When you work from home, your home office is important because it has such an impact on the quality of your work and even your life.  Here are a few things I think a good home office needs:

1. A door you can close.  If you live with other people or even with pets, you can never underestimate their ability to distract you when you are supposed to be working.  Live work lofts are great for home-based businesses, but be certain your office will be your own space (not shared with anyone), and will have a door on it!
2. Phone and/or cable jacks.  Although you could feasibly set up wireless in another part of the house, your Internet connection will be much faster if your computer is hooked up via a hard line.  You will also need a phone line for an office phone and/or a fax machine.
3. Plenty of storage space.  Paperwork alone requires a lot of storage space, so a filing cabinet or drawer is a must — but don’t forget that after a few years of being in business, you will probably need a lot more than just the one drawer.  Then you add in office supplies and inventory, and you have lots of stuff to store.  Be sure your office has file storage as well as a closet to use for additional storage!

When you are searching for live work space, it is important to keep these things in mind.  Identify things that are dealbreakers so that you can quickly eliminate properties and avoid wasting any more time than necessary.  For instance, if you are browsing Carlsbad homes for sale or townhomes in Carlsbad, you want to be able to narrow down your selections online, so that you don’t even waste time looking at properties that you know won’t meet your requirements.  Your work needs will be equally as important as your personal preferences in your final decision.

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