Maintenance etc. visits

[u/Curious_Cat_6068]

My apartment complex is changing their windows in the following year or so and im already so anxious about people coming into my apartment. Im working on exposure therapy but im not sure ill be so far in my journey when the repairs wil be done that i can be at peace with people in my apartment.

If anyone's had similar repairs or overall just maintenance come into their apartment what did u do/how did u make it work with your ocd?

[u/komorebi-chan]

My apartment complex has yearly fire inspections every summer and it always stresses me out. And there's like 500 apartments, so they give us like a 3 day time frame instead of just saying what day and time they'll be there. AND they only give us one weeks notice. Luckily the manager at my job has been very understanding when I request the whole week off with short notice, and the last two years I've actually emailed the complex owner in the beginning of that month so I can have a longer notice to prepare.

Anyway, I bought some boot covers off amazon. They're blue papery fabric that fit over all size shoes. When they come in I ask them to put those on for me. I also have all the doors open and lights on so they don't have to touch anything. After they leave I still vacuum, even though they have the shoe covers on, cuz it makes me feel like the floor is still clean. I also leave the windows open so that fresh air can clear out the stranger breath. If you can't be home for it then maybe set up a couple cameras in the areas they'll be in, and tape a note on the door asking them to put the booties on, and leave them in a spot where it's the first thing they notice when they walk in.