During COVID-19, Home renovations are encouraging.

The outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has put many things on hold, but house
improvements are not one of them. When the epidemic was officially announced
on March 11th, Houzz, an online resource for home design and decoration,
revealed that more than half of homeowners who were in the middle of
renovations continued their efforts.

According to the same report, 79 percent of homeowners polled were thinking
about undertaking new renovations to help them enjoy their houses more.
Sheltering in place appears to be motivating homeowners to start efforts to make
their time at home more pleasurable, such as upgrading the layout of their home,
as well as to address pre-existing issues they experience in their present residences,
like a shortage of storage.

More planning sessions are taking place remotely.

Outside of a pandemic, finishing a house remodel requires several planning
sessions, outings to showrooms, excursions to quarries, and on-site check-ins.
However, during COVID-19, householders must become acquainted with
technology. There will still be a few in-person sessions required to finish your house
remodel. However, a lot of the “leg work” and planning will be done virtually so
that your time together, for example, when you meet to choose a granite block,
will be used securely and effectively. To gain an idea of the scale of your renovation,
your design company or construction company may request that you tour them
through your house through Zoom or Skype. While they may need to come to your
home to take measurements, many designers will offer their 3-D renderings via
video conference. You can remotely follow the development of your project by
using project management software such as Builder Trend or Co-Construct.
Completing a house improvement during COVID-19 will require putting your
confidence in your contractor and subcontractors. Clear communication and
thorough preparation will ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Timelines for renovations are getting longer.

The construction crew’s workplace and pace will be governed by CDC norms and
OSHA regulations. Workers will be expected to follow proper social distance
standards and wear appropriate PPE in addition to regularly disinfecting their
workspaces. According to The New York Times article, The Return of Home
Renovations, “Contractors and their employees must also be cognizant of a whole
host of additional guidelines for home repair during a pandemic: no more than one
worker per 250 square feet; open windows wherever feasible to maximize
ventilation; daily temperature checks before personnel report to the project site;
[and] work stations must be cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis.” All of this
results in a slower rate of work and fewer workers on the job

Supply networks are being impacted by manufacturing reductions.

Supply chain and material manufacturing issues are also contributing to home
remodeling delays. Lumber markets were expected to crash as a result of the
COVID-19 outbreak. According to the Yahoo Finance article Lockdown Renovation
Boom Sends Canadian Timber Stocks Soaring, “the COVID-19 epidemic was initially
predicted to affect lumber markets as increasing unemployment limited demand
and lockdowns stopped the offices that grant licenses for cutting operations.”
However, according to Paul Quinn of RBC Capital Markets, “spending on house
repairs and remodeling is high and rising.” While growing demand for lumber is
good for investors, constantly low inventories and prolonged capacity closures are
terrible news for contractors and homeowners who want to finish renovations on
time and on budget.

It is more difficult to find temporary lodging during renovations.

Homeowners who want to finish a renovation during COVID-19 may also need to
seek temporary living options. There are hazards involved with staying in hotels,
and finding short-term rentals has become more difficult as a result of the
epidemic. However, Asher Lipman, the creator of NYC Renovation Coach, questions
if working from home with children around and employees sauntering in and out is
actually safer. In reaction to COVID-19, both hotels and Airbnb-style rentals have
tightened their cleaning practices. However, if you have to choose between the
two, as Dr. Neil Brown, K Health’s chief diagnostic officer, stated in the article
Which is Safer: Airbnb or Hoteliers? “While there is no doubt properties are
working tirelessly to keep their hotels clean and sterilized, Airbnb has a major
benefit given that the renter is typically the only one renting the property.”

Despite the difficulties residents are encountering when renovating their homes
during COVID-19, many are moving forward with their improvements to ensure
that they will be doing so in a house they love if the need to shelter in place arises
again.

One platform that can connect you with the right contractor is workyky. Which connects local contractors with homeowners.