Bang! The sound hit like a bulldozer that thrust the buildings. Then another. After a few frozen moments, I realized that someone was trying to break my office.
“Hey! Someone is here!” Hollerred, Heart Racing.
The future intruder fled, but the news was clear: my running office space, although cheap, did not cut it anymore.
The way in the last 15 years old. Downtown offices with a crushed switch. Half a dozen cooperating spaces from decent to cring. For six weeks of VW vanagon, which is ideal in a pinch (and looks killer on Instagram), but is not ideal for a long time.
Some of the settings were decent, others terrible – but none of them was perfect.
Fast move forward for two years.
Today I walk 20 seconds from my house to my peace-upyyard office. Windows frames mountains and panorama. The rain chain flows into the desert garden, where hummingbirds visit flowering plants. The space is flooded with natural light and my children sometimes have ASY to play outside.
It took two years and $ 175,000 to build on our property. And it was one of the best decisions of the day.
Inside my assembly of a dream
After years of compromise at the workspace, I dressed every detail of this set. Main room-asi two-thirds of the total space with an area of 380 square stop-working shrines. The room floods three large windows with natural light and avoids direct glare. Thanks to the high ceilings, the space feels twice as large, while carefully placed handmade Mexican tiles add character.
My table is directed to the mountains and a small garden courtyard, but real magic happens in the bar. It is a small counter for two people who stands into the terrace that is on three sides. It has become a favorite place for coffee breaks, calls or when I need to mix my worker.
The rest of the space is divided between a compact kitchen and a bathroom. No range (this would cause problems with land -use planning), but the kitchen was still different: sink, dishwasher, microwave and floating bamboo shelves that correspond to the top of the pole. In the bathroom it includes a waterfall shower, which is perhaps for the office — Professional space as a potential guesthouse or renual.
Even spep for months considering layout and consider dozens of ideas. Each square leg serves the purpose (or three). Murphy bed doubles like Bokshelf. The bar area works as a dining table for two. Even the porch has been designed with regard to work and energy efficiency, with covering that blocks a hard afternoon (and health) of the sun while maintaining the view.
Day in (new) life
My wound was a circus: Mad Scrable Find and packed all your work equipment, rushing farewell, 25 minutes of cycling, setting time and comfort, fully work within 9 hours if I was lucky. Lunch meant another 45 -minute piece to find food. At the end of the day to turn the process (and time obligation).
Now? I like lazy coffee with my wife, I actually talk to my children about breakfast and go to my office for 20 seconds and arrive earlier than West. Lunch is a 30 second walk to our home kitchen – healthier and cheaper than eating out and again with Annie.
When the children return home from school, they know they look into the windows – if I’m free, they get a big hug and 10 minutes to share their day after a snack. If I am at a meeting, waving and running away to play or jump strategically placed children’s boulders in the garden plant Sonoran Plant just outside.
In winter I wrap my day when the sun sets, painting the mountains perceived to view gold through my windows. Thirty seconds later I am at home with my family – no switch, no temporary stress.
The separation is perfect: far enough to focus, close enough to be present.
As the office paid for itself
The $ 175,000 price tag is significant and almost prevented me from pulling the trigger on the building. But fortunately I was thinking.
How much will it really cost me? And what is the real advantage?
First, the price tag: the vast majority, probably $ 150,000, will be added to the value of the house. This is not always the case of reconstruction, but when adding new square shots – and especially the space that serves the discrete purpose of NRE – you get more.
The actual “cost” is really more than $ 25,000.
Then there is a time saving a week without commuting/transit: 250 hours per year, which I appreciate $ 25,000.
Because I suggested all aspects of this space I love there. I am excited to fit in the morning and smile satisfaction when I lock up every night. I would be shocked if this range of general attitude did not cause at least 10% -15% more productive, so I will conservatively add $ 20,000 to my annual work production.
The largest of all is the general improvement of the quality of life. Chill Mornings, more time with my family, easier coordination and transitions.
You can determine the value. But because I try to persuade you to build an office, I’ll try. This is at least $ 25,000 for me throughout the race in a year.
You want to add it all:
A one -time cost of $ 25,000 (The cost network of an increase in equity)
Annual return: $ 70,000 ($ 25k switch + $ 20k productivity + $ 25k quality of life)
Yes, financial geeks (like me), there are also opportunities for opportunities, depreciation, etc.
This is not an analysis of CPA level. But I’m not sure you need one: a one -time $ 25k expenditure per year benefits for $ 70,000 leaves a pretty healthy margin for a mistake. I am sold.
The versatility that your properties gives is also a huge plus.
I use Space Primary as an office, but I could easily turn it into a guest house to visit friends, home for older parents, renting for Instand or a reserved mixing studio for my debut album EDM.
Tips for custom construction
Are you ready for your own work oasis?
Don’t rush the design
I spent months studying the setup of the lineup at different times. Where is the best look? How does the sun move? Where can children play naturally? This research phase is essential – and honestly really fun. The time you invest in planning is worth exponential.
Carefully hire and drive the builders
For builders, remember Iron Triangle: Good, Fast, Cheap – Choose two. I am a good and relatively affordable (reading: cheap), which meant slower timelines. Get everything in writing and be strategic about which battles you are fighting.
When I made the plumbing impossible, I started my gray water dreams, but I pushed hard when the work of the foundation pulled.
Some builders (at least mine) have very special ideas about how they want to build something. It is difficult for them to start their preferences and accept yours. So you have to be firm and push for what you really want, as strange as it sounds like a customer.
Optional architects
Architects may be useful, but are necessary to achieve amazing results. I worked with my builder to come up with the design we loved. You can then hire a designer who will create plans from sketches, dramatically cheaper than paying an architect with a designer of a glasses of $ 1,000 per hour.
Pomelife pre-fab
Aren’t you ready for headache, time and costs that come with building from scratch? PRE-FAB offices in the courtyard came incredibly far with an impressive number of options and are a particularly good choice if it is not critical. Be examples:
- Cozy Studio 120SF with large light for $ 25,000
- Small (100SF) but a beautiful work submate with massive windows and heating for $ 40,000
- Stunning Modern Studio 200SF fully built on site for $ 72,000
Smart friends for your new office
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