Building out office - estimate increase in home value

[woowoo]

We are currently collecting quotes to build a wall in front of an unused area of the front of our house (it's currently a psuedo den, just across from when you walk in).  It's wasted space because of where it's located and it's size.   We will use it as an office (it will be extremely functional for this purpose) but it could also be used as a playroom - although it does have a sliding glass door to the lanai and the (fenced) pool, so maybe only for older kids.  

A few more stats;
Home is a 4/3.  We use 3 of the bedrooms as bedrooms and one has been converted into our home gym (small but could definitely be a nursery/2nd office) 
No other dedicated office space or playroom space is available in the house 
There is also a dedicated dining room (plus a breakfast nook, this isn't taking that space)
We live in an area that is on the low side of MCOL 

Our  realtor thinks it would increase the value of our home by maybe as much as $15K because a dedicated home office space is in such high demand right now.  I think that is high since we already have a 4/3 (most homes in our area are a 3/2 or a 4/2).  

I know this is SUPER dependent on area and whether home offices are still in that high of a demand when we go to sell (which isn't any time soon) but can anyone weigh in on what type of increase in home value this might bring us?  DH and I cannot land on what our budget for this project should be.    There are ways we can save money (if I handle the mud/paint, lower cost lighting, etc) if needed.  

[sandandsea]

Are you looking to move soon? If not, I wouldn’t worry about resale value vs what works best for your family. I would determine the range of cost and look at your budget and see if you can afford it. Let that be your guide vs resale.

[definitelyO]

I don't know $ wise - but anytime you can add more useable/functional space would increase value in my non-realtor opinion

[af1212]

I would just build the room that budget can allow and not worry about resale value. I think it’s too hard to determine something like that during this market and shouldn’t matter anyway.

[orval]

Not sure exactly what the project entails besides building the wall? Maybe I am not thinking grand enough but a home office is a desk/chair maybe some bookshelves. What else has to be done to make it a "home office" that would be permanent not decorative or movable?
Regardless, I don't think it would really add anything to the value but I am not a realtor. I know many homes like you are describing and if anything, people put french doors on the opening to make it an office. That way you can use it for whatever you or the next buyers like and it is not closed off.

[rooster222]

I really don't know but for our house, I don't think it added to the value when we purchased. (This was also 8 years ago.). Our house is 4/2.5 with an upstairs bonus room and a main floor office. When we house shopped, our house was priced similar to homes without the two extra rooms. We definitely saw value in them and maybe we just got a great deal, but they didn't seem reflected in the price.

[simpsongal]

orval, agree w/Orval - I think this is the type of upgrade that carries an intangible benefit rather than a monetary one. More people might come see your house, or it might push a buyer to make an offer based on the whole home. But I don't think walling in an area necessarily equates to a higher price. I could be wrong, but I also think people think aspirationally when touring homes, and may not even realize how unusable an open bonus space like that is until they live there themselves.

[lolalolalola]

Agree with the pp’s. I see this kind of thing making your house more attractive which may result in a faster sale when the time comes but not add monetary value.

[ellipses84]

I’d consider it a bedroom (guest room) if it meets the legal requirement. You have a window (glass door that is also an exit). Does it have a closet? If not, it may be worth adding one. Then the value would be the difference in your market for a 5/3 vs. 4/3.