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Topic: Surge in Americans buying tiny $30K pop-up backyard offices as people move to wo  (Read 2761 times)

cadence4u

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Surge in Americans buying tiny $30K pop-up backyard offices as people move to working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic

* Prefabricated backyard offices have become the newest trend for Americans working at home during the pandemic
* Studio Shed, based in Colorado, sells small home offices and other spaces for an average of $20,000 to $30,000
* Similar backyard offices have been seen in California, Pennsylvania, Colorado and other states
* Several areas do not require permits for home add-ons under 200sqft, making the pop-up backyard offices more
   accessible for the millions of Americans working from home during the pandemic

Americans are now paying up to $30,000 to install a pop-up home offices in their backyards as a number of people continue to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outbreak of the coronavirus in January and implementation of lockdown orders in March shuffled millions of citizens from bustling offices to working remotely in their homes.     

The move proved difficult for several people as many families were forced to balance a multitude of factors, including child care, as the search for a private, quiet work space led many to temporarily claim bedrooms or basements. 

Some home-sellers have tried to entice buyers by saying their residence 'provides a nice backdrop for Zoom calls'.

But as industries have increasingly pushed employees to work from home, some have found success with professionally made, stand-alone backyard offices.

According to Studio Shed, a Colorado-based company that builds prefabricated backyard structures, business in recent months has boomed exponentially.

'Recently, we have seen a massive surge in the 80- to 120-square feet option, which is a perfect office size or home gym or kid’s study area,' Mike Koeing, Studio Shed co-founder, told Yahoo Finance.

Studio Shed has been constructing tiny offices, bedrooms, music studios, 'man caves' and other spaces that cost an average of $20,000 to $30,000 since 2008.

Studios can be designed online with a 3D design tool or delivered as a kit with instructions. They can include options for interior design, insulation and electricity.

Koeing said the shift from independent offices to working remotely caused sales to spike 14-fold compared to what the company made last year.

'We were already seeing some very good growth having started in 2008 just seeing these shifts in the way people work and wanting to spend more time at home and maybe not commute, but starting in March it’s just been growing significantly,' said Keoing.

Most of the demand for Studio Shed's home offices have primarily come from the West Coast, but Koeing said they've noticed a significant increase of customers on the East Coast.

'As soon as March and April hit we definitely saw that Eastern part of the country grow, that market is up a couple hundred percent over last year,' said Koeing.

March and April coincides the two-month span where New York City emerged as a virus epicenter and was inundated with thousands of cases.

Much of America watched as New York City's morgues overflowed, hospitals became overrun, front line workers pleaded for PPE supplies on social media and one of the most buzzing cities went quiet.

Nearby states like New Jersey were also hit and temporarily shuttered as a result.

As of August, New York City has amassed more than 238,000 cases and 23,000 deaths. New York State recorded 436,000 cases and 32,000 deaths.

Depending on where the shed is built, many places do not require permits for add-on dwellings under 200sqft, which further pushed the emerging trend's popularity.

Koeing told CNN Business that Studio Shed sold five times as many home office units in May, June and July compared to the same months last year.  It's on pace to sell 10 times more units this month that August 2019.

Other companies like Modeco Construction in Canada, a prefabricated building company, and Bantam Built, a tiny house company, have also seen a surge in sales.

Sheds Unlimited, based in Pennsylvania, serves customers from South Carolina to Maine and the spike in requests has pushed delivery time to up to 13 weeks.
The company traditionally made storage sheds and garages, bud administrator Janelle Stoltzfus said they've seen a number of sheds being repurposed as office space.

'We have had a lot of people looking for home offices,' said Janelle Stoltzfus. 'They've asked us to install shelves so they have a place to work.'

Erin Miller, a layout designer and copy editor for Centennial Colorado, told CNN Business that having to share an office space with her husband while working from home became difficult.

'Let's just say that our styles are not 100% the same,' said Miller.

Subsequently, Miller ordered a 10-by-16 foot shed in May and it was fully finished by early July.

The shed doesn't require a permit where she lives and was able to complete the project in a few weeks.

'We did need to permit the electrical but that was quite manageable, requiring only two inspections,' said Miller.

Miller's pop-up shed has room for a desk, an extra table, printer, file cabinet, a bookcase and an additional 80sqft of room.

'That will probably be outfitted with a sofa, chair and rug, to allow me to also use the space during non-work hours to read, relax or visit with friends,' she said.

Although the new space has attracted the attention of Miller's teenage children, she said the prefabricated space provided a much-needed haven.

'My commute to work is a bit longer,' she said. 'Out the back door and across the grass instead of just down a flight of stairs, but the space is welcoming.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8670191/Surge-Americans-buying-tiny-30K-pop-backyard-offices.html

ghunter

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Sounds like a good idea

ancmetro

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    Yes, people are building them...because
it is better than camping out using a tent.

minioncookies

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Hey its innovative and interesting. You do what you gotta do to work and survive

Hoselanel

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I wish I saw this earlier since this job really suits me. But now thinking of it, I think I wouldn’t be able to make it to Europe because I’m living with my granny and I have to take care of her. I wish you had an office of your franchise over here. Usually, big companies have offices all over the world, and if one day you’ll have one that is near me, then I would love to work there. And if you need a place that rents out offices, then I’d like to recommend this website https://osdoro.com.sg/office-space-for-rent/. I ran into them suddenly, and I can definitely say that they have a choice of variety and good prices.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2021, 05:45:50 am by Hoselanel »

alina6

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20-30k seems awfully expensive for a pop up office - I would have to see what it looks like - what happens to it when Covid is over and you have to go back to work.

potluck6

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know  someone  who  works  from  home. don't   think   she'd  buy  one

sdenimandlace1

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Sound like the ideal place for the new work from home folks, a little expensive.

mrsmere

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People coming up with good ideas to make things happen. 

Jsnugs

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I was going get one or two some are really good. I was going to put it in my backyard and live in them. had plumbing and electric hookups and one had nice shelves. than was going to rent out my house. was.... maybe might.

oldbuddy

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I just found an extra bedroom and turned that into my office, so does that mean I saved $20,000 to $30,000?  :present:  :present:  :present:

countrygirl12

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20-30k seems awfully expensive for a pop up office - I would have to see what it looks like - what happens to it when Covid is over and you have to go back to work.

This is what I was thinking. There are jobs in my general area and when covid is declared over the people working from home in one particular call center will be going back to the building.

$30,000 is a lot in my opinion. You can buy an entire house in my area for that much. Granted it will be smaller and older but it is a house and not a pop up thing.

countrygirl12

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I just found an extra bedroom and turned that into my office, so does that mean I saved $20,000 to $30,000?  :present:  :present:  :present:

But you do not have a real job. Surveys and playing on the internet are not a job. Yeah that makes people made when I say that but it is the truth. But I agree with your concept. I will use space in my home not an out building in the back yard.  When the weather is bad I would rather not have to go outside at all.

Donnamarg323

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I just found an extra bedroom and turned that into my office, so does that mean I saved $20,000 to $30,000?  :present:  :present:  :present:
CG was just dying to discredit you OB but thought more of it,but still had to get her point that FC etc arent jobs.She might be a tad jealous cos of how successful you have been.

Also the fact you turn a bedroom in an office is quite a good idea for the stuff you might do in it.You are over 80 and you put your time in having a real job im sure.

Hardly agreeable as i have stressed over the last few yrs and im sure MANY of you know that RE her.

She might even know it too cos her posts have slowed down realizing not many listen to her BS!!!

teresa3200

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Its a great concept if you are going to continue to work from home.

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