By Scott Stonebreaker

It’s not surprising that after a cold winter, getting a chance to open up the windows and let some fresh air into your home is a long awaited pleasure. As spring approaches, keep in mind that in addition to letting in a refreshing breeze, windows also play an essential role in home safety.

Your windows can serve as secondary escape routes from your home and are invaluable in case of emergency; every member of your family should know how to take advantage of a window exit during a fire. However, it is equally as important for homeowners to understand that open windows can be hazardous, especially to young children, and to be familiar with the important steps you can take to prevent accidental falls.

Take some time to assess the condition of your home’s windows and test your family’s awareness of their importance in terms of overall home safety. The tips below can help ensure that your windows provide a trouble-free escape route for your family in an emergency while remaining safe for youngsters in your home.

• Windows provide one of the fastest, easiest alternatives to escape a house fire. Sit down with your family to design an emergency escape plan—and practice it. Always be sure that there is at least one window in each sleeping and living area that is available as an alternate escape route during a home emergency.
• Make sure that your windows open and close easily. When performing spring repairs, be careful not to accidentally paint or nail your windows shut, making emergency escape impossible. Do not install window unit air conditioners where they could block or impede escape during an emergency.
• While security bars, grilles and window grates keep intruders out, they also can lock you in. Make sure they have a simple and functioning release mechanism, so that you can escape a fire.
• If you have young children in your home and are thinking about installing window fall prevention devices or guards, make sure the product has a release mechanism so that it can be opened for escape in a fire emergency. Consult your local fire department or building code official to determine proper window guard placement.
• When children are present, make sure that windows are closed and locked. Set and enforce rules to keep your children from playing around windows or patio doors, and keep furniture, along with any other objects that children may climb, away from windows.
• Don’t depend on window screens to prevent falls. Insect screens are designed to provide ventilation while keeping pests and debris out—not to keep youngsters in.
• Plant shrubs and other soft landscaping underneath windows to lessen the impact in case of a fall.

For more information about window safety tips, visit the National Safety Council Web site at www.nsc.org.

Buying a new home is an exciting, and sometimes daunting task. Carefully shopping model homes before you buy can relieve the pressure of the selection process and alleviate concerns, before you begin building. The model home is one of your greatest assets in choosing floor plans and upgrades and visualizing your furnishings in the home. After walking through a model home, you will learn much more than you could have gleaned from a floor plan.

Use the Sales Center As a Resource
 Before you walk through any model homes, stop by the builder’s sales center. Here you will find detailed information about the builder, homes, community and neighborhood.
The sales center will have the overall site plan, and many times the builder will display a topographical map to give you a perspective of the entire community. From these resources you can determine the finished size of the community, which lots are available, and what amenities and community features are offered.
In the sales center you also will find floor plans and elevations, and a list of available upgrades. Look through this information and study the floor plans before you select which model homes to visit. Determine the square footage and compare it to your current living space.

Ask Questions of the Sales Staff
The sales professional is your link to the builder and your best source of information during your visit to the sales center and model home walk-through. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the homes, the community and even the construction.
Sales professionals have information about the community, including schools and public services, and even nearby grocery stores and shopping areas. They also know the available features and upgrades and will be thoroughly familiar with the plans and the homes. Tap into this knowledge to help you make smart decisions about your new home purchase.

Study the Space and Consider Your Needs
Even though you may visit many model homes while home shopping, take your time. This is your opportunity to make smart decisions about your new home, so do not rush the process.
During the walk-through, study all the spaces in the house. Visualize your belongings and style in each room to see if it’s a fit. Examine closet and cabinet sizes. Open doors and turn on faucets.
The model home also will showcase many of the upgrades available including flooring, counters, cabinets, flooring, windows, fire places, bump outs and more. Take the time to prioritize your wishes and needs and determine which upgrades you need right away, and what improvements you can make to your home down the road.

Don’t Forget to Have Fun
Have fun and gather ideas while model home shopping. Builders use some of the hottest products and appliances in their models. The rooms will use innovative lighting, paint effects, window treatments and more. Shopping model homes will give you a chance to see the latest trends in fabrics and colors as well. Delight in the care and detail used to decorate model homes, and happy shopping!

by Scott Stonebreaker

The days of the dark and dank basement, strewn with boxes, dusty exercise equipment and tangled holiday decorations are rapidly becoming a thing of the past, replaced instead by luxurious media and game rooms, European-style pub rooms, second kitchens, wet bars and guest rooms.  Homeowners by the droves are reinventing their formerly stodgy basements in search of more livable living space and are finding that basements are just too valuable to leave rough and unfinished.  Creating an “upscale downstairs” is a burgeoning trend. Among new-home buyers the two things they typically want to do immediately are install a deck and finish the basement.  While basements are not the top remodeled space—kitchens and baths remain the leaders—they are a sizeable chuck of the $215 billion U.S. remodeling industry. Not bad when you take into account that only 68 percent of all U.S. homes even have basements.

