Buyer's Guide: Home office essentials

BUYER’S GUIDE: Home office essentials

Setting up shop
Extra horsepower
Voices of experience
Budget: under $1,000
Value: under $2,000
Deluxe: under $5,000

BY MICHAEL ANTONIAK

Setting up shop

Whether you spend only a few hours each day in your home office or work there exclusively, you can make that space as productive a hub as your brokerage—even on a tight budget. Concentrate on selecting the following core equipment first. When you’ve got these basics covered, invest in extras that will allow you to accomplish even more from home. (See “Extra horsepower.”)

Phone. You need a cell phone when you’re out and a dedicated line or two for the home office. Add voice mail or an answering machine. Your big choice: A corded or cordless system? Corded systems with built-in answering machines start well under $100. For a little more, a comparable cordless frees you to take and make calls from anywhere in your home. The only drawback to a cordless unit is its need for electricity. A hybrid system, which combines a corded base with auxiliary cordless handset, works even when the power goes out.

Computer. Here, too, the decision comes down to a stationary system or one that allows mobility. For the best mix of the latest features—processor speed, screen size, peripheral ports, and memory capacity and expandability—a desktop PC remains your best buy. Complete systems start around $500.

MFM. A multifunction machine lets you print from your PC. It also allows copying, scanning, and faxing. For the typical home office, it’s the smart space-saving choice. You won’t pay much more than the cost of a printer for the added versatility. Basic color inkjet MFMs start around $100.

Data storage and backup. Unless you don’t care about losing your computer files, you’ll need some form of removable media or auxiliary drive. Lipstick-sized flash drives, which plug into a USB port, are your most compact and affordable solution. Prices start below $50 for 64MB versions. Storage capacity up to 2GB is available.

For bigger backups, there’s a new class of mini hard drives. Weighing as little as three ounces, these pocket-sized drives can hold up to 100GB of data. Pricing starts around $150 for 40GB.

Add a Web connection and some productivity software to the mix, and you’ll be ready to accomplish all that you would at your brokerage.

Extra horsepower

Once you’ve purchased your essentials, you’re ready to add equipment that can aid your particular work style.

Broadband. Make Web browsing enjoyable (read fast) with a broadband DSL or cable modem connection. Check with local ISPs for availability and pricing.
A network. Link equipment over a network when you rely on a range of hardware or someone else shares the resources of your home office.
Wireless. To share your Web connection and computer resources or to link equipment scattered in a couple of rooms, you’ll want Wi-Fi. When you merely want to move files among hardware within the same room, buy Bluetooth-compatible equipment or Bluetooth adapters for existing equipment.
Another printer. Printing color files on your MFM will slow the workflow. If you print mostly black-and-white documents, add a monochrome laser printer/copier so that you free your inkjet MFM for occasional color jobs. Vendors such as Kyocera, Minolta, or Lanier can set you up with a high-volume solution.
Docking station. If you want mobility, slip your notebook in and out of a docking station. When it’s docked, just connect a monitor and peripherals, and it works like a desktop. Check if a docking station is available for the notebook you’re considering.
A headset. Plug a headset into your phone and your hands are free to use your computer, load the printer, or water the flowers while you talk business.

Voices of experience

Joshua Ferris, buyer’s agent, Florida-based New Homes Realty, Suffern, N.Y.
Thanks to a careful mix of technology, Ferris works exclusively from his home with a company that maintains no offices in his area.

His home is stocked with a custom-built desktop PC with a wireless keyboard, Panasonic corded/cordless phone system, Canon Multipass MFM, and Samsung monochrome laser printer. “I use the Canon for color, scanning floor plans, and faxing,” he explains. “Most printing is done with the laser printer.”

PeggyAnn McConnochie, GRI, commercial real estate consultant, ACH Consulting, Juneau, Alaska
McConnochie relies on a pair of Dell notebooks to run her home-based company. One holds her accounting records; the other holds the files required for day-to-day services and operations. Both units are equipped with docking stations hooked to monitors.

“I can plug in my notebook and use it like a desktop system when I want to,” she says. “When I’m traveling or meeting with clients, I just take it along.”

Other tools include Zip and CD-ROM drives, a two-line phone system, voice mail through the local phone company, a Brother MFM, HP DeskJet printer, and Treo 600 smartphone from PalmOne. “A home office makes it so much easier for me to be easily accessible to my clients by giving me everything I need, all the time, at my fingertips.”

VIP Partner

REALTOR VIP® Program partners offer special pricing to NAR members. Learn more at REALTOR.org/realtorVIP.

