Working from home is more common than ever before, with many people choosing to telecommute. Selling your home while continuing to work at home brings some unique challenges, particularly when it comes to inspections. You can’t pause your workday every time an inspection is scheduled, but there are ways to work around it.
Set Showing Hours
Take a look at your work schedule and then determine what part of the day can be set aside as showing hours. Set those hours for every day and let your real estate agent know that you will vacate the home as needed during those hours and that showings should be scheduled, as much as possible, during that time.
Consider making your showing hours right around lunch time. People may want to come look at homes on their own lunch break, and you can get out of the house to enjoy your own meal. Make sure that your co-workers and superiors know about your arrangements.
Find Alternative Work Space
Not all showings are going to be at a convenient time for your workday, so be prepared with an alternate plan. Many cities now have joint workspaces available where you can rent a desk for a few hours or days at a time. You may also be able to work in a coffee shop or library.
Some showings may come up on short notice, so plan ahead and make sure you have an exit strategy and a place to go.
Stay Organized
Make sure that your workspace is clean and organized so that you can find what you need readily if you do need to go work elsewhere, and so that it’s ready to be shown as well. Tidy your desk at the end of every workday to keep it clean.
It’s a good idea to keep a briefcase or backpack handy where you can stash all of the things you need to work away from home—a laptop, any paperwork you need, your mobile phone, and accessories like pens and paper. That way you won’t be searching for what you need when packing up to head out for a few hours.
It can be difficult to work at home and show a house at the same time. With some pre-planning and careful organizing, however, it’s possible to keep your work life smooth while you sell your home.
Please feel free to contact me at 0414 260 457 if I can answer any real estate questions for you. I am more than happy to lend you my expertise and make myself available for consultation at no obligation to you.