How to Enter

 Let's talk about a door knock. When you go up to a residence's apartment, you've got the service request. You've got the reason to be inside their apartment. But remember, this is somebody's home that we're coming up to. I would recommend that you develop a habit for how you're going to enter a residence apartment.

But before we get to enter the residence apartment, we need to let them know we're here. Remember, you've just gathered all your things and your tools and what you needed to go inside to do the work that they've requested. We come and do, but keep in mind that means our resident doesn't know when we're coming.

This is our opportunity to inform them. That means when you knock on the door, keep in mind they, they're probably not in the room right behind that door. Chances are. Start back in the backside of the apartment. So do yourself a favor, develop a knock that you always used. We wanna stop just short of what you see the police officers do on a TV show.

We want it to be loud and heard throughout the entire apartment, but knocking isn't enough. Yell loud enough that somebody on the other side of that door can hear you banging on it. Not only do we want that resident to know that we're coming inside, it's a good idea to let the neighbors know you're there.

Think about it. If somebody's knocking on somebody else's door, your neighbor. Right next door to you, and maybe they're not familiar with you. If they hear you yelling and making a noise, that inspires confidence that you know that other people know that you're there. That's a measure of security for yourself.

Okay, so you've knocked on the front door. Don't stop there. Wait. This is an active portion of gaining entrance into your residence apartment. I recommend waiting, counting to 30, count to 50, count to a specific number. But you have to pause. I guarantee it feels longer than it actually is. Now, after you've waited, don't just put the key in the lock and go in the door.

It's possible they're asleep in the backside of the apartment. Knock again the same number of times, and yell maintenance again, and then wait.

That was about 10 seconds. Seemed like forever, didn't it? Be sure you wait longer than that. It's possible that it's somebody in that apartment that doesn't have the availability to get around easily. The third time, knock again, yell and put the key into the door. It's also important to use that extra sense that, you know how sometimes when you walk up to a residence's apartment, you can feel that there's somebody home?

Use that after you put the key in the door. Unlock it. Remember, you've already knocked twice. You've been standing outside for at least three minutes and nobody's come to the door. But don't turn the lock. Turn the knob and go right in. Turn the lock. Open the door one inch. You wanna break that barrier or the weather stripping After you've broken that barrier, yell one more time.

Just in case they couldn't hear you over music or whatever's going on. Oh, but wait. After you enter the apartment, don't stop there. Yell inside the apartment maintenance, let people know you're there. That way if somebody's asleep using the bathroom or in the shower, yell all the way while you're in there over Communicate your presence inside someone else's home.

Remember, it's their home. They have a right to feel safe in their own home. Even though they told us that something was broken and needed to be taken care of, we need to follow up and meet halfway. Be sure that you over communicate your presence inside an apartment. I.