While working from home can bring new conveniences to your life, it can also create some awkward situations. Take, for instance, the case of the homebased publicist whose client dropped by unannounced one afternoon to find the house in utter disarray and the publicist working in her pajamas. Although you may request that clients call before they drop by, some won't take the hint. Keep at least one room clutter-free, and be sure you're presentable at a moment's notice. If meeting in your home makes you uncomfortable, try to meet at the client's place of business or at a local restaurant.
Hotel lobbies make great settings for relatively short meetings.
Make reasonable accommodations for after-hours communication. Turn off phone and fax ringers, then shut your office door at the end of the day. If a customer has a midnight brainstorm and needs to leave you a message, it won't wake up the entire household. Whether the washer is acting up or the plumber is late, a client shouldn't have reason to think that household chores are distracting you from the work you're doing for them. Save these tales of woe for friends and family.