Home Offices Continue to Grow In Popularity Amid Pandemic

As the current pandemic continues to rage across much of the country, and the world, many in the workforce who are being forced to work from home are looking to this temporary arrangement as more of a permanent shift in how they do business. Naturally, home offices have become necessary and many are looking to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their properties as a potential long-term work-from-home space.

"An ADU is a secondary dwelling that may be constructed behind the primary home on a single-family lot or as additional units on a multi-family property," Paul Dashevsky, co-founder and Partner of GreatBuildz, a matchmaking service that connects homeowners with general contractors, tells Housecall.

For many homeowners, new construction may not even be necessary. Prefabricated pods are becoming increasingly popular for housing parents or grandparents. Also, basement or garage apartments can be the ideal location to set up a permanent office space.

Here are some of the most popular choices for creating a permanent home office:

Above Garage Apartments

If you have a finished space above your garage that's not being rented out, there may be no better choice for a home office. It's free and likely already feels like your own personal studio apartment, so why not take advantage of this space? And unlike a basement apartment, you still have to "leave" your home for work. This has the added benefit of helping you get into a routine more easily than if you were to stay inside your home to work.

Tiny House

A tiny house is exactly what it sounds like; a small home often constructed in the backyard of a homeowner's main house. Tiny homes can vary wildly in terms of cost, but one of the more inexpensive options are prefabricated cottages or "granny pods." These ADUs are usually purchased so one can be within close proximity to aging parents or grandparents. However, if you have the budget, an ADU right in your backyard could potentially be the perfect location for a home office.

Basement Apartment

Many people either don't own a garage or can't afford to purchase an ADU, which makes converting a basement apartment into a home office one of the most popular options. However, unfinished basements are not uncommon and creating a homey office out of a bare basement is no easy task. Just keep in mind that you can DIY much of it. Also, it'll be worth it to have a permanent space in your home to do work once it's completed.

Homeowners, are you looking to create a more permanent office space on your property? If so, what area of your home are you looking to convert or are you looking to purchase an ADU?