Leaving builders alone in your property

Plans_all_plans

Well if they damaged something in the house (whether I was there or not) I'd want them to cough up for it, rather than go through the insurers, if at all possible.

In the unlikely event I was robbed after leaving builders alone in the house, I'm not sure what the insurer would say, but I've not got much worth nicking anyway!

McKneff

I am in my early 60's and have had numerous jobs done over the years, never had a problem leaving builders etc.

If they are legitimate companies I would trust them completely.

If i didnt trust them I wouldnt let them over the threshhold, simple as that.

My OH was a painter and decorator with his own company and would be horrified if he thought that any of his customers thought he was going to steal from them. If he had any inkling of this, he just wouldnt work for them, also as simple as that.

LEJC

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

Well if they damaged something in the house (whether I was there or not) I'd want them to cough up for it, rather than go through the insurers, if at all possible.

In the unlikely event I was robbed after leaving builders alone in the house, I'm not sure what the insurer would say, but I've not got much worth nicking anyway!

But the situation may not arise if you were there .... tradesmen dont always admit liability for damage they cause so you could face a struggle to get them to "cough up for it"...sometimes the only option would be to make a claim on your insurance or absorb the cost yourself and I just wondered if anyone knew how an insurance company would respond when told "I left a workman who was doing some work alone in my house...came back and have now discovered that £xy damage has been caused to the property in my absence...the workmen deny it was them but it wasnt damaged before I left them...."

fluffpot

If you feel comfortably with them and/or they have come recommended then I would say it's fine.
I'm an electrician and am too busy getting on with the job to go snooping through drawers!

Eastie77

Thanks for your replies, some points raised I hadn't thought about such as removing utility bills etc which could be used for identity fraud. I have all those docs in a filecase which I could also take to work with me. They could go ahead and look in my bedroom drawers, nothing very exciting in there:)

I was planning to ask my neighbours to keep an eye out as we all get on very well (we all bought and moved into our flats at the same time) The fitters are from a very well known UK company which was recommended to me. Of course you can never assume everyone who works for such companies is honest but I suppose I feel a bit more comfortable knowing they are from an established company.

In terms of breakages, as part of the fitting I've been asked to move any breakables out of the front room. The only thing this relates to is my plasma TV and I am going to ask my neighbour to take that.
I'm a bit of minimalist when it comes to furniture! I've also been asked to turn off the water mains.

I have 2 sets of spare keys and a set of car keys which I would also remove and take with me. The keys to my flat, which is a new build, cost hundreds of pounds to copy each and you need 2 keys to open the front door. They are GERDA keys, I don't think you can copy them at a standard Locksmith so the fitters would need to take the time to find somewhere to do this. You can never say never but it seems unlikely to me that they'd go to all that trouble...hmm, re-reading this post sounds as if I'm really trying to convince myself here:)

If I'm honest, if I take my MAC with me and lock up my paperwork I cannot think of a single thing in my flat the fitters would want to steal or anything that would devastate me if it went missing. Otherwise I probably wouldn't consider this!

gingin_2

We bought a house to renovate at the end of last year. I've left people alone, those that were recommended by friends and it's worked out fine.

The only thing with the carpet/floor fitters were that they were subcontracted out from the carpet company and so I had no say, or prior knowledge of who they were and they were the only ones that I felt it was necessary to stay in for so far.

If you were to leave them I'd not tell them you were at work all day. Just pop in at random.

belfastgirl23

I've done this and never had a problem. But always from 'trusted' companies - I don't tend to let people in to do work in the house unless I'm pretty sure I can trust them anyway. Let's face it, whether you're there or not a determined burglar/tradesman could do a fair bit of damage anyway unless you stand over them the whole time. And who's going to do that?

It sounds to me like you've put reasonable plans in place (popping back, neighbours keeping an eye, reputable company), in your shoes I'd go ahead. Although I'd probably still have the concerns you have as well

ceridwen

Yes - me.....as in "thinking its a really bad idea".

I guess it doesnt matter too much if the place is rented - but, if its your own, then you need to be around to supervise the standard of work done.

I've had to have a lot of work done on my place over the years and there have been many instances where they were looking to "cut corners" in the way they did things - but, because I was there, I was able to spot that they were trying not to do things properly and get them to amend things.

Doesnt mean to say that I could guarantee that the job would be done properly even then:mad::( - but I DO know for certain that the work would often have been done to a sight worse standard if I hadnt been there to call them on it.

meritaten

No Dont! my daughter was actually at home when some 'Reputable' people came round to do insulation in the attic. Naturally she let them get on with it, but noticed one of the men coming out of her sons bedroom. she didnt think anything of it at the time - it was only later when her son got home and asked her where his money was that she realized he had no reason to be in her sons room. This prince among men had pinched £5 and change from the jar in her sons room! had to be him as it was there in the morning when her son added some silver and gone when he got home. She phoned the firm and complained but has heard nothing further - I would have phoned the police!
So dont trust any stranger - and for gods sake put money jewellery etc under lock and key! even if you are there you cannot be in every room at once!

eamon

If you stay at home you will be in the way and create a nusiance. The vast majority of tradespeople are reliable and honest. All they want to do is the work and get paid accordingly. I personally have no problems with leaving keys for people doing work in my house but then again I have no problems in shaming them in their local pub either.

Sometimes we just have to take people at face value and trust them.