Lockdown saw many UK employees working from home, and businesses noticed some unexpected benefits. Now that many employees continue either working from home full-time, or dividing their time between home and the workplace, it’s easy to see why home offices have become such an important trend in house-buying. With a home office and an internet connection, you can work from anywhere in the world.

Done well, a home office can increase the value of your property and make it more appealing to buyers or tenants. Let’s take a closer look.

How much will a home office add to the value of your home?

Data from insurers Hiscox suggests that a property with a home office could be worth 8-10% more than a similar property with no home office. This means that, even if you don’t need a home office yourself, creating one could add value to your property.

Even if you’re not planning to sell your property any time soon, it’s a good idea to create a home office for you to use now! The value increase highlights that the traditional model of office working is disappearing. If you’ve been working from your kitchen table since 2020, it’s time to accept the change and create the space you need.

Ideas for creating a home office

If you’re creating a home office to make your home more appealing to buyers, it’s probably best not to go overboard. It will add value, but it’s important to avoid spending more on the home office than you’ll make in the price increase. 

Sometimes, good presentation will be enough. For example, if you have a large sitting room or kitchen, reconfiguring the room to leave a quiet corner for home working can be effective. It will show potential buyers the possibilities of home working, without you having to spend any money on home improvements. 

Alternatively, you could dedicate a room you don’t use – maybe a spare bedroom or second reception room – to be the home office. Remember to make it look the part, and not an uncomfortable hybrid with no clear purpose! 

A more private but relatively affordable option is a garden room. These buildings are a far cry from a garden shed, and usually feature electricity and insulation. Another advantage with them is that you can “go to work,” even if you’re only walking down the garden. This can create a healthy gap between home and work.

In other cases, an extension might be the best solution. This is the most expensive option, but it usually adds the most value. You might be able to get better value for money by including other home improvements in your project too. 

If you know you need a home office but you’re not yet planning to move, the important thing is to only spend what you can afford and make sure you have what your life needs now. For example, if you need quiet space for Zoom calls, a garden room might be the best option. If you have young children, you might prefer to work in the house so you can go to them if they need you. And if no one is disturbing you in the corner by the bookcase, there’s no need for any building work at all! 

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