Somehow, watching a beautiful home rise from a hole in the ground just never grows old, even for the Shea construction crew. Of course it’s even more thrilling to watch when it’s your own home at Stepping Stone. More than the typical homebuilder, Shea encourages homebuyers to visit the construction site. Not only at four major milestones (welcome meeting, pre-drywall orientation, walkthrough, and delivery), but at additional, once-a-month visits too. Safety precautions are essential at these busy construction sites though, says Jeff Palumbo, Shea Homes Colorado’s Manager of Safety and Environment. Here are Jeff’s six tips for staying safe while charting the progress of your home-to-be.
1) Sign in and suit up. Before visiting your home site, be sure to stop by the Shea sales office. A quick check-in ensures that Shea is aware of every customer onsite. Then they’ll help you gear up appropriately with a hard hat, high-visibility safety vest, and protective eyewear. Be sure to wear flat, closed-toe shoes to keep your feet safe.
2) Follow the buddy system. Monday through Saturday, all site visitors need to be accompanied by a Shea Homes representative. Sunday is our “fun day” (no Shea buddy necessary), but check-in at the sales office is still required.
3) Scope out the situation. Is the site muddy? Icy? Are there rain puddles you’ll want boots for? It’s smart to assess site conditions before stepping foot onto the property.
4) Keep your eyes on the prize. Always walk in the direction you’re looking. Backing up to get a broader view is tempting but dangerous, as you just don’t know what conditions exist behind you. Avoid open-hole areas altogether, as well as any areas where you might fall.
5) Stay together. If you’re touring in a group (after all, it’s fun to share the experience with friends and family), make sure you stay together. It’s also wise to designate one person as “safety lead,” keeping an eye out for the whole group. In general, children should not be onsite, but if they are, responsible parties must keep them by their side.
6) Leave rooftops to the professionals. Sure it may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised. Never access the roof under any circumstances.
Here’s an extra tip too: Take lots of pictures. Besides the joy of sharing the progress of your new Stepping Stone home with friends and family, photos will remind you of this potentially once-in-a-lifetime event. And after all, how often do you get to pose in a hardhat?
And don’t forget to share your photos with on Instagram or Facebook! Tag us @SteppingStoneCO and use the hashtag #SteppingStoneCO.