Half the Hassle, Lower the Cost
Remodelers conclude that economics, psychology and land restrictions are some of the reasons why basements are achieving a higher remodeling profile. Finishing a basement usually costs about half of what upstairs improvements run, and basement remodeling is unlikely to trigger the regulatory dance or neighborhood fuss of a building addition.  Prices for lower-level remodeling can start at about $15,000 – $20,000 for basic drywall, wiring, and paint and carpet, depending on the square footage. For contractors who oversee the entire project, prices typically begin at $20 – $25 a square foot.  From there, prices can swell into the six figures based on the complexity of the job.

Reclaiming—and Taming—Basement Space
Now that more homeowners realize the potential for their basements—stylishly referred to as the “lower level”—the design opportunities appear to be endless.  If the level of finish (comprising thoughtful and creative design, quality materials and top-notch craftsmanship) is equal to, or exceeds, the level of finish on the existing main levels of the home, this space is no longer considered ‘second class’.  Homeowners often are willing to spend whatever it takes to do the job right.
The uses for this space are as varied as the families seeking to remodel.  Today, many homeowners are seeking entertainment spaces that include large, extravagant basements, complete with stone fireplaces, wine rooms, home theaters, full kitchens, hot tubs, full baths and steam areas, and lower-level transformations for growing families that include color-filled basements with amenities like built-in forts and slides.  While fun and innovative, many of the latest trends may be out of reach or over-the-top for the average homeowner looking to spruce up and use their basement space. The lower-level amenities consumers generally focus on include drywall ceilings with recessed lighting, home entertainment systems and interior design elements such as sofa sectionals, silk window treatments, crush-proof carpet and brighter wall colors.

Pricing Your Vision
While the possibilities may seem limitless when renovating the lower-level space, so can costs, depending on the original structure. Remodeling-happy homeowners need to consider the design options carefully.
A basement project does not require an increase in the building’s footprint, thus saving on building elements such as footings, roof systems, floor systems and ceiling systems. But, potential savings can be easily offset if the scope of work includes a new bathroom, wet bar or the relocation of mechanical systems or the laundry to a new space that hasn’t been roughed in.   Building codes can have significant requirements for basement living spaces, including a second egress for the living area and for each bedroom. Other considerations may include ensuring enough property easement to allow for an adequate well and including the required smoke detectors. Despite the costs incurred and a relatively poor return on investment, the cost of finishing a basement ranks among the lowest of the major home improvements with a national average return of just $.79 on the dollar, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2003 Cost vs. Value report, with strong new-home sales and starts, there appears to be no sign of this trend slowing in the future.

On February 11, 1847 the genius inventor of the electrical age, Thomas Edison, was born. Nearly 160 years later, his most famous invention, the light bulb, still has an essential place in the home. With often no more than four hours of sleep per night and his personal creed of, “Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration,” his work with electricity is legendary.

For all the work done by Edison and his predecessors, most people know only as much about electricity as is absolutely necessary to go about their daily lives; in other words, not very much.  But ignorance isn’t always bliss. A little information can prevent shocks and reduce power bills.

Here are a handful of true/false questions to test your Electrical IQ:

