With many people continuing to WFH, the "home office space" continues to be on the minds of plenty of homeowners. Now, some of those who viewed their home office spaces as temporary are looking to set up a more permanent, specialized home office—in their garage.
While working from home can be challenging without a dedicated space, the Pew Research Center notes that “nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, roughly six-in-ten U.S. workers who say their jobs can mainly be done from home (59%) are working from home all or most of the time.”
Unless you already have a dedicated den or office room—or an unused extra bedroom—Garages offer an interesting solution.
Many homeowners are making garage upgrades such as better flooring and lighting—and even adding air conditioning, heating and insulation to keep their converted office space comfortable year-round.
Start with the basics
First you need to make sure the garage can genuinely serve as an appropriate workspace. Flowall suggests the best way to get started on this project is to “speak with local contractors about the job, get some helpful advice, and learn how to handle common obstacles.”
Certain state and city codes require you to have building permits, so do the necessary research before you begin any renovations.
List your needs and create a budget
There is plenty to consider when transforming your garage into an office. A few of the big ones?
- Replacing or adding windows
- Updating concrete flooring (carpet, wood, tiles?)
- Lighting enhancements
- Heating & Air Conditioning
Did you know LED light offers a glow that is similar to sunlight? This is good to note if window space in your garage office is limited. Also: will you want to add a bathroom or a sink with running water? Is the electrical wiring in your garage up to code to handle computers, monitors, printers, chargers or other necessary office peripherals?
Remember: Your Wifi is your lifeline
Last, but certainly not least, a strong Wi-Fi connection is essential for a home office. To get the best Wi-Fi signal in your garage, Garage Living suggests getting a Wi-Fi extender, moving your Wi-Fi router or replacing your router with newer, more reliable hardware. You'll have to run some tests to see which solution is best for you.
Pre-plan your budget—and timing
Like any renovation, plan for your budget and the time to complete the project. The costs—and the timeframe—can also be affected depending on the time of year the work is getting done. According to Home Advisor, homeowners may pay between $6k-$20k to turn their unused garage into a functional work/living space.
Will you need to access cash to cover the costs? A HELOC or home equity loan may be a great choice to help cover the costs of a garage renovation (or any home improvement project). To see an estimate of how much cash you may be able to access, simply take a minute to visit our equity insights calculator and see.
And if you have questions about how to access cash from your home's available equity, we can help you find the solution that works best for you.