeowner and office user. Many people love the wood grain look, and shaded stains that can bring out the best in your furniture are often matched for an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Others, enjoy a metal-focused theme in their office and make use of modern touches and straight edges to enhance their workplace productivity.
The furniture you bring into the workspace can say a lot about your personality and work style, but it also provides the foundation for all the work that you will complete into space.
Connectivity, power hookups, and technology
No matter where your office is located it's hard to be productive if you don't include connectivity solutions that work. Linking in with the cloud, for instance will allow you to take your work with you anywhere you go. Saving files and calling up resources with the help of cloud-based storage solutions gives you incredible flexibility and the sense of confidence that you'll have easy access to everything you need. The cloud also supports the basic structures of the internet and other resources that you use on a daily basis, so it's a great idea to integrate these features into your home office setup (via Cloudflare).
In addition, offices have to make use of specialized power resources. Using a battery backup can help you protect sensitive documents and important information from power failures and the resulting potential for data loss. Offices often make use of redundancy systems and sophisticated power hookups to provide for all the equipment that workers rely on while ensuring continuity of their efforts. Bringing these to your home workspace can help make the office a place of immense productivity.
Storage solutions
Finally, offices won't provide much functionality if they don't also offer storage solutions that work. Depending on your type of work, you might need file cabinets, bookshelves, or custom built cabinetry for added desk drawer space.
Adding a closet to this new office in your home is also a great option for those looking to maximize their organizational opportunities and storage space — these can be added to a room for as little as $250 (via House Digest).
Additional costs
On top of the basic construction elements, creating the perfect office space in your home may require a few additions that will raise the overall cost of the project.
Light sources
Any place that you'll spend it considerable amount of time in will need a light source. HomeAdvisor reports that a typical light fixture costs between $153 and $919 for the parts and installation, with simple lighting devices coming in as low as $75.
Lighting is crucial for any kind of living space, and without it you can't hope to achieve the same productivity that you'd see in a traditional office setting. In addition, many home offices make use of both typical light fixtures and a desk lamp for specific tasks or evening reading.The New York Times' Wirecutter has reviewed a number of great options that start at $15, with many falling between $30 and $100.
Soundproofing may be a good idea for busy homes
Home Tips recommends using soundproofing installations in areas of the home that will see increased noise. A home office is a great candidate for this feature. Many people spend a considerable amount of time on the phone, or even using dictation to take notes or write up reports. In a busy home, soundproofing can mean the difference between a peaceful workday or one full of distractions.
Decorations make the space feel like home
Decorations are an important part of any space in the home. They help people show off a homeowner's personality and work toward transforming a space into a comfortable and stylish area. The same reality holds true in the office setting. Establishing your own personality in the place that you work is a great way to promote a positive experience in the work environment. From large posters or artwork to accent walls, Good Housekeeping offers a number of high quality decorative options to make this space all your own.
Types of office spaces in the home environment
Regardless of the type of office environment you need, building this space into the footprint of your home is a great option that can really transform your workflow and add a clarity of vision in any task that you must perform on any given day.
Research nook
A considerable number of professionals spend much of their time researching as a primary focus. Institutional investors, collegiate academics, and investigative journalists, for instance, perform much of their function as a researcher first. A home office is a great option for these types of professionals because it allows them the freedom and flexibility to create the perfect work environment that best supports their unique working style and needs.
Art room
Artists also crave a specialized workspace. Those working in the arts need room to blossom and spread out as they paint, sculpt, or draw. No matter your medium, art requires a place to clear your head and dive right into the work without worrying about what's going on around you. Building an extension to your home in order to support the physical requirements of your creative job description can help minimize rental expenses and cut down your commute time to practically zero. Building an art studio at your home can help you streamline the five stages of the creative process, per Art and Design Inspiration, providing even more opportunity to sink right into your creative spirit.
Music studio
Musicians also benefit from the inclusion of a home working space, and particularly one that includes the use of extensive sound dampening technologies. A home music studio complete with instruments and recording equipment may cost a bit more than the typical office setup, but it more than makes up for it. Professional musicians benefit immensely from the ability to create new content from the comfort of their homes and without sacrificing quality while doing it.
Modern desk
Perhaps the most unassuming variety of home office space is the routine desk that allows for typical workplace tasks to be accomplished at home (via Computer World). Many different types of professionals rely on videoconferencing technology, a good keyboard, and their own high octane work ethic. Even if you don't require a specialized workspace to get your daily tasks completed, adding a desk an office chair (along with other essential amenities and decorative features) can give you the ability to work from home for the day when the need arises.
Why you need a home office
A home office provides versatility and a wealth of unique opportunities for homeowners. This addition to the property can serve as a powerful tool that changes the way you think of work and the workday.
Relaxation can be integrated directly into your workday
Relaxation is an important part of any day. It may not seem like a priority in the workplace, but the ability to relax and fall into a routine is important for workers who are trying to remain productive and contribute successfully to the success of their brand and team. Very Well Mind reports that structure and routine are essential for maintaining productivity and emotional stability during both stressful and simple times. Working from home can provide a powerful foundation for those seeking to maintain structure in their workday and life.
It's easy to create a more equitable work-life balance
Work-life balance has become a buzzword in the professional space. People in all types of businesses often find themselves working far longer and harder than they expect at the beginning of each day. This comes as a result of evolving workplaces and the demands on employees across the spectrum of the working world. Harvard Business Review recently published a study that found that while many people value a healthy balance between work and other aspects of life, this can be hard to achieve. The study's authors suggest that a consistent commitment to reevaluation and retooling of your work environment can help to create greater equitability in these aspects of modern life.
Working from home is one step in the right direction for many. With the ability to shut off at the end of the day and simply walk out of the home office space to rejoin the family and living space, employees are finding a new power to command their daily commitments and constraints.
Benefits of a home office
There are many great benefits to working at home. And reimagining your property to support this can offer some unique value additions that go beyond the commute time, comfort elements, and other surface-level perks.
Peace of mind can be achieved throughout each day
One thing that a home office can provide is a unique peace of mind. The life of a typical homeowner is often hectic and full of challenges. With children, external commitments, and running the household on your mind, the workday can become far more chaotic. Working from home gives you the ability to manage all of these commitments with greater clarity and direct control.
Even one day a week in your home office can help you connect better with your children or spouse, and it provides a break that can free up additional time for you to spend working in the garden, fixing a leaky faucet, or just unplugging in the comfort of your home for half an hour.
You may be able to claim tax breaks while working from home
In years past, workers who telecommuted from the comfort of their home could add additional itemized deductions on their federal taxes, according to TurboTax. While broad tax deductions are no longer possible in many instances, self-employed individuals can still take great advantage of their home office when it comes time to file in early April. The truth is that there are many ways to find reductions on your tax bill if you know where to look and are willing to put in the effort — you might also be able to incorporate a tax deduction for the expense of the renovation itself, per HomeAdvisor. Your home office may just be a source of increased savings when it comes time to report your yearly income.
Property value addition is a given when adding to your home's outline
Sterling Homes Real Estate estimates that an office space in your home can increase its property value by up to 10%. The firm suggests that buyers' attitudes toward home office spaces have always been positive, however the pandemic has transformed the value that these can provide to a property.