1. If lights flicker or dim repeatedly, you should call an electrician.   TRUE.  Anytime you’re getting flickering or dimming lights, there is a problem and you should call your electrician.  Power outages due to power line accidents, strong wind, storms or extreme heat can cause brief interruptions. Customers can call their power company to find out details on the situation, or check their circuit boxes for those outages. But flickering or dimming lights signifies an overload, and a professional should be contacted. You should also call your electrician if you are constantly resetting circuit breakers or changing fuses, smell burning electricity or need to replace faulty wiring.
2. It’s cheaper to leave fluorescent lights on when exiting a room than it is to turn them back on when you return.  FALSE. This is a commonly held belief, based on the erroneous notion that fluorescent bulbs use a lot of power to get started. While it is true that a compact fluorescent bulb does require a brief surge when switched on, it works out to be around the same amount of energy as five seconds of normal use, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). So turning the lights off for more than five seconds will save more energy than leaving them on.
3. House wiring never needs replacing.  FALSE. Depending on the amount of use, insulation on house wires can become frayed or broken, creating a fire hazard. If you have any doubts about your wiring, have a qualified electrician perform a complete inspection. Houses built between 1965 and 1973, in particular, are at risk because many were built with aluminum wiring, which the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says is 55 times more likely to reach “fire hazard conditions” than regular copper wire.
4. A circuit breaker is not designed to protect against a ground fault.  TRUE. Circuit breakers are designed to protect against high levels of electrical current caused by a short circuit. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) protect against ground faults, when current leaking from an appliance goes to ground through a person touching the appliance. Even a small amount of current passing through a person this way can be lethal; a GFCI will trip if there’s a ground fault, whereas a circuit breaker won’t.
5. A two-parter: Computer screen savers save energy, and your computer will last longer if you leave it on all day, instead of shutting it off when you’re not using it.  FALSE AND FALSE. Screen savers only save screens, not energy. If you want to save energy, turn the monitor off. In fact, the EPA recommends you turn the computer off, too, if you aren’t going to use it within a half hour. They claim the lifetime of the hard disc is limited by use, rather than start-ups.
6. You can damage a power tool by using the wrong size extension cord.  TRUE. If your electric lawn mower, hedge trimmer, or leaf blower doesn’t get enough power, either because the extension cord is too thin or too long to deliver it, it can damage and eventually destroy the motor. Also, overloading an extension cord can cause a fire or shock hazard. Be sure to use a cord rated to provide the proper amperage the tool requires, listed on the tool.

Remember, when dealing with electrical issues in your home, safety should be your number one priority. Homeowners put themselves in dangerous situations by thinking they could do a job cheaper by themselves.  If it’s more than changing a light bulb, call a professional. Or take a how-to class at a local community college.

Just a little electrical knowledge can go a long way.

By Scott Stonebreaker

As temperatures drop this winter season, one thing inevitably rises—your home fueling costs. According to preliminary estimates by the federal government, consumers can expect to pay 47 percent more for natural gas home-heat this year than they did last winter, due in part to the impact of Hurricane Katrina on natural gas production facilities. And rising prices are expected for consumers of fuel oil, propane and electricity as well. With this winter’s forecast, ensuring your home is energy-wise is an essential step for all homeowners.

While natural gas usage leads American homes with 62 percent, electricity (27 percent) and heating oil (2 percent) also are consumed by American homeowners and can contribute to energy inefficiencies. Fuel options for homeowners largely depend on the region—in the Northeast, fuel oil or electricity are most prominent while in rural areas, choices are often limited to propane and wood. Here in the Midwest, natural gas and electricity are the main choices. No matter what your heating fuel options are, homeowners can reduce their costs.

Reducing fuel costs can involve both short-term and long-term solutions and range from simple, inexpensive changes to major home modifications. Here are some ways that you can keep the cold out and the costs down this winter:
Caulk and seal air leaks in your house. By reducing air leaks, an average household can cut 10 percent of their monthly energy bill. While sealing windows and doors can help, usually the worst culprits are utility cut-throughs for pipes (plumping penetrations), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets. Your local builder or remodeler can recommend an energy auditor to help spot all the inefficiencies.

Use Energy Wisely. Set the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). Also, check if your water heater has an insulating blanket. An insulating blanket will typically pay for itself in one year or less. To lessen heat loss when you use your fireplace and the furnace is on, lower the thermostat setting to 50 or 55 degrees. Some warmed air will still be lost, but the furnace won’t have to use as much fuel to keep the rest of the house at its usual temperature. Install a clock thermostat to lower the heat automatically at night. You can save as much as 10 percent on annual heating bills with these simple strategies.

Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Products. You can easily lower electricity bills by choosing to upgrade to energy-efficient appliances and products. Replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescents can save homeowners up to three-quarters of the electricity previously used by incandescent. The best targets are 60-100 watt bulbs used for several hours a day. Check the fixtures to ensure they will accommodate the slightly larger compact fluorescents. Also use energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, and washers and dryers. If you need to replace an aging, inefficient appliance, look at investing in an energy-efficient model. This holds true for appliances powered by all type of fuel, not just electricity.

There are a whole host of resources for keeping your home warm (and your money in your wallet) this winter season.

