Being stuck at home for a long time, you may have noticed some things that you need to repair or change around the house. Or perhaps you’ve been inspired by the home improvement shows you saw on TV and realized that you also need to upgrade your house in some way. Besides, since the pandemic remains uncontrolled and confirmed cases are still rising every day, you’ll be spending most of your time at home. So why not make a few changes?
This may be the same thought that many others had. As a result, the demand for home construction services has surged.
But right now, in the middle of the pandemic, might not be the right time for home improvement projects. This is especially true if the changes you want are not urgent. Even medical experts say so. There are many risks involved in renovating your home right now. Let’s take a look at some of them:
You Might Not Get Your Return on Investment
Remodeling in the middle of the pandemic will be more expensive. Due to the pandemic, most of the population has been ordered to stay at home as much as possible to lower their risk of contracting the virus. So many are now more interested in improving their homes to accommodate their needs as they shelter in place. This demand means higher prices.
Labor fees are much more expensive now, too. Construction work is a physically dangerous job. But now, COVID-19 is part of their list of risks. Workers will have to buy insurance to safeguard them from these risks. They’ll also have to get additional equipment to protect themselves while they work. Thus, you’ll have to pay these workers more than before.
Certain home improvements usually increase the value of a house, but if the money spent on these upgrades is too big, then you will not be able to get your return on investment.
Remodeling and Renovation Will Take Longer
Remodeling your home will take more time than in the pre-pandemic era. For one, since many construction companies are receiving requests for home renovation, their waitlist is quite long. You might have to wait a long time before you even find a contractor.
Changes in construction practices may also affect the duration of your remodeling. For example, if you’re staying inside your home during the remodeling of one part of your home, then workers will have to work outside in order to social distance. This change can make the process less efficient and more time-consuming.
Also, it’s not unheard of for construction workers to delay their work. Even in the past, some construction companies make excuses to extend the duration of their projects so that they can collect more money from clients. This may become more common, especially considering that many companies experienced a decline in revenue during the first few months of 2020.
Home Remodeling Heightens Safety Risk
As mentioned earlier, home improvement can be physically dangerous. It may involve using heavy equipment, climbing ladders, and so on. All these activities put the lives of workers and homeowners at risk of accidents.
And it’s not really a good idea to be hospitalized due to an accident these days. Many hospitals are reaching their maximum capacity of COVID-19 patients. The hands of healthcare workers are already full, and we can help lessen the burden by keeping ourselves away from any activity that may harm us.
Having strangers come to your home to execute renovations also puts you and them at risk of the virus. Of course, you can still implement best safety practices, such as washing hands regularly, social distancing, and wearing masks when interacting. But the risk is still there.
Personal Protective Equipment Shortage
Several months have passed since COVID-19 started spreading across the globe, but there is still a shortage of PPE supplies in many hospitals. Some items with low inventory include masks and gloves. These items are also used by construction workers, so they will also have to battle with hospitals for these supplies. You as the homeowner may also need to wear these items when workers are in your home and when you interact with them. Thus, waiting for PPE supplies to become stable may be the best step to take.
If the renovations you need are urgent and should be done as soon as possible, it’s okay to have them done. Especially with winter around the corner, you will need to prepare your home for the cold season. However, if the changes you want are not urgent, the better step to take is to hold onto your plans and save them for later.
