Supporting Your Contractors Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

If you are in the business of renovating properties for profits, you likely rely on contractors to keep the money flowing. During this global pandemic, contractors can be classified as essential workers and continue to work. However, it’s even more important now that you take care of your contractors; not just for profitability reasons, but because it’s the right thing to do. Based on my company’s own experience and how we’re managing amid the COVID-19 crisis, here are some tips for supporting your contractors.

Provide Letters of Essential Status

Depending on what state your contractors operate in and what the current laws are, your workers may get approached by law enforcement. Officials may question whether the contractor should be on the road, on a job site or even shopping in a hardware store. It sounds inconceivable, but there are news reports of this happening.

What you can do is equip each of your contractors with an original letter, printed on a company letterhead, stating that they are an essential worker and are operating at your behest. Make sure you sign it and provide your direct contact information. This will just pave the way for your contractor and get them on their way faster.

Ease Off the Work Pace

Typically, contractors are under pressure to get the job done as fast as possible. The longer a reno is taking, the longer you have to carry the loan expense and pay other fees. However, this often entails long hours and multiple contractors working closely together.

If you can ease off the work pace, you’ll be better able to support your contractors’ safety precautions. Shorter hours means they will be more focused and less likely to be lackadaisical when it comes to personal protection equipment (PPE). Another benefit of extending the deadline is that you can have contractors work in alternating shifts so they don’t have to work at the same time. For example, don’t have your rough carpenter on the job site at the same time as your electrician. Use your best judgement to alternate contractor work days. This will enable your workers to more easily maintain social distancing protocols.

Provide Personal Protective Gear

Go the extra mile and provide complimentary PPE to your workers. Keep a supply at the job site or distribute them to individual contractors to keep in their trucks. Apart from being tax deductible, your nominal cost for PPE will go a long way toward owner/worker goodwill, and possibly keep your workers healthy and happier. Consider gear such as coveralls, face masks, gloves and other face coverings. Even better, ask your contractors what PPE they would like to have and do your best to make it happen. These items are hard to come by right now, but not impossible.

You know that without quality contractors you wouldn’t be able to make a profit. Now is the time to show your appreciation for the workers who demonstrate their loyalty to you by continuing to show up for work even in this time of crisis. If you have more tips for supporting contractors that I haven’t mentioned here, it’d be great if you could add them in the comment section so others can make use of them. Thanks and stay healthy.