If you’re building a new home you may feel that working with a homebuilder is a daunting task, especially if you’ve heard of people who’ve had a bad experience. However, do not assume “one bad apple spoils the bunch,” when it comes to builders. As with any industry, there are a handful of unscrupulous companies consumers need to be weary of. While most builders are reputable, it’s up to you, the consumer, to do your homework to ensure you’re comfortable with the builder you’ve selected and that you understand the building process you’re about encounter. Don’t let fears and misconceptions keep you from the home of your dreams. Here’s how to get started with confidence:

Find out how long your builder has been in business.
If he’s lasted five or ten years he’s probably built a quality reputation and is able to satisfy his customers. Most established builders are members of local trade organizations and are active in the community. Contact your local homebuilder association and ask for a list of builders in your area. Visit Homebuilders Association of Greater Fox Valley at www.buildfoxvalley.com for a listing of Kane county builders.

Don’t hesitate to ask for references.
The best way to find out about a builder’s business ethic is to speak with satisfied buyers. They’ll be able to attest to quality of work, timeliness of maintenance issues, and many other important issues that arise during the building process.

See the quality of work with your own eyes.
If you’re buying an existing new home you have the luxury of seeing the product before you buy it, but if you’re building, you’re often working from floor plans and samples which can be hard to envision. Ask your builder to show you a home he’s built. He may have a finished home for sale you can walk through, or he can ask a previous buyer to show their home. It’s the best way to see exactly what you’re paying for.

Educate yourself on the real estate market.
Find out what similar homes are selling for, keeping in mind that if you’re building, new home pricing will be higher as construction costs continually rise. Learning about the value of your home will boost your confidence in you builder knowing you’re receiving competitive pricing. How can you learn about market value? Check out the real estate sections of local papers and compare the selling price of similar homes. Tour model homes in the area to see what features and options are offered and at what price. The internet is also very useful in researching homes for sale as well as new communities.

Learn about the building process.
If you’re purchasing an existing new home your main concerns will be the “walk-through” prior to closing, warranty coverage, and maintenance follow-up. Prior to signing a contract discuss these topics with your builder to ensure you both have the same expectations upon closing.

While building a new home can seem overwhelming, homebuyers that understand the process will find the experience much more enjoyable. Most builders have systems in place to walk homebuyers through the process with comfort and ease. But, doing your part in understanding the steps and timelines involved will alleviate stress and help avoid any misunderstandings. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the process prior to interviewing builders, as you’ll be able to ask more in-depth questions. The more you know, the easier it will be to select a builder that’s a good fit with your expectations. A good place to start your research is the National Association of Home Builders (www.nahb.com) website where you’ll find a wealth of consumer-based information about building a home.

Develop a realistic budget.
Unless you have an unlimited budget, you’ll probably have to compromise on your “wish list” due to cost restraints. Determine ahead of time what specific items are “must haves.” Whether it’s a chef’s kitchen, granite countertops, a luxury master suite, or a three-car garage, itemize these essentials in order of importance and get pricing from your builder upfront. Knowing ahead of time what you can realistically afford will alleviate added stress and emotions you may encounter. Plus, this will help ensure you and your builder are on the same page.

Connect with your builder.
Communication is the key to a successful relationship with your builder. If you’re purchasing an existing home, it’s not quite as essential to hit if off with your builder since there will be minimal contact after the purchase. If you’re planning to build, interview several builders to find one you’re comfortable with. Ask to meet the customer service representative as well as the site manager because in most cases you’ll be working closely with these people as well. As they say, once you get married any annoyances or issues are magnified after the ceremony, the same goes for the relationship with your builder. The process is very detailed, very timely, and can be stressful for homebuyers as this is probably the largest and most important purchase you will make. If you’re not comfortable with your builder, do not trust your builder, or have difficulty communicating, you may be in for a rough road ahead.

The most important way to combat any fears or misconceptions is to simply arm yourself with information. Most people research a car before they make the purchase, but few spend as much time researching the most important purchase they’ll ever make, their new home. One last piece of advice, remember to enjoy yourself along the way. Buying a new home should be an exciting and memorable event for everyone involved.

Scott Stonebreaker is the past president of the Homebuilders Association of Fox Valley. For questions or comments, Scott can be reached via email at scott@stonebreakerbuilders.com.

Before you go to settlement on a new home, you and your builder will do a “walk through” to conduct a final inspection.  The walk-through provides an opportunity for you to spot items which may need to be corrected or adjusted, and allows you to learn about the way your new home works.

Often, a builder will use the walk to educate buyers about:

• The operation of the house’s components.
• The buyer’s responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep.
• Warranty coverage and procedures.
• The larger community in which the home is located.

