Life happens and while we Canadians settle in for an unknown period of self-isolation, those unexpected emergency repairs and unfinished home renovation projects can’t always wait. A leaking roof, incomplete bathroom or drafty windows and doors add stress and can make life at home even more challenging. So, how great would it be if it didn’t have to be that way: if you could still get your home repairs completed safely and without breaking the bank? Below are just a few tips showing how TrustedPros can help you and your family stay safe and sound in your home.
Find a Pre-Screened Contractor On-Line
With today’s technology, you can find your trade of choice via our TrustedPros.ca website. Then meet one of our pre-screened contractors, share pictures and descriptions of your project and get written quotes quickly and easily by using your smartphone.
In fact, just as you would at any other time, you can shop around for the right trade at the best price and service delivery timeline. All without ever having to step outside of your home or engage in a face-to-face meeting.
Include Safety Measures on Your Checklist
Business owners who continue to provide essential services to the consumer are being extra diligent when it comes to safeguarding their staff and clients. In spite of this, you need to feel comfortable that any trade or contractor working on your home has put sufficient, appropriate measures in place to cover them and their entire crew.
Be sure to ask what these specific steps are and consider including the examples below during your initial discussion:
- Can they guarantee their work crew will be free of symptoms at the time the project begins?
- Are they able to work with fewer tradespeople to minimize risk?
- If working indoors, are they using coveralls, masks and if appropriate, gloves?
- Can they drape off their work environment (if indoors) from the rest of the house?
- Are they able to clean and sanitize their indoor work zone at the end of each day?
- How do they maintain hygiene as it relates to their tools and equipment?
Inspecting Quality of Work
For larger projects, its only natural you will want to monitor both progress and the calibre of work being done. A good roofer can provide you with a video inspection – including the state of your roof prior to work commencing, during the installation period and after the job has been completed. Just ask them to upload the video to YouTube or DropBox throughout the course of the project. The same can be done for your indoor projects because there’s no reason to be out of the loop during any phase of your repair. So, be sure to choose a contractor who can give you a virtual “walk-through” as your repair.
Keep Contract Time-Lines Fluid
If at any time prior to the start of your project or during the work period, a family member begins to exhibit signs of COVID-19, you need to share this information and postpone the work. Similarly, any trade would be expected to respond in kind if a crew member were symptomatic. For that reason, ensure contract timelines allow for delays specific to illness.
Posted by: TrustedProsSuggested Reading For You
Is it Safe to Remove a Load-Bearing Wall?
Removing the load-bearing wall requires a professional evaluation from a structural engineer, as it is a s...
Renovations on a Budget: Smart Tips for Economical Home Transformations
Home renovations often conjure images of exorbitant expenses. And yet, with a pinch of ingenuity and a blu...
