| Are you setting up a home office for a home based | | | | scanners, fax machines, and other less expensive |
| business or as part of your job for a corporation, or | | | | items are probably not worthwhile. They all come with |
| even just to have a home office for your personal | | | | a limited warranty and generally if they survive the |
| business needs? Here are some common sense | | | | warranty period they will last a long time. If not, they |
| steps to take that will make your office more | | | | are inexpensive to replace. |
| comfortable, more efficient, and save you money in | | | | Shelving and storage units also require some thought. It |
| the long run. | | | | is likely that you will need more shelving and filing |
| Before you go out and buy new office furniture or | | | | space than you initially think. Computers have not |
| office equipment, make a real effort to determine | | | | eliminated paper as initially predicted. In fact, generally, |
| specifically what your needs will be. You would be | | | | the use of home copy machines, scanners, fax |
| surprised to find out how many folks go out and buy a | | | | machines, and printers, has significantly increased the |
| traditional expensive wood office desk with matching | | | | amount of need for paper storage. Ask yourself, |
| credenza only to realize later that a more modern | | | | which documents are you going to be willing to have |
| work area, designed especially for computer use with | | | | stored in memory, or somewhere on the net, and |
| a slide out platform for the keyboard, built in locations | | | | which documents are you going to want to have in |
| for printers and scanners, and perhaps even a built in | | | | hard copy regardless of where else they may be |
| flat screen monitor stand, would have worked much | | | | stored? A two drawer filing cabinet may be cheaper |
| better. For that matter, it is important to determine | | | | initially, but how long will it be before you need a full |
| whether a desk top computer is really better for your | | | | size four drawer? Likewise, will a standard size file |
| needs than a laptop that has the same capabilities. | | | | meet your needs, or would legal size be more |
| How frequently will you be traveling? How much more | | | | suitable? Additionally, when thinking about shelving, |
| convenient would it be to have a computer that you | | | | remember that shelves are not only used for books. |
| could take with you? Will the demands of your job | | | | Shelving is also where three ring binders are placed for |
| require both a laptop and a desk top computer? Only | | | | easy access, and often are used to store supplies |
| you can answer these questions. Be sure you think of | | | | such as copy paper, ink and toner cartridges, labels, |
| all your office needs, even to the extent of drawing a | | | | envelopes, presentation folders etc. Consider adding |
| simple floor plan, before jumping in and simply buying | | | | some portable or built in cabinets for storage in addition |
| what looks good, or seems to be the best deal. In | | | | to shelving units. The advantage of cabinets is that |
| terms of furniture let me add one final, but very | | | | they have doors which conceal the contents, and add |
| important thought, probably the most important piece | | | | to the overall neat appearance of your office, helping |
| of furniture in your office is your desk chair. Make sure | | | | to eliminate the bane of every home office occupant, |
| that the one you buy suits you and is comfortable. The | | | | clutter. In that regard, don't forget to purchase a |
| chair is the last place to go for price over quality. Sure | | | | shredder. In today's world, a waste basket simply is |
| you want to get the best deal possible, but be certain | | | | not a safe place to put documents with account |
| that the price/value takes into account that you will be | | | | numbers, social security numbers and other personally |
| spending more time sitting there than anywhere else in | | | | identifiable information. |
| the house. | | | | As you consider the atmosphere in your office, the |
| Speaking of deals, once you have determined what | | | | wall decor and color scheme, don't forget the |
| your furniture and equipment requirements are, it is not | | | | functionality of the flooring. A nice carpet will cut down |
| a good idea to skimp on quality. It is always cheaper to | | | | on noise, add warmth to the office, and be more |
| buy quality the first time rather than having to either | | | | comfortable for the user than any hard surface. Of |
| supplement or replace at a later date. This may be | | | | course a carpet requires a plastic chair mat which |
| hard to do especially if you are starting on a | | | | should be purchased at the same time as the desk |
| shoestring, but in the long run it is much more efficient | | | | and office chair. |
| and cost effective to not only buy products that will | | | | Let common sense prevail when setting up your |
| serve your needs well, but that will last, and be | | | | office. Determine to the best of your ability what |
| guaranteed by the manufacturer. | | | | furniture and equipment will best serve your home |
| Manufacturers generally offer service contracts for a | | | | office needs, put together a floor plan, and then shop |
| limited period of time. Unless, as part of your expertise, | | | | to meet those needs. By taking the time to plan you |
| you are a computer expert capable of applying for a | | | | will find that you have created an efficient office |
| job on the "Geek Squad" then it is a good idea to sign | | | | without giving up convenience and comfort. You will |
| up for an extended service contract on your | | | | have created a functional office environment that you |
| computer. Extended service contracts on printers, | | | | will not only be proud of, but you will enjoy working in. |
