It would appear that working from home and distance learning is the new normal and people are finding it more important than ever to have a home office. Home offices provide a space where you (or your children) can focus to get work done with minimal distractions. And it is because of the desire to have a private work space, 45% of real estate agents say a home office is a must have when looking for a home. 

HomeLight's Q3 survey also reveals that 14% of clients that teach are turning a spare room into a dedicated room as a virtual classroom for distance learning.

If you work from home or your children need a quiet space to complete their school work, here are a few tips to keep in mind when tackling a home office renovation project.

1. Stick to your budget

Like any other project, you're going to have to think about what you want to do and estimate how much it will cost. You can start your estimation by browsing Pinterest to get some ideas about how you want your room to look. If you find furniture that you like but don't want to spend the money, you can go the thrift store/flea market route and DIY. 

We like doing this because you can put your own spin on the design and truly make it yours. For example, if you like mid-century furniture but want to have some color, you could buy a second hand piece and use a bold color paint. 

When you're creating your budget, you may want to overestimate a little bit so that you have a little wiggle room. Just remember to pay attention to prices when you're actually shopping because it adds up pretty quickly!

2. Have realistic expectations about time

It doesn't matter if you're freshening up the paint or you're refinishing/replacing the flooring, it's going to take time and some projects will take more time than others. Painting and rearranging furniture can be done on a weekend, but if you're building something like a desk or built-in bookshelf too... It could take several weekends depending on your skill level.

3. Don't be afraid to splurge

Although you have a budget, you can splurge on some things and still stay within your budget. Let's say you're going to be spending a lot of time at your desk, as working from home requires, you may want to get an aerodynamic chair with good back support. If you want a reading nook, you can find a nice floor lamp and a cozy chair. 

We recommend writing a list of what you want in your home office and decide what features are most important to you. Of course, you don't have to splurge at all if you just want a functional office and don't care about aesthetics. 

4. Research your contractor before hiring

There are a lot of ways you can create a home office. You could use a spare room, which is by far the easiest way to do it. But you can also use attic space, space in the basement or create a whole new room, if you have enough space!

Whatever you decide, you probably want to hire a contractor to do the work (or at least the heavy work like framing, electrical wiring, ductwork and so forth). They know building codes and will complete the work correctly and safely according to those codes.

When searching for a contractor, do a bit of research. Check the BBB to see if they have any complaints. Ask your local Facebook groups for recommendations. You can even ask your agent for recommendations!

5. Don't stress out!

Taking on a reno project in and of itself is stressful, but you cannot let it get the best of you! If ever you feel overwhelmed, it's okay to take a break and come back when you're calmer because if you try to do anything when in a bad mood, you're likely to make mistakes that could ruin the design or be a danger.