Workmen and house security

theoretica

I need to get quite a bit of work done, but live alone and work all day. Is it usual to give the keys to the tradesmen?

phill99

I run a property maintenance company and regularly have sets of keys to people houses and undertake work while they are at work or pn holiday.

There are always scare stories, but the vast majority of tradesmen just want to get on with the job to a decent standard so they can get paid. They aren't interested in the contents of your house.

Ask the guy for references if you are no too sure, maybe go and see work he has done and speak to other customers. If he is decent he will be happy with this.

cattie

Is there a neighbour who you could leave keys with as an alternative?

I tend to only use tradesmen that have come recommended & think I'd be wary of leaving keys directly with a tradesperson that didn't come by way of recommendation who I'd never used before.

Very good advice from phill99 as above though regarding speaking to past customers.

nickj_2

my customers usually give me a key and code to the alarm ,
if you have been recommended the tradesman by someone you know you should be ok,

SailorSam

I have left workmen in the house alone but must admit i don't like it.

olias

As above, trust has to start somewhere. But either use a reccomended tradesman, or an established local firm with a good reputation.
Just use your commen sense - and any valuables (jewellery, rolex watch, cash saved in a tin, wallet, purse, cards etc etc) make sure they are well hidden or take them out with you.

Olias

gazman100

In the same situation as you. Unless it's feasible to be there (e.g. a few hours work) what choice do you really have?

I'm the same as SailorSam (ahoy there!) in that I don't particularly like it, but my experience is that if they're decent trades why would they be interested in wasting time looking through your sock drawer?! Generally their working their socks off trying to run their own businesses.

Agree with the recs and common sense comments above too.

rainbow12

Whenever I have to give keys to people I dot know (which I try not to do) I change the lock at the end of the job. Ask the builder to show you how (its very easy once you know)

theoretica

Thanks for the reassurance - it is not a situation I have encountered before.

Torry_Quine

Personally I wouldn't want to leave workmen in the house and even prefer to have my husband there if possible as I can't relax with them there.

theoretica

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't want to leave workmen in the house and even prefer to have my husband there if possible as I can't relax with them there.

Well, I am not going to get married just so I can leave him in the house for 2-3 weeks watching rewiring and window restoration!