Guest post from Adam Taylor of TaylorandNoel.com

With many of us being given the option of working at home nowadays, it’s safe to say that we are looking at the state of our home offices more carefully. That said, if you’re unsure of how your home office measures up, see these tips on how to design a professional-looking office to welcome clients and customers.

Make sure there is ample free-flowing air

If you are going to be having clients over often for in-person visits, then it’s best to make sure there is ample free-flowing air within the space. For example, if you have an HVAC system, then be sure to have it maintained regularly. Specifically, you should make sure that the air filters are dust-free so that the air conditioning works optimally. Also, if you have the option to, installing a UV light within your HVAC system is an effective way to eliminate certain viruses that may be floating in the air.

In addition to having a functioning HVAC system that works well when you need it to, you could also try placing a few fans in the area so that the air circulates freely. Also, be sure to open all doors and windows and let in as much natural light as possible as this will not only ensure that there is sufficient ventilation, but it will also make it appear lighter and brighter and give the illusion that it’s also bigger if your home office is on the smaller side.

Masks are still effective

If you are going to be hosting in-person visits more often than not, then you may still want to request that masks be worn at all times. Not only will you be helping to prevent the spread of any type of airborne disease, but it will also show your clients that you care about their safety too.

Encourage the use of non-contact devices

The threat of COVID-19 is still real. Therefore, in order to minimize human-to-human contact, it may be a good idea to use contactless devices as much as possible. For example, send electronic invoices to clients instead of billing manually, allow clients the option to pay via EFT or by card with a tap-and-go system, and allow them the option to sign electronically if you can. 

Make sure your home office looks the best it can

As much as safety is still a priority, so is making sure your home office looks the best it can for in-person as well as virtual meetings. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure that there is enough lighting in the background and that the lighting is bright enough so that they can see you clearly on video. Furthermore, it’s vital to ensure that your home office is tidy and orderly so that it creates a favorable impression on your clients. Also, if you are making any renovations to your home office, take before-and-after pictures to document these changes if you decide to sell one day, as these changes could influence the appraisal value of your home significantly.

In summary, your home office should be a positive reflection of your business. Therefore, it should be a professional-looking workplace whether you’re hosting clients in person or holding virtual meetings.

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