Working from home was once a dream for many, and those who had the luxury were envied. Today, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to more people working from home than ever before; however, with this uptick in people working from home comes the responsibility of ensuring your home office is safe for you and your clients.
Nowadays, you can't be too careful when meeting people face to face. Fortunately, there are plenty of solutions that make it easy to handle tasks from a distance. You can avoid unnecessary face-to-face contact with clients by using SaaS systems that allow you to create and deliver invoices and estimates from your computer. When you provide contactless invoicing and estimates, you also save yourself time and gas. You can even use a payment processing system to send and receive funds safely online, such as Venmo or PayPal. Want to avoid visits to an attorney to form your LLC? Consider using a contactless formation service instead.
The pandemic forced many people to attend business meetings and reach out to clients virtually; however, you may want to consider using virtual meetings as a permanent change to your business.
Not only do meetings over the computer reduce unnecessary contact, but they're also more convenient. You don't have to spend money on gas or take extra time to commute.
Add an extra window to your home office to improve the lighting. You can reduce eyestrain that can occur when you have to stare at paperwork or a computer screen for a prolonged amount of time. Additionally, increasing the amount of natural light you receive each day may help improve your mood and sleep.
If you suffer from frequent headaches, sore eyes, or nausea after prolonged up-close work, these issues may stem from eyestrain due to poor lighting. Install overhead lighting on the wall or ceiling to ensure there's enough light.
Moreover, creating a space suited for a home office may increase your home's appraisal value. Prospective homebuyers often want an office, and when you have one set up already, your home is more appealing.
Make sure you take before and after pictures so you can keep track of your updates, estimate your expenses, and quantify how much the improvements have increased your home's value.
Especially now that the mask mandates for certain areas have ended, not everyone is bringing a mask with them everywhere they go. If you desire clients to wear a mask while in your home office, stock up on disposable ones and keep some on your desk that are easily accessible to you and your clients.
Consider installing UV lights in your HVAC system to reduce the number of harmful airborne microbes in your home. Ideally, you should consult with an HVAC expert to determine where the most effective locations for these lights are within your system and have them installed properly.
Keep in mind that hospitals use UV lights for sterilization purposes for certain devices and their HVAC systems to decrease bacteria and other harmful microbes in the air. Plus, UV light reduces mold and mildew.
Open a window and let fresh air into your home office. The air in your home contains pollutants, and the fresh air helps disperse them. Additionally, fresh air is good for brain function and happiness. Proper ventilation can also help curb the number of microbes in the air.
A few steps can help make your home office a safer place for you and your clients. You may also feel better overall when you make a few changes to your living and working space.
Are you looking to build out your home office? Then head to R.C. Goodwyn & Sons for all of your lumber, hardware, door and window needs. We’re open six days a week, and are here to serve you!
