A serviced apartment is a good base if you are out of the office, travelling for work. More space than a hotel, a kitchen to make your own meals, and you have the flexibility of taking up residence in one location for the duration. However, to be comfortable (and professional), you will need three things: a consistent WiFi connection, a functional setup with your desk and some understanding about noise.
A Simple Guide to Do It Right
1) WiFi Before You Book
People require only one thing to stay connected – other than a pleasant latte. WiFi is the dealbreaker when it comes to remote work, and you had better be sure yours works here as well! For Serviced Apartments Birmingham, contact birminghamservicedapartments.co.uk/
Before booking, look for:
Good, strong Wifi connection (as opposed to “Complimentary WiFi” in the listing)
One router for the apartment, not WiFi throughout the building
Good mobile signal (for hotspotting)
If you are staying for more than a few nights, asking the provider what speeds they usually clock and whether it is good enough to connect over video is completely reasonable.
2) Desk set-ups – create a comfortable place to work from
While not every apartment can boast a designated office, pretty much all of them will do well with some minor adjustments.
A good setup includes:
A table or desk at the right height
A steady chair (even a dining room one with soft covering)
Quality lighting (ideally natural light and a lamp for evening hours)
Easy access to power sockets.
3) Quiet hours: keep the world at bay (and be a good neighbour)
Since serviced apartments are classified as residential buildings, noise is an issue.
To avoid issues:
Inquire about noise restriction or construction policies
Do not make loud calls, especially in the morning and at night
Use headphones for meetings
Don’t scoot chairs around on hard flooring (or use felt pads)
A simple routine that works:
Take care of yourself like you would at work
Arrive and unpack your workspace on day one
Wi-Fi and video call test early.
The takeaway
Serviced apartments can be a great work-from-anywhere solution as long as you check the WiFi, set up and use a nice desk area well and know when quiet hours are. If all these essentials are taken care of, then you indeed can work and relax a bit more effectively.
