AS THE daily journey to work becomes ever more tiresome and expensive, and home-working becomes more commonplace, estate agents are being asked for houses which either include a home office or have the provision to create one.

According to Strutt & Parker, this is true in both urban and rural areas, and either an existing office or the space to create one can be seen as a worthwhile factor in the value of a home.

Simon Backhouse of Strutt & Parker, said: “Ten or 15 years ago only a tiny number of my clients wanted home offices, but nowadays it is a common request.

“And people, especially those in the more creative professions, are very discerning about those surroundings. It is often a major factor for people who are moving out of the cities and into rural surroundings.”

Although the first thought might be to convert a room within the house, many home-workers prefer to leave the main house and go outside, even if it is only for a journey of six or eight feet. No matter how ‘officey’ you make a room in the house, people who have tried say that there is simply something wrong with it, and they cannot get away from a feeling of domesticity.

Converting a garage is one option, although it does remove an asset from the property. A room over a garage is a better idea.

Outbuildings can make successful home offices, and a touch of individuality is a good thing. People who take up working from home are often reacting against the formal office environment and are keen to get away from the lowest common denominator approach to office decor and furnishings.

A rural home will often have old storerooms, barns or stables that can be converted, but check with the local planning authority to see if consent is required. This is especially true if the house is in a conservation area and, of course, if it is a listed building. Taking on a planning consultant can be worthwhile.

If you are establishing your first home office it is a good idea not to bring furniture from your old office.

It is better to give the matter some thought, before you strike out on your own.