BUDGET: under $1,000

Computer
VIP Partner
Dell Dimension 3000 desktop $549 (system code 6V588-D30PF1)
Dell Computer, http://premier.dell.com (access code: NAR; access key: NARDELL), 877/648-3355. No frills, entry-level configuration of Dimension 3000 series. 2.8GHz Pentium 4 processor, Windows XP Home Edition, 256MB RAM, 40GB hard drive, 17-inch monitor, and CD-RW drive. Many upgrade options.

Data Storage/Backup
USB 2.0 Swivel Flash Drive $39.99
Imation Corp., www.imation.com, 888/466-3456. 128MB removable flash drive plugs directly into USB 2.0 port. Swivel cap design protects contents of drive while being transported. Higher capacity versions available. Less than 0.5 oz.

MultiFunction Machine
VIP Partner
Lexmark X4270 $129
Lexmark International, www.lexmark.com/nar, 800/453-9835 (code 627). Basic color inkjet printer/copier/scanner/fax. Built-in telephone. Maximum print speed 19 pages per minute (ppm) black, 10 ppm color. Sheet-fed copier rated at 18ppm black, 6ppm color. Fax, with broadcast capabilities, can be set to reroute incoming faxes to other phone numbers.

Telephone
GE 29385 $39.99
GE Consumer Electronics, http://www.home-electronics.net/, 800/447-1700. Single-line corded telephone system includes speakerphone, caller ID function with call-waiting ID, and digital answering machine with 10-minute message capacity.

VALUE: under $2,000

Computer
VIP Partner
Gateway M210 notebook $899.99
Gateway, http://esource.gateway.com/nar, 800/207-7580 (code BSTM20302). Basic configuration of M210 series notebook. Windows XP Pro operating system, 1.5GHz Intel Celeron-M 340 processor, 40GB hard drive, and CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive. Full-sized keyboard, 14.1-inch widescreen LCD, integrated 802.11g Wi-Fi, and 4-in-1 flash memory card reader. Several upgrade options. 5.29 lbs.

Data Storage/Backup
USB 2.0 Mini Hard Drive $179
Iomega Corp., www.iomega.com, 888/446-6342. Pocket-sized 20GB hard drive plugs into and is powered by USB 2.0 port of compatible computers. Aluminum body and leather carrying case. Higher capacity versions available. 3.5 oz.

MultiFunction Machine
VIP Partner
OfficeJet 7130 $499.99
Hewlett-Packard, www.hp.com/go/nar, 800/888-8177. Color inkjet printer/copier/scanner/fax. Maximum print/copy speed rated at 22ppm black, 18ppm color. Scan or copy originals up to 8.5 by 14 inches. 50-page document feeder for unattended use. 100-page fax memory. Card slot for direct printing from flash memory cards. Auto collating and two-sided printing.

Telephone
AT&T 2462 $199.95
AT&T Corp., http://telephones.att.com, 800/222-3111. Two-line corded/cordless system. Base unit includes corded handset, speakerphone, and digital answering system. Supports caller ID and call-waiting in base and handset. 2.4GHz cordless handset included. Add up to eight additional cordless handsets to system.

DELUXE: under $5,000

Computer
VIP Partner
ThinkPad T42p Model 2379DYU $3,099
IBM, www.ibm.com/businesscenter/nar, 800/426-7235 ext. 5766. Top-of-the-line notebook with 1.8GHz Pentium M processor, 512MB RAM, 15-inch monitor, 80GB hard drive, and DVD-R drive. Includes integrated support for Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi networking, and Bluetooth. Fingerprint identification security system. Optional docking station and port replicators, which expand your number of ports. 5.8 lbs. Other configurations available.

Data Storage/Backup
FireLite 80GB USB $269.99
SmartDisk Corp., www.smartdisk.com, 239/425-4000. High-capacity external hard drive for Windows PCs connects to USB 2.0 port. Requires no software driver. Magnesium case. 100GB and Macintosh versions available. 6 oz.

MultiFunction Machine
ImageCLASS MF8170c $999
Canon U.S.A., www.usa.canon.com, 800/385-2155. Color laser multifunction printer/scanner/fax. Print and copy speed rated at 16 ppm black, 4 ppm color. 50-sheet document feeder accepts originals up to 8.5 by 14 inches. Fax stores up to 100 numbers for broadcast faxing. 256-page memory for received faxes. Built-in Ethernet support for networking.

Telephone
TRU8880-2 $229.99
Uniden America Corp., www.uniden.com, 800/297-1023. 5.8GHz cordless system with two handsets, expandable to 10 handsets. Digital answering system in base station. Speakerphone and caller ID capability. Stores up to 100 names and numbers with alphabetical name search. Redial last three numbers. Supports four-way conference calling.

Prices are the manufacturers’ suggested retail prices and are subject to change. This list isn’t comprehensive; NAR doesn’t evaluate or endorse these products and isn’t responsible for changes in company info.