Secrets to Designing the Home Office of Your Dreams Part 1
KC Kudra
When you decide to go into business for yourself, you will need to set up a home office. This is perhaps one of the most important activities you will engage. You will need to ask some key questions including location, supplies needed, home office furniture and the like. While you, home office can be in the corner of your living room, bedroom, or kitchen, if you can, try to put it in a room that is not being used. If you have an extra bedroom or even a storage room, it will be better to have a place where you can work that is not connected to your family spaces.
The size of your home office is less about the size and more about functionality. When you are deciding where to put your office, think about places that lend itself to being set up as the nerve center of your business. There are many factors to take into consideration when charting your home office organization.
Is the area well lit?
Proper lighting is essential. You do not want to spend hours in a dimly lit work area, which can result in eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision. Prolonged periods in inadequate light could lead to serious problems further on.
Check the Number of Electrical Outlets
Are there enough for the amount of equipment you will be hooking up for your business. At the very least, the home office of today will have a computer system complete with CPU, monitor, printer, and scanner, as well as a fax machine, radio/CD/MP3 player. There may be other ancillary equipment necessary to running your home office and all of these items need to be considered when looking at electrical outlets.
Is There Enough Ventilation?
Computer equipment needs to "breath". Having proper ventilation will allow your computer to run longer and last longer. It must be cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Likewise, you will operate more efficiently and effectively if you are comfortable, so looking at the ventilation is a must. Also, check out the amount of dust in the area. Computers and people work less well when the dust levels are high.
Does you home office have telephone access?
In addition to having a telephone handy for business purposes, you will also require telephone access for your modem. You may also consider a separate telephone line for your business. It is much easier to track your telephone business expenses for tax purposes if you have a separate phone line.
It is also important that your clients can reach you. If your clients have to compete with your teenagers' telephone habits, chances are they will call someone else. Make certain that this separate line is set up to receive phone calls while you are online. Most major telephone companies now offer that service. You may pay a few extra dollars a month for it, but it will pay for itself over the long haul.
What Type Of Internet Access Do You Have?
Now a days the modern home office must not only have a telephone it is imperative it also has access to a high speed Internet connection. Depending on your service provider this may already be covered by telephone if you have DSL Internet.
If you already have a broadband connection, you will also need to have connections close by. While you can go wireless, there are some drawbacks to taking that route for business use. First, most wireless connections are running about half as fast as true cable hookup to your computer. So, if you are doing the bulk of your business on the Internet, consider cabling it to your computer. Security is another big issue with wireless connections. Make sure, if you are connected wirelessly, that you have the proper encryption and that your modem/router is password protected.
If you take advantage of a nearby WiFi hotspot where you can go wireless, be sure and avoid making purchases or conducting unencrypted transactions while wireless on a public wireless connection. If you go wireless at home, make sure you have encrypted your connection and you should be just fine. With all of these decisions made, you will have the basics for starting the setup of your home office organization.
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