Working 9 to 5

Our homes have become all-rounders since the beginning of lockdown – our places of entertainment, exercise, learning and, most noticeably, work, which has led many people to look at their home with fresh eyes

Long before the Covid-19 pandemic was even on our radar, there was a move towards remote working. Avoiding peak hour traffic and fostering a better worklife balance were just some of the reasons it became a desirable perk for many in the corporate field.

The lockdown, however, has made it a non-negotiable. While it’s unlikely that offices will disappear completely, many people will continue to work a good portion of the week from home. Having a space that’s conducive to productivity is thus essential.

Stay connected

Pre-lockdown it was a boon to live close to the office, but suddenly that’s less of an issue. Top priority now is access to fibre, excellent cellphone coverage and a reliable internet service provider. While landlines have come to be regarded as unnecessary in recent years, many will now consider reconnecting their Telkom line or subscribing to a VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service to bring down their cellphone costs.

Office perks

Apart from technical convenience, there are other comforts that the office brings. As winter rolls through the country, many remote workers must be missing the ambient warmth of their former workplace. Spending a fortune on gas and electricity every winter is impractical, so a home that’s well insulated and energy efficient will make for a better long-term option.

Noise pollution is a distraction that people may not have noticed in their homes before – interventions such as triple glazing and highperformance windows will help increase workplace productivity while also increasing insulation.

Water-saving toilets are not only a great idea in general, but are even more important if you’re going to be spending the full day at home.

Keep it together

Open-plan spaces, while great for gathering the family, are less conducive to remote working. Being able to keep your work behind a door will be better for work-life balance and productivity in the long run. Even better if there’s a separate building on the property that can be converted into an office. And if you can find a room that’s sunny, all the better – natural light creates a feeling of well-being, and reduces your electricity costs.