Do I or don't I?
The right space
The right infrastructure
The right level of comfort
Ergonomics
Security
Insurance
Protection

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Do I or don't I?

There are many pros and cons of setting up a home office. No doubt you have considered them all and come to the conclusion that:

• Yes, I believe I can successfully work alone.
• No, I won't get lonely as I plan to get out of 'the office' on a regular basis.
• Yes, I will be disciplined and businesslike and not dag around in my pj's.
• No, I won't be distracted by the sight of a garden that needs weeding, or walls that need painting.
• Having dispensed with these philosophical matters it's now time to get down to the business of making your home office functional.

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The right space

First you would have already selected a room that is as separate as possible to the rest of your home. This is your office – the rest is your home. By its nature your new office will often be a spare room or a junk room – in other words, the least appealing room in your home. This is a mistake. As a business person your job is to make money, and to do that you will need inspiration and energy. Most 'spare' rooms tend to lack both. So think again – is there another room that would be better as an office? If so then grab it. Whatever space you decide on, if it lacks ambience you will need to create it – with colour, textures and lighting. In short, you will need to give it a swank new reno rescue. Make it a room that you want to be in – comfortable, inviting and functional. Start by looking at catalogues and magazines. Cut out the pages that inspire you and start to build a picture. Remember you will need to allow space for the following:

• A desk
• A chair
• A computer
• A printer
• A phone
• A fax machine
• A photocopier
• A desk lamp
• A filing cabinet or cupboard for file storage
• A bookshelf for reference materials and stationery
• Heater/fan

Will clients be coming into your office? If so add:

• Additional chairs or a sofa
• A meeting table or coffee table

Believe it or not, these are pretty much the basics. However, depending on your line of business, you may also need the following:

• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Drinks fridge
• TV/DVD/VCR
• Sound system
• CD/DVD burner
• Security system

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The right infrastructure

Notwithstanding the tax benefits for home offices, all these items add up and may be well out of your budget for now. However the point here is that there are a lot of electrics and electronics on the list which means your spare room will need to be well cabled before you can successfully turn it into an office. Look at the items and add up how many need a power point. Now look around your room and count how many you've actually got. See the problem?

It is also likely that you will need to run a phone connection to that room. If so, why not go the whole hog and get a broadband internet connection for the whole house. It will enable you to keep your residential number, office number and fax numbers separate from each other whilst allowing you an always-on internet connection for your business emails.

Get all the electrics and electronics organised before you plaster or paint. And remember if you've got an electrician there, why not get him to check out the rest of the wiring in the house as well? The extra equipment in your office may put too much load on your existing wiring and it may need upgrading.

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The right level of comfort

Even though it is a short commute from the bedroom to the office it should still feel like you're coming to work. Your home office should be a place where you feel comfortable – both in body and soul. If it's cold and damp then fix it with appropriate heating. If it's hot and stuffy, put in some ventilation or install a small air conditioner or heat pump. What lighting would you like? A desk lamp may be sufficient, but if you want to lighten and brighten the whole room consider fluorescent lighting, it is more suited to office environments and it costs less to run.

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Ergonomics

One of the fastest growing workplace injuries is damage done through repetitive motion and awkward postures. Look after yourself by getting an ergonomic chair that supports good posture. Also set up your computer work station so that the relationship between your keyboard and monitor isn't a strain. And if you use the computer a lot, have lots of breaks away from it throughout the day.

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Protection

Different brands of computers have varying levels of inbuilt surge protection. It is wise to protect your sensitive office equipment from unexpected surges and spikes by installing a surge protection filter. (Available from all good electronics shops.) While you're in there, check out their uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems. A UPS will protect your computer files in the event of a power blackout. Also get into the habit of backing up your work files and storing the discs off-site. A smoke detector in the office is a good idea.

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Security

Do what you can to protect against theft. If your office has a window, install a pull down blind or heavy curtains that will hide your expensive gear while you are away. Ideally you should install a monitored security system in your home. If your office is away from the entrance of your home a security camera with a monitor in your office is also a good idea.

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Insurance

Check with your insurance company to see whether your contents insurance covers your office equipment. If you are bringing clients into your home office you should also look at public liability insurance and professional indemnity. You don't want any dramas when it comes to a crisis! For your own piece of mind you might also consider income protection cover. And, depending on your business status (hobby, contractor, company etc), it may pay to check your position regarding Workers Compensation cover. (Call Workplace Standards)

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