All houses deal with wear and tear through the years. At some point, things are bound to break down. But with an ongoing pandemic limiting interpersonal transactions and interactions, home repairs have become trickier to handle than usual.
These tips will help you deal with repair needs in and around your home during COVID-19:
See if you can do it yourself
Before you call up your local repair service, assess the problem, and consider whether a weekend DIY project will suffice. If the defect or malfunction can be fixed with just a little help from a quick Google search or YouTube tutorial, maybe you can postpone calling the pros until the pandemic is over.
Fix only what’s essential
If you do need to call in professional repair personnel, make sure that you don’t get carried away with additional, non-urgent repair or renovation work. You’ll only want to keep your home’s fixtures and amenities working; not jump into a home improvement project.
Research about your repair company’s safety guidelines
While inquiring about local repair services, look into the company’s COVID-19 safety practices, and see if these protocols align with those of the CDC, as well as national and local health boards.
Check whether their personnel observes these guidelines and protocols when they visit your home and don’t hesitate to refuse entry (and perhaps cancel the service) if the service crew is not complying.
Avoid physical greetings
If you’re the type who likes to be courteous and shake hands with everyone you hire or interact with, make this instance an exception. Remember that limiting contact is an important step in preventing the transmission of the coronavirus.
Keep your distance at all times
Remember that a distance of at least six feet is recommended for physical and social distancing. Limit conversations to only essential exchanges, as well.
If it’s possible, step out of the house or leave the room where the repair service will be working, especially if you are a high-risk individual.
Maximize ventilation inside your home
If you prefer to stay while the repair personnel does their work, consider opening the windows to improve ventilation around the room. This ensures that you are not in an enclosed space.
Keep disinfecting supplies handy around the house
When welcoming your local repair crew into your house, you can feel more at ease when you have disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and even spare face masks and gloves easily accessible around the house.
Given current circumstances, professionals should understand if you immediately want to disinfect doorknobs, handles, and other surfaces that they touch. Meanwhile, having extra masks, gloves, and other safety equipment can be useful if the service crew forgets to bring theirs or have theirs damaged as they work.
Look into contactless payment options
Another effective way to limit contact with outsiders is by resorting to contactless payment methods. Ask the repair company if they have the means to accept payments online or over the phone. If you really must pay using cash or a card, remember to wash your hands thoroughly soon after the transaction.
If you’re looking for reliable repair services in your neighborhood, ask for recommendations from the Colorado real estate experts of The Noel Team. Contact our team today at 303.774.9400, email sjnoel(at)remax(dotted)net, or leave us a message here.
