Why Doing HOMEwork is Fun: Part 1 (Advantages)

I have been a Realtor for 13 years and have had an office space in all of the companies I have worked within, until now. This last company I have joined will be my last move. I have ownership in the company and feel like I am home where I belong. But the model of this company does not support every agent having an office space in the building. I gave up my corner office to an incoming team and decided to work from home. More and more Realtors are being brought on board at these large companies and being told they need to be a work at home agent. I’m sure that working from home is not for everyone, whether they are new agents or very experienced. Some do not have a home space to use that would be appropriate, can’t afford all the equipment, need more space for a team, or need the education and support of the office environment. It is understood that there are advantages and disadvantages to working from home. But for me, for now, it is wonderful!

Advantages

1. Because this is tax season, I am putting this advantage at the top of the list. There are tax deductions for working from home, especially if you are self-employed! My home office space and equipment can be counted if used as my main office. So what can be deducted? A business portion of real estate taxes, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, insurance, painting, repairs and depreciation. Although I don't know if the living room cushy chair could be decucted, but if you would like to know more about the tax benefits for working from home, then click here.

2. A definite advantage is being able to have more useable hours to work. I don't have to spend the time getting dressed (although I still do), driving into the office every day or going out to eat for meals, unless that is part of my scheduled business plan.

3. When my power hour starts at 9 in the morning (calling or emailing prospects or clients), the only traveling I have to do is from the kitchen table to the cushy chair in the living room or down the hall to my office. Using my wireless laptop, I can reply to emails with music playing as loud as I wish. When I need to make a call, all I have to do is hit the mute button. When a call comes in, I can search the MLS, update my status on Facebook and drink a cup of coffee all at the same time.

4. I don't have to brave the elements, take chances on slipping on the ice, or shovel my mile long and mile high driveway to get to my office! Even when the weather is bad I can receive faxes, emails, and still work long hard hours. Hmmm.. now that I think of it, maybe that isn't an advantage... everyone needs a snow day once in a while.

5. I can sit out on the front porch swing and negotiate a deal on beautiful days. Or, if sitting at my desk, I can see a woodpecker in the hanging birdfeeder just outside my office window, or watch the red fox or deer running through the woods while working a price reduction on a listing. I can open the window next to my desk and feel the warm breeze as it becomes a gust of wind. The only papers flying around the room are my own. My assistant enjoys the same views from her desk and uses a new computer just for her, with fax, scanner, copier and printer within arms' distance from her desk.

6. I can be working while the furnace repairman is repairing or be here to receive special deliveries when they are due.

7. When it is time for lunch or a snack, I can walk out to my own kitchen and whip up a sandwich with leftover roast beef and drink fresh water from my own well. No emails from the front desk asking who ate whose lean cuisine!

8. The cost of mileage and wear and tear on my car is a lot less when I am not driving into the office every day.

9. Incoming faxes and phone calls are much more private at home. Sometimes, the voices in an office can be loud :).

10. Important calls are never missed, regardless of the condition of my house or what I'm wearing.


Of course, not everyone has a home like mine, with the appropriate atmosphere for a professional office. There are definitely disadvantages to working at home, and those will be covered in Part 2.