Home Office Space Is More Desirable Than Ever in Northern VA

I have tracked and written about the most desirable home features for the last 17 years. These features have ranged from upgraded kitchens to remodeled bathrooms, master suites, and exterior curb appeal. The latest trending home feature began its move up the list even before the COVID-19 pandemic, this sought after feature is a home office.

Recently  George Ratiu, Senior Economist with realtor.com, notes how listings with an office are selling quickly:

“As more companies have been embracing remote work, buyers are driving demand for houses with home offices higher. Homes featuring the term ‘office’ are selling 9 days faster than the overall housing inventory.”

More people working remotely is prompting businesses to operate virtually, not just because the current pandemic. According to that same article and recent data, the number of employees working at home was fairly steady from 1997 – 2004, but have been climbing ever since (see graph below):

The work-from-home population is growing, and technology is making it possible. According to a recent article on Think Google, online searches for telecommuting hit an all-time high, and that’s certainly no surprise given our current situation.

Across the U.S. people are looking for answers on how to be most efficient at home, and making the ideal workspace more desirable. In fact, best practices from seasoned work-from-home professionals, like Chris Anderson, Senior Account Executive at HousingWire, tout that having a dedicated space is a must for productivity.

With today’s increasing demand for a home office in Northern VA, it’s a feature that must be highlight within your listing if you’re selling a house. From bright natural light with large windows to built-in bookshelves or a quiet and secluded atmosphere, whatever makes your office space shine is worth mentioning to buyers when you’re ready to list your house.

Ratiu concludes:

“For housing, the continued increase in the share of remote workers implies that demand for homes with offices or dedicated work spaces will continue to increase. The current coronavirus pandemic offers a dramatic indication of the fact that companies and employees will have to develop plans and clearer policies for remote work beyond the current crisis.”

Bottom Line

Telecommuting will become more widely accepted as this current crisis teaches businesses and employees what it takes to function virtually. What seems like a business challenge today may be more of the norm tomorrow. With that in mind, if you have a home office, your house may be more desirable to buyers than you think. If you are concerned about selling your home in the near future, check out my Virtual Home Buying Program.