Rehabbing your home is a pretty challenging process as it is. And when you add Covid-19 in the mix, it gets even more challenging. Being amid a devastating pandemic means a lot of people are afraid of rehabbing their properties. Moreover, rehabbing has slowed down and, for some people, come to a complete stop.
If you’re someone planning to rehab your house, you’ll have a good number of thoughts plaguing your mind. You may be thinking about the safety risks that come with rehabbing. You might also be questioning whether the rehabbing process will follow SOPs.
While it’s true rehabbing is a daunting process that has become increasingly difficult, there are still ways to continue it. Read the below steps to rehab your house during Covid-19 while staying safe.
How to Rehab Your Home During COVID?
Here’s how to navigate rehabbing your house during the Covid-19:
Assessing The Property Virtually
Evaluating the property is the first step of rehabbing your house. Typically, you’ll need the help of a professional inspector to assess the property.
Their in-depth analysis of the house entails examining the property’s HVAC systems, electrical system, plumbing, foundation, flooring, roof, insulation, and so on. Next, they’ll pinpoint areas that need repairing and other renovation areas you may have missed.
Because of the Covid-19 outbreak, businesses are moving just about everything online to ensure safety. And that’s what you should do as well. Move your initial meetings and walk-throughs online to reduce the risk.
Creating a Covid Conscious Rehab Checklist
Right after evaluating your property comes crafting a checklist. Your checklist is an outline of what needs repairing and how much it will cost.
The notes and pictures you take during the assessing process will help ensure you don’t overlook any significant areas. Your rehab checklist should contain: your budgeting, interviewing contractors, getting permits, and scheduling walk-throughs.
When you create your checklist, highlight areas where you’ll have to contact other people; furthermore, figure out what things you can do virtually. You can schedule things like meetings and walk-throughs online. Also, work with contractors and builders that ensure the following CDC guidelines.
Your Budget
Your budgeting and financing may differ because of the Covid as well. According to in-depth research, home remodeling may cost 50% more.
Here you should make a list of repairing and other work that your home requires. Next to that work, write your budget for it.
Finding the Right Contractor- Online
Finding the right contractor can mean the thin line between success and downfall. The right contractor will help transform your house into an excellent investment. To spot a quality contractor, look at their qualifications, license, work ethic, and whether they have references.
Moreover, you should look for someone trustworthy and reliable. Talk with your contractors prior to any physical meetings to ensure they follow proper SOPs. Moreover, ask them if they do virtual workarounds for estimating, providing quotes, and design work. Also, discuss what meetings and walk-throughs can take place virtually.
Furthermore, question what policies or procedures the contractor is following because of the COVID. And when you do meet up, make sure you wear face masks, keep your distance, and follow proper SOPs. Plus, you’ll have to sign a contract to signify things you both agree on. Here to reduce the risk, you can opt for electronic signing. It’s safer and easier!
Getting the Necessary Permits
You should rehab your home without violating any local building codes. For this, you’ll need permits. Your contractor will tell you what permits you need depending on the nature of your work. During the pandemic, almost everything has slowed down. It extends to getting a permit as well. The processing of your permits will be slower due to in-office restrictions and a low number of working clerks.
Starting The Rehabbing Process
After you’ve gotten the necessary permits, the physical work of your rehabbing process will start.
First comes the proper cleaning of your house. All trash, broken windows, doors, and whatnot will be taken out. These are things that you can mostly do on your own. To limit the number of interactions with other people and to keep everyone safe, do this yourself.
You can get a friend to help, but be sure to wear gloves, face masks, sanitize, and dispose of the clothes you wear while working.
Working on The Exterior and Interior
Renovation of your house’s exterior and interior takes the longest time. It is also what requires most physical meetings and workings. You can’t very well repair the HVAC system through the internet.
Here you’ll have to be the most careful. For starters, you should make sure the company you’re working with implements strict pandemic guidelines that they follow. Check if they put on proper PPE gear and follow proper SOPs. Moreover, both of you should wear face masks, don’t shake hands, and make a hand sanitizer easily accessible for workers.
Generally, exterior work includes improvements on the yard, driveways, railing, the curb. Plus, they’ll research things like what plants work well in the area, change the mailbox number, and so on to increase the aesthetic of your house. As for the interior, your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems will be repaired. Moreover, they’ll upgrade your bathrooms, add necessary electronics, and install insulated windows and doors.
Here too, you can look for things that you can repair yourself to reduce the number of times builders and mechanics come to your house. Other than this, keep your distance and ensure the workers also practice social distancing.
The Finishing Touches- Disinfecting The House
After improving and installing comes finalizing everything. You and your contractor will examine all the new upgrades and adjustments. Plus, you should get a professional to ensure everything is perfect and of top-notch quality. When it comes to paying, use online banking to transfer money. Lastly, disinfect your house. After everyone has left, grab a good disinfectant, and clean every part of the house. It includes doorknobs, the windows, countertops, the floor, and such. Lastly, put the clothes you were wearing while cleaning in a garbage bag and throw it away.
Sources
https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/featured/tips-for-renovating-during-covid-19/
https://renosgroup.ca/blog/home-renovations-during-covid-19/