Safety should be at the top of your priority list when taking on some DIY home staging upgrades or renovations. Whether you are hiring a home staging firm or doing the project yourself, you will undoubtedly be involved with some of the upgrades and tasks yourself, so being safe and also keeping your family safe should not be neglected.
DIY home improvement projects are very popular among homeowners because of the savings on cost, particularly on paying for professional labor. If you are opting to do most or all of the home staging work yourself, then you should not scrimp or take shortcuts when it comes to safety procedures or the equipment and tools you will be using, because any cost-efficiency solutions should not result in undue hazards or risks as you go about improving your home.
What safety precautions should you always take when working around the home?
- Read the instructions first. Before operating any machinery or trying new equipment, read and understand the manual first. Don’t rely on intuition or guesswork. It’s much safer to read the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Gear up. Safety glasses are a good investment considering that most eye injuries occur in the home and during DIY home projects. Airborne particulates can come from anything and anywhere, and your eyes should be protected (sunglasses or prescription glasses are not recommended as replacements). Also, wear appropriate clothing to protect yourself, such as pants or shoes around hot materials. Avoid dangling or loose-fitting clothing around spinning tools.
- Fashion not required. There’s really no need to be wearing excessive jewellery, watches, or other accessories when working on your home staging upgrades. They can be cumbersome, or worse, even cause accidents when stuck in machines. You should also remember to pull your hair up if it’s long.
- Careful with electricity. Before plugging in any electric-powered tools, make sure the switch is turned off. Make sure that you are far from any pools of water or damp surfaces when operating electric tools, and that you are wearing rubber-soled footwear. Of course, never leave electric-powered equipment plugged in or running, even for a short time. They should be stored properly and away from children’s reach.
- Use ladders properly. Check the ladder before using it, and make sure it is on a stable, level surface before getting on. A good rule of thumb is to remember the 4-to-1 in ladder placement: for every 4 feet of ladder height, the bottom of the ladder should correspond with one foot away from the wall or leaning object.