When you buy a new appliance or piece of equipment, such as a VCR or washing machine, you usually have to read the instructions before you can understand how to use all of the features.  With a new house, you will be receiving a stack of instruction booklets all at once.  It helps if someone takes the time to show you how to operate all of the kitchen appliances, the heating and cooling systems, the water heater and other features in the home.  Such an orientation is particularly useful since people often are so busy during a move that they have trouble finding time to carefully read instruction booklets.

Part of your “walk through” will be learning about maintenance and upkeep responsibilities. Most new homes come with a one-year warranty on workmanship and materials.  However, such warranties do not cover problems that develop because of failure to perform required maintenance.  Many builders provide a booklet explaining common upkeep responsibilities of new homeowners and how to perform them.
Should a warranted problem arise after you move in, the builder is likely to have a set of warranty service procedures to follow.  Except in emergencies, requests for service should be in writing.  This is not because the builder is trying to be bureaucratic, but to ensure that everyone clearly understands the service to be performed.  The person receiving a service request is not likely to be the person performing the work, and you don’t want to rely on word of mouth for transmission of your service order.

Many builders schedule two visits during the first year — one near the beginning and the other near the end — to make necessary adjustments and to perform work of a non-emergency nature.  You should not expect a builder to rush out immediately for a problem such as a nail pop in your drywall.  Such problems occur because of the natural settling of the house and are best addressed in one visit near the end of the first year.
If you have moved to a new home from a nearby area, you probably will not spend much time at the walk-through talking about the larger community in which the home is located.  However, if you are moving to a new community, a builder can often provide a packet of material to help you become familiar with your new community.

When inspecting the house, an effective way to handle this is with a checklist.  The list should include everything that needs attention, and you and your builder should agree to a timetable for repairs.  Builders prefer to remedy problems before you move in since it is easier for them to work in an empty house.  Some items may have to be corrected after move-in.  For instance, if your walk-through is in the winter, your builder may have to delay landscaping adjustments until spring.

It is important that you be thorough and observant during the walk-through.   Examine all surfaces of counters, fixtures, floors and walls for possible damage carefully.  Sometimes disputes arise because a buyer may discover a gouge in a counter top after move-in, and there is no way to prove whether it was caused by the builder’s workers or the buyer’s movers.  Many builders ask their buyers to sign a form at the walk-through stating that all surfaces have been inspected and that there were no damage other than what has been noted on the walk-through checklist.

Ask a lot of questions during the walk-through and take notes on the answers.  Never be afraid to appear stupid by asking too many questions.  That is how you learn.  It is important to view the walk-through as a positive learning experience which will enhance your enjoyment of your home.

You want to change the look and feel of your house, but you also want your remodeling job to look fresh for a number of years while complementing the existing features of your home. How do you choose the right project and design for you and your family?

First, make sure you take your family’s lifestyle into account when selecting an area of your home to remodel.  For example, if you get a lot of traffic through the house, consider hardwood floors. Families who frequently entertain in the kitchen may want to expand the room and add an island or some comfortable chairs. If your bathroom is the place where you escape the world, add a whirlpool tub or a deluxe shower.

After you’ve chosen an area of your home to remodel, the wide array of project options can be both dazzling and intimidating.  To get started, consult the resources below, which can give you specific ideas on how to turn your house into the dream home you’ve always wanted.

TV Shows:  Home & Garden Television (HGTV) features a number of shows on topics ranging from decorating to home improvement.  To spark your creativity, watch projects evolve from start to finish on shows like Building Character and Dream Builders; check your local television guide for listings.

Magazines: Magazines that cater to home improvement, lifestyle and remodeling can be an excellent source of ideas.  Page through publications such as Home, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living, Food and Wine, Country Living, Ladies’ Home Journal and Good Housekeeping to identify projects and materials that might work in your home.  Additionally, you can request a wide range of free or inexpensive literature by completing the mail-in coupons inserted in such publications.

Web Sites: Surfing the Web is a great way to find ideas and research projects. Many remodelers, manufacturers and magazines host Web sites that feature project photos, buying guides and product information. Web directories also can help you find professional remodelers in your area.

Sketches and Floor Plans: No two remodeling projects are the same, but you can gain some insight into how another homeowner solved a space problem by carefully studying sketches and floor plans. If, like most people, you are easily confused by plans and drawings, imagine yourself in the middle of the room or space on the plan.

Books: Browse a bookstore with a well-stocked home improvement section, but beware of books telling you to be your own remodeling contractor. Most remodeling projects call for a level of skill and work hours beyond those stated in these books. The job of a professional remodeler requires experience and competence in a wide range of disciplines, and unless you are highly skilled and licensed in all the trades, you can quickly get in over your head.

