It’s not surprising, with so many working from home during the country’s lockdown, the home study has become a space that households have paid more attention to than ever before. Businesses of all sizes across the globe are now considering the work-from-home model on a more permanent basis.

Despite the Government’s advice encouraging a return to the work environment from 1st August, a study conducted by global research company Gartner found that 74% of business finance leaders plan to move their workforce’s to permanently remote positions after the pandemic. You may be finding yourself in this situation, and working from home will be more commonplace going forward. Given this, it’s important to ensure your home office is still fit for purpose, whether you continue to work from home indefinitely or on a part time basis.

Here are our key suggestions to ensure your work from home setup doesn’t get forgotten as we navigate our way post lockdown.

During the pandemic, so many of us experienced family members at home all using the wifi for varying purposes. The need for a robust bandwidth for online business meetings is still a priority for many. Consider switching to a fibre-optic connection if you have not already done so. It offers a much faster speed than other wired internet connections and will improve download speeds dramatically. It may also be an idea to install a line for the home office only and keep it separate from the rest of the household.

The ergonomics of a workspace is critical. Lighting is an important area in a home office that often gets overlooked, and ensuring you have sufficient indirect lighting is essential to avoid eye strain. Overhead and natural lighting are great, provided they don’t cause any glare on the computer screen. If a desk is positioned next to or in front of a window, consider installing an anti-glare semi-sheer roller blind. They can also be effective in managing heat from windows.

Many of us are guilty of shunning professional office furniture in our homes in favour of style. But at the very least, we still recommend investing in a fully adjustable professional office chair with armrests, as they provide the right lumbar support for the lower back and will ensure you’re sitting at the right height. It is also a good idea to install a laptop stand or moveable arm that will help to adjust the monitor to the right comfortable position. As a guide, monitor height should be eye-level if sitting upright with shoulders level and looking ahead without hunching.

With more than one household member working from home, we’ve all been interrupted at some point by small children, a partner or general background noise! With video-conference calls being taken during different time zones, or sharing spaces with other family members soundproofing has become more of a priority for maintaining a professional working environment from home. Sound and echo issues can be temporarily addressed by installing heavy-duty rugs and carpet, as well as hanging large canvas artwork on the walls.

To find out more and to get in touch with one of the team, please contact us by calling +44 (0) 20 3457 2857 or emailing info@somersetestates.com

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Protective Measures We’re Taking

The UK outlook and property landscape is starting to change, as the measures imposed to control the coronavirus crisis are being eased.
Over the past two weeks some restrictions have been lifted gradually, giving us hope of moving onto the next stage of recovery. Properties will begin to re-open, so if you require the best possible advice on how to manage them as effectively as possible, we are only a phone call away.

We’re looking forward to being back in full swing of what we do best – running households, managing properties and giving our clients complete peace of mind, whether they’ve been experiencing lockdown in London or overseas.

Where our clients, staff, contractors and suppliers are concerned, safety is paramount. So whilst Government guidelines have encouraged many to return to work, we are remaining cautious and following all necessary protocols. The safety measures and processes we’re taking are outlined below.

Our Contractors

Prior to any works taking place, we will carry out all necessary Covid-19 risk assessments. All our contractors will follow social distancing rules whilst in the property, and will wear appropriate PPE whilst on site. Our engineers will be working in isolation (unless an emergency prevents this) and following health and safety protocol.

Safeguarding and Management

We’re here to manage and safeguard all our clients’ residences, whether in full occupancy or vacant various measures are undertaken to ensure that vulnerable properties are being monitored and are secure, including preparing them for the time when our clients return to life after lockdown (link to previous article). Our head office is still continuing to work from home, but our staff are available around the clock for any issues and queries you may have. Where possible, we are reducing unnecessary travel and arranging online meetings.

Cleaning Standards

Our cleaning protocol has increased across all areas. We actively encourage using the same cleaning personnel on a regular basis. This familiarity ensures the importance of using products that will sterilise the property, without damaging furnishings. This includes higher vigilance on the cleaning of contact-points, such as touch panels, lift buttons and door handles.

We’re Realistic

Whilst we are all adapting to a new ‘normality’, we are fully transparent in our approach to advising our clients. We are honest about the fact that, due to social distancing and reduced travel restrictions, time frames may be affected. However, we endeavour to manage our clients’ expectations at all times. We act as a client representative in all property and lifestyle matters – our sound, trusted and professional advice and reassurance, is the reason why we exist today.

Let us look after your most important asset. You can contact us by emailing: info@somersetestates.com or calling +44 (0) 20 3457 2857.

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