In this vicious coronavirus onslaught, it is vital that residents limit our exposure to the number of building trades personnel we may have planned for summer projects. Dangerous.

*The Need To Reduce House Calls

These are increasingly challenging times for us all. The environment is not as it was this time last year. Although we may have settled into a procedure for seeking services from a number of building trades personnel (as home improvement contractors) for projects we may have planned earlier in the year or farther back, we may want to cancel a few.

The reason is that we risk inviting the virus into our homes. The more building trades persons we use, the greater that risk. It is a given that, especially during summer, there are a slew of associated things we need done. Among these:

• Window Replacement

• Re-roofing

• Siding

• Gutters

• Landscaping

• Home delivery of supplies, appliances, accessories, etc

• Other

However, in light of the pandemic (in U.S., “epidemic”), we may want to rethink our plans and postpone a few. This is particularly so if towards their execution, we require visits from a number of contractor types, delivery services, and associative house calls.

*Protecting Our Home Environment

If we are head of household, we are evidently the most responsible for ensuring the well-being of everyone who lives there. Do we think that the concept of “going according to plan” is suitable for this present public/private health emergency? Have we an understanding of the risks we are taking when we proceed with contractor-related projects and authorize other house calls without taking into consideration most likely ramifications? Are we willing to jeopardize the health of our entire household just for the sake of “staying on course” with planned work?

Our #1 priority is for the health of everyone in the house. We are deeply concerned for the best possible home environment. We can step to the plate, then seriously consider who we are as head-of-home, and our first obligation protecting ourselves, individually, and/or family, collectively. We are worth it.

Tips On Reducing Home-Project-Related House Calls

1. Personally assess which projects can wait. For example, if our roof has had need of attention for quite some time, we may want to cancel our roofing plans.

2. If any of our appliances such as washers/dryers suddenly break down, we can visit You Tube for Bob Vila, This Old House, Matt Risinger, etc or go to their webpages. We can learn how. They did. As much as possible, visit the hardware outlet or home store ourselves.

3. Learn to do many of the same things we initially planned for contractors. But we may want to reserve larger projects like painting the interior of our homes for professionals. Some projects are best left to them, including major masonry, driveway, septic tanks, etc. All in due time. If they can wait – so be it.

4. We may want to also track the number of house calls by delivery persons. How many have we had Daily? Weekly? Since house calls by delivery persons occur incrementally, if we use them a lot, very likely we can be exposed to as many as 10 or more different people in a week’s time. Remember delivery persons are exposed multiple times to different people. This realistically increases their risk for contracting Covid-19.

5. The keys to staying safe remain: Discreet Social Distancing, Wearing Masks, and Cleanliness.

Please stay safe as we navigate this epidemic.

Refer to" Resource Box" ahead for link to access free download about being safe in relation to home projects. We may want to learn more about how we can improve upon our standards for hiring only those most suitable for our home maintenance and improvement needs.

Edited with special assistance from M. Conti

Public Courtesy – HGRBS – Since 2009

*HGRBS is a national volunteer nonprofit, an exclusive consumer information service with emphasis on supporting self-empowerment among U.S. private home decision makers. Special focus is on sharing related information for residents to make safest and wisest decisions in resident-contractor relations.

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