Working from home certainly has its perks, but not if your home lacks an appropriate office space. A home office that is too dark, too small, or lacking in privacy can prevent you from achieving peak performance at your job.
If you’re one of the many people who recently realized their home office could use some work, there’s a solution for that. A reputable contractor can turn your home office into the workspace you’ve always wanted, but how long does a home office remodel take? The answer is, it depends. Some home remodels take just a few days once the work begins, others can take weeks.
In addition to the actual construction process, home improvement projects involve planning and budgeting. The entire project, from the research phase to the construction phase, can take several weeks. Below we’ve outlined the steps and timeline for a typical home office remodel. If you would like to transform your home office into a space that is more conducive to working efficiently, get started as soon as possible.
What’s Involved in a Home Office Remodel?
Before you can estimate the timeline for a home office remodel, understand the process. Know the steps. Remodels happen in phases, starting first with planning and goal setting, and ending with the actual home construction.
Do Your Homework
Identify a space for your home office, or decide to build an addition. Look at pictures of home offices online to decide which materials, colors and styles are best for your home and business.
Set goals. Why is a remodel important at this time? What does your current home office arrangement lack that you’d like to fix? Some examples of goals that you might set include:
- Add a waiting area for clients.
- Install an exterior door and path to the door from your driveway.
- Widen the window opening to bring in natural light.
- Install more artificial lighting options and outlets for electronic devices.
- Expand the space to make room for an additional desk or storage.
- Create a specialized space for specialized work tasks, such as an insulated room for audio recording.
Read More: Working from Home? 5 Ideas for Designing a Home Office
Make the Budget
How much can you spend on this particular project? You’ll know how much once you’ve made a proper and fleshed-out budget. A typical home office remodel is a relatively low-cost project unless you’re building an addition or installing custom cabinetry.
If you don’t have enough cash on hand to complete your project, financing is available. Contact lenders to get the best interest rates and payment terms. Below are some of the home remodeling financing options.
- Cash-out refinance. Refinance your mortgage for an amount that is higher than the amount you owe, then get the difference in cash to pay for your remodel.
- Home equity line of credit (HELOC). This is a line of credit equal to the amount of equity that you have in your home, up to 80% of your home’s value. Use your HELOC like a credit card.
- Home equity loan. This loan takes the form of a lump sum of money that is paid back over a period.
When you’re budgeting, take into consideration how much you can afford to pay monthly toward a loan. To decide which loan product is right for you, find out from your lender how much you’ll pay each month and how much you’ll pay over time.
Meet with Contractors
Interview multiple reputable contractors in your area. Ask about:
- Licensure. The state of Florida requires contractors to be licensed. Hire a contractor who has the requisite licensure to do the work.
- Experience. Ask to see pictures and get references for previous jobs.
- Timeline. Find out how long the work will take and when they can start.
- Process. Ask the contractor what they’ll do to get the work done. Find out what they’ll do to overcome challenges, or how they suggest accomplishing your goals.
During this meeting, discuss your budget and give as many details as you possibly can. Your contractor should be aware of your budget constraints or considerations, and if your budget poses a challenge, they should be upfront about this issue.
Once you’ve selected a contractor for your needs, you’ll have to wait for your contractor to be available. Some contractors have a waiting list of a couple of weeks, others may ask you to wait a month or more. The waiting period depends on how busy the contractor is. If your contractor is reputable and well-known, expect them to be busy.
While you wait for your contractor to be available to do the construction, your contractor may submit designs for you to approve before the work is ready to begin. If you’re building an addition onto your home and your contractor does not offer design services, you’ll have to work with an architect to get the plans mapped out before the work can begin. Working with a design-build contractor can eliminate this step, thus streamlining the process.
Watch the Project Take Shape
Once your contractor is available to start work, watch your project take shape and enjoy the fruits of your research. Most basic remodels take a few days to a week, but if your contractor is building an addition onto your home, this project will take much longer. In addition, your contractor will start with the foundation and framing, then will install mechanicals like ductwork and wiring, and finally, the finish will be installed in the form of drywall, paint, and trim.
What’s the Timeline for a Home Office Remodel, Start to Finish?
The time it takes to conduct a home office remodel depends on factors that are hard to gauge but you can gauge this based on a few questions. How much time do you have to dedicate to this project? How motivated are you to get this renovation finished? When is your contractor available? All of these factors can affect your timeline. Below is our best estimate to finish your home office remodel from start to finish.
- Project research and budgeting: 3 weeks
- Interviewing contractors: 1 – 2 weeks
- Watching the project take shape: few days to 6 weeks, depending on whether the project includes building an addition
The one length of time the above estimates do not include is the waiting period that comes immediately after interviewing the contractor and before the contractor can begin work. Good contractors are usually booked out by a few weeks or even a month, but they’re worth waiting for. Reputable contractors do it right the first time, and the work they do is high-quality. A home remodels conducted by a reputable contractor will improve your home’s value.
Contact Gilbert Design Build
Gilbert Design Build helps homeowners like you get the work done. We offer design-build services and a streamlined home remodel process. Work with us to build your home office. Call today to make an appointment.