Life’s everyday needs and responsibilities don’t just disappear because of a pandemic. Unfortunately, we all still need to deal with things like car repairs, doctor appointments, yard care, and home renovations.
Many homeowners need work done on their home or plumbing system but are nervous about starting a project due to the threat of coronavirus. Luckily, there are some precautions you can take to ensure that letting builders and workers into your home for a home renovation project is a safe process.
How to Do a Home Repair or Renovation Project Safely During COVID-19
Arizona has been opening up businesses again, and while we were an essential service and never closed during lockdown, many people were nervous about beginning a project with so much uncertainty. With everyone going back to work and trying to go back to normalcy, some homeowners may be ready to take on that home repair that they’ve been putting off.
If you’re letting in a plumber, remodeler, carpet cleaner, or another trade professional into your home, make sure you follow the following precautions for each and every person you let into your home:
- Ensure that anyone coming to your home does not show any cold or flu symptoms.
- Try to find out about your contractor’s sick leave policy – if the business provides sick leave to their workers, the workers are less likely to feel a need to go to work even when feeling ill.
- Request that each worker who enters your home wears a mask and gloves.
- After the repair or project is complete and the tradesperson has left, take the time to disinfect the area where they were working with soap, water, and disinfecting wipes.
- Use hand sanitizer regularly.
- Do not come within six feet of the tradesperson if you can help it. It would be wise to arrange this ahead of time to avoid awkwardness or confusion – many trades companies are used to this kind of request by now and will happily oblige.
- While the tradesperson is working, give them their space.
- Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes if you have not yet washed your hands or used hand sanitizer after coming into contact with surfaces your tradesperson was working on.
- Also disinfect doorknobs, tables, chairs, light switches, hands, and other surfaces that your tradesperson may have come in contact with.
- If you feel like the person you are working with is dismissive of your concerns, it may be a sign that they do not take COVID safety seriously, and you may want to look elsewhere.