Time waits for no man...

Larry, when we changed brokers almost two years ago, we started working from home. I love it! No distractions, no office gossip (downside is I'm the last to find out what's going on), and no having to dress up unless I'm going out to an appointment. Works for me! Plus our broker gives us a better commission split if we work at home, so it more than makes up for the copy paper and ink :)

Sharon

I too find working from my home office to be more effective.  Although sometimes I miss the office comaraderie.  Best of luck to you Larry.

Hi Larry - I too find that I work a lot more from my home office than I do at the office.  It is so convenient to just hop on the computer to check on status, emails, documents, and the MLS and grab a shnack or a cold drink.  It's also pretty quiet here without people in loud conversations like at the office.  Of course my cats let me know if they think I'm ignoring them altoether too much, but taking a few minutes break to resolve that is good for me as well as them.

Larry

I also work at home, as does my wife in her consulting business. I love the flexibility, the short commute, and access to everything I need, including snacks and food service. The downside? Yep, it is too easy to work too many hours. Of course with a smart phone you can get caught in that rut no matter where you are!

Jeff

Larry - I like working at home.  It allows me to spend more time with my kids.  On the negative side, I can't always get away from them when I need to get more done withouth leaving and going to the office.

I L♥VE my home office and spend more time there in the winter months and less time at my bricks/motar office 10 minutes away....Amazon comes in the afternoon and I am home when it arrives!

Unless you have a private office at the office, I don't see the attraction to going there. These cubicles they have nowadays do not give you privacy to talk to your clients, time to think through a problem, or concentrate on contracts. You certainly can't blog there, research on the MLS, etc. all of that takes concentration. So why WOULD you go to an office? Unless you were meeting clients, of course. And if you needed to find out what's going on at the brokerage, set up a weekly meeting with everyone so EVERYONE can find out what's new in the office.

Fortunately, I have an office and I am the only one there....my files, supplies, printers and equipmemnt is there as well as the ability for people to drop off items like completed applications, and their rent money.  The DSL is commercial grade AND I ROCK 2 monitors there so I can REALLY multi-task

Great post that hits home with me.  Get it?  :)  

Both Amanda and I have home offices.  Most of the time you will find her here, working away.  Me?  I have to get out of the house.  I wander between our SW office and North office at Century 21.  

I am distracted easily.  

One of the reasons I have always loved my real estate career, is because I could work at home.  When I first started out in 1981, we didn't have fax machines or cellphones.  But over the years technology has allowed us that capability.  I will say however, the line between work and home continually gets blurred.

Larry, work where you are most productive. Some, like you, have the discipline to work from home without distraction! Or, at least less than they might experience at an office! Let the cats roam!

I find of combination of both home & office is most productive. At the office, interaction with follow professionals seems to stimulate my work ethic while on other occasions the peace and quiet of home can be the perfect environment to get work done.

Hi Larry - I love the gossip (real estate of course) in the office but I too get more accomplished from my home office.. my cats and dog sit around me and we all take comfort in each other.. Yes, I will scoot off and play chase with the dog for 5 mins here or there... but all therapeutic and good!

Hi Larry -

Like you Debbie and I home office.  You're right it means we're REALLY on call 24/ 7 and I clients know it.  On the bright side where else can one sit at their desk answering the phone in the shorts and tee shirt?  I wouldn't go back to the big box office for anything.  Home office is working well for us even if it does mean burning the midnight oil many nights.

For anyone to be the ruler of all they survey is what this country is all about...I am right there with you Larry my boy

One of the biggest shifts in how we do business is more agents working at home.  It is easy, and possible.  I've never liked the drama in an office, and for most offices, I'd say nobody walks in anymore as far as potential clients.  Storefronts, brick and mortar are on their way out.

Hi Larry,  O.K.,  I'll go the other direction o this one.  I'm trying to spend more time here in my home office but am having withdrawal symptoms  ?!?!

Larry...

Your last line summed up the main reason that I can't work from home ... I would gain 100 pounds!!!

Hi Larry,

I don't think it's an easy answer. But I do think whatever works best for you is the right answer! I prefer to work in a quiet environment, but when I need something fast and I can't wait, or when it's quiet and the office is emptied, I can be more productive at the office. But I work in both. When I can't get work done at home, I go to the office. When I can't get my work done at the office, I work at home.

Sounds like you found what works best for you too!