Newspapers: Most newspapers publish regular sections devoted to real estate, home design and remodeling. Also, twice a year—usually in the spring and fall—many papers print special home improvement supplements. Each of these sections contains timely articles and useful advertisements on remodeling, home improvement, repair and maintenance.

Friends, Family and Neighbors: Do you know someone who has recently remodeled their home in a style you admire? He or she may still have product manuals, magazines and other helpful information you can borrow, as well as practical advice drawn from his or her own experience.

Remodeling Professionals: One of the advantages of choosing a remodeler early is gaining access to an extensive library of resources prior to starting a project.  Once you’ve chosen a contractor, he or she usually can offer you a wide variety of materials, including product manuals, magazines, brochures and blueprints.

Manufacturers and Suppliers: The most obvious place to find information about new products and how to use them is on manufacturers’ Web sites and in magazine ads.  Lumberyards, hardware stores and other suppliers also can be valuable sources of information. Many suppliers now offer home planning centers, where you can browse comfortably among plan books, product manuals, sourcebooks, building tips, and more.

Firsthand Observation: Keep a loaded camera and some extra film in your vehicle. You never know when a trip to the grocery store might provide you a glimpse of just the right exterior door or window trim, so always be prepared.

For more information on planning your remodeling project or to find a professional remodeler, contact The Homebuilders Association of the Greater Fox Valley at 630/587-1700.

By Scott Stonebreaker

As high school graduates head to their first year at university and college graduates leave the nest, many parents are finding a bit more breathing room in the family home. Maybe a bedroom in your home has opened up and is ready for repurposing. Imagine the possibilities: Your newly emptied bedroom could become a den, a library, or even a media room.

One of the most popular ways to keep that now-free room functional is to create a home office.  With solid planning, it is possible to create a home workspace that you will actually want to work in, whether it is a comfortable, organized space to pay household bills or the headquarters for your home-based business.  In fact, many homeowners need a place to work from home occasionally. A growing number of organizations allow their workers to telecommute and, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 12 million houses nationwide have a dedicated home office space.  Telecommuters can enjoy the perks of a dedicated home office too.

Whether you are turning that now-empty bedroom into a home office or adding on, keep the following information in mind.  Begin with a floor plan.  Get some graph paper and draw the setup you want.  On paper, you can move elements around a number of times until you find the fit that is right for you.  Remember to include the locations of electrical outlets, phone jacks and other hookups in this planning stage.  There are also computer software programs available if you prefer a mouse to a pencil.
This can be a good time to list what you have and what you need to make your design a reality.  Keep in mind that you may be able to find some things around the house, while others will require a purchase.

While the office can be as simple or high-tech as you like, there are several basics for every home workspace.  A table or desk you can work at is a must-have.  In addition, a comfortable chair that fits with your desk or table is important.  Comfort is key in selecting these basics.  A lamp is essential if you work at night or the lighting in the room isn’t sufficient.

Organization is important in making your office run efficiently.  Desk organizers to hold pens, pencils, paper clips and other office supplies are great and help cut down on desktop clutter.  Filing cabinets are helpful to keep track of important paperwork, and they come in many sizes.
If you start out organized, you are more likely to stay organized.

Chances are, you own a home computer.  But are you satisfied with its performance?  While creating your workspace, you may want to consider a second computer specifically for the office.  Employees at your local computer store can help you find a computer that fits your needs and budget.  They can also help you select the best software for your office tasks.

Make sure that you can connect to the Internet from your chosen room. Most likely your local phone company as well as a wide array of other service providers offer multiple Internet options for you.  Shop around until you find one that fits your needs and budget.  The addition of a second phone line may also be considered, especially if you work from home.  It can be a great way to stay in contact with business colleagues.  Remember, even though it is a workspace, your office should reflect your personal taste.  If there is a certain type of décor you like, use it in your office.  Paintings and photographs can add a personal touch to a home work space as well. A bulletin board or a small chalkboard also can be useful for posting important information or essential telephone numbers and mail addresses.

Don’t feel pressured to buy everything for your office all at once.  Get the room set up and try working in it for a while.  The more time you spend in your office, the more you will realize what you need to make it function better.  Creating a home office can be a great way to maximize your newly created space.  Office supply stores can be a great resource, as can many furniture stores, in finding what you need to get started.  With thoughtful planning, you can count on a functional and comfortable home workspace.