When it's time to go

There are five primary reasons why you may want or need to move your business out of the house:

1. Facilitate a professional atmosphere. Do you get a lot of clients coming to your home? Most of us do not have the luxury of a separate entrance for our office that keeps the clients from tramping through our messy house and down the hallway to our office that was once that spare bedroom. It might even be better for some of your clients if they did not have to trek into the wilderness of suburbia each time they need to meet with you.

Do you have employees coming to your home every day? If so, you probably already are in violation of most residential zoning regulations and need to move your business out.

2. Accommodate business growth.

A successful business is a curse and a blessing rolled into one. A growing business requires more room, equipment and storage space. It may also require employees and here's where things really get crowded. It's important for an office staff to be able to work well together, but asking them to work on top of one another is asking too much. At that point, you'll need to rent outside space unless you're willing to renovate your home to create more office space. If your business needs change over time, requiring easier public access, private space to meet with clients, larger meeting rooms, or commercially zoned space, you may have no choice but to move your business out of the house as your business expands.

3. Eliminate household interruptions. As your family grows, your inability to work uninterrupted (as well as your growing responsibility to serve as the backup babysitter on a regular basis) may affect your bottom line and your relationship with your family. What initially was an ideal working situation for your business becomes your worst nightmare. It starts with missed deadlines, alienated clients and reaches your wit's end on a daily basis. Your choices become to continue a less-than-ideal work situation or relocate your office. Put that way, the choice becomes obvious.

4. Increase social interaction.

Do you feel the need to socialize more with humans who are not at the other end of a phone or via e-mail? People are social animals by nature and need the company of others. Some people work better alone, while others need to be surrounded by people to stay motivated. These people thrive on the communal office energy that can't be created at home. These "people persons" are more productive in an outside office than they'll ever be at home. Instead of trying to overcompensate for being home alone by playing loud music, visiting neighbors or running an excessive number of errands, move out. A sales rep who always considered himself productive related that he finally realized that his personality was better suited for an outside office. He took the time to dress for work each day and diligently made it to his desk by 9 a.m. each morning. By 11 a.m., however, his energy waned, his mind wandered, and he often rushed to make lunch plans with colleagues or anyone else he could find. After moving to an outside office with other business professionals nearby, his productivity soared along with his income.

5. Preserve family harmony. Do your kids (and spouse) understand the concept of a closed door? Working at home may not be conducive to business success and/or harmony in your marriage or family. Working at home doesn't work for everyone. If your marriage is getting strained beyond what is manageable, if your business is failing to be profitable or productive, or if your sanity is feeling threatened, sometimes the best solution for all concerned is to move the business out of the home. The increase in overhead costs can be more than compensated for by the improvement in your live-in relationships, and the increase in your revenues.

If you are concerned about the cost, a shared suite may be the answer. You share the cost of the office and receptionist with others. You can rent one or several offices and make use of the community conference room. You'll save a bit on rent and eliminate any loneliness issues you may have had when you worked from home. And a short-term lease or less often is available in case your plans change.

Rosemary Loven is owner and broker of Loven Real Estate, a Sparks company that developed Vineyards Executive Suites. Contact her at (775) 284-9080 or RosemaryL@lovenrealestate.com.