Etiquette’s a facet of daily life for most people. Proper etiquette determines how you greet people when you see them in a store. It determines how you address emails.
While most people are familiar with societal and workplace etiquette, some situations can be tricky to navigate. Suppose contractors are coming to renovate your home, and you’re wondering what rules of etiquette apply. Read on to learn about some common etiquette tips that apply when contractors are working in your home.
1. Remove obstacles.
Contractors must safely access the appropriate spaces inside and outside your home to complete their tasks. This means you need to move anything that might interfere with their work, such as toys, boxed items, and furniture.
Perhaps you need a new roof and have consulted local roofing companies to find a suitable roofing contractor. You’ve scheduled a time for the roofing contractor to come to your property and replace your roof. They’ll consult you about the type of shingles you want and order the materials needed.
You may also hire your roofing company to perform other renovations, such as installing replacement windows and new siding. Since they’ll need access to your home’s exterior, move everything out of their way. You may need to secure patio furniture in your garage or basement and remove hanging planters outside your home. When in doubt, consult your roofing company when they perform a roof inspection and prepare your free estimate. Confirm which items you should move before they get started.
2. Make suitable arrangements for pets.
Your contractors may need to come inside your home. Determine which rooms they need access to and take pets out of those rooms. Contractors shouldn’t be worried about whether your cat got out while they were carrying equipment inside. Put your pets in a room the contracting company doesn’t need access to and shut the door.
Even if there are areas in your home your contractors don’t need to access, you might opt to make arrangements for your pets to stay with friends or family members. You could also pay to board them in a kennel. Cats and dogs are sensitive to loud sounds, which could cause them to break out of rooms and run away while contractors are using power tools.
3. Provide essential resources.
Suppose your water supply has been turned off due to a leak or plumbers are coming to replace rusted pipes. You may not have running water inside your home until their work’s complete, but you can Google “water services near me” to find a bottled water delivery company that can keep your home stocked with safe drinking water. Providing basic amenities, such as clean water, is a courtesy your contractors will appreciate.
4. Notify neighbors and your security company.
Ensuring people know your contractors are supposed to be on your property is the best way to ensure their safety. Notify your neighbors and neighborhood watch groups about your renovation and repair plans. Ensure your security company knows when workers will be at your house. This will prevent your neighbors and security company from mistaking contractors for burglars and contacting the police.
5. Provide a key when appropriate.
Whether you remain in your home during renovations and repairs depends on the nature of the repairs. Suppose a hurricane destroyed your roof. There’s a good chance you’re already staying at a different location. However, if you’re hiring a reputable roofer to install a new roof because your roof’s old, you’ll have to decide if you can stay in the house while the contractors are working or if you should vacate the property.
Staying elsewhere is a good idea if contractors need access to your home’s interior and will be working on your property for several days. If you’re staying elsewhere, giving your contracting company a key to your home may be appropriate. Clarify who has access to the key and confirm contractors won’t replicate the key or give it to anyone you haven’t authorized.
Following proper etiquette ensures your contractors can perform their tasks efficiently. Using the tips explored here is the best way to ensure you’ve complied with appropriate contractor etiquette.
