Giving tradesmen house keys
Discussion
Over the next few weeks we'll be having a few jobs done where we won't be able to be in the house and where the tradesmen involved will need access - even if just for toilets etc - but also to work on the jobs they are doing.
Any tips on best way to manage this? Do you get them to post key back through door at end of day?
Have you done this and had any problems with theft or loss of any kind?
Or just the feeling they've been through your stuff?
Any tips on best way to manage this? Do you get them to post key back through door at end of day?
Have you done this and had any problems with theft or loss of any kind?
Or just the feeling they've been through your stuff?
We've just had to do similar with plumbers and kitchen fitters. We've tried to be there to let them in in the morning and left them to let themselves out the front door. We only did this after having met them and felt comfortable with them. One of the fitters said he always felt uncomfortable being left alone in the house and worried about being suspected if something was mislaid by the owner.
To my knowledge none of them nosed about the house and we were lucky that all proved to be trustworthy. I'm not sure how you would stand with house insurance company of you were unlucky and had something go missing?
To my knowledge none of them nosed about the house and we were lucky that all proved to be trustworthy. I'm not sure how you would stand with house insurance company of you were unlucky and had something go missing?
Go with your gut feeling.
I often get left unattended in customer's homes/businesses or given keys beforehand to let myself in. Then there are others who want to be there at all times, which is understandable.
What I would say though, is that if I were to be dishonest I'd probably do ok out of it! People leave a lot of valuable things in plain sight! Spare car keys, wads of cash, expensive jewelry, credit cards etc! Some of which they probably wouldn't notice went missing until a few weeks after I'd been!
So remove anything of value out of sight, it's not unheard of for things to go missing, but is rare IME. Although in the cases I've heard, it has been the labourer/apprentice rather than the tradesman being light fingered.
I often get left unattended in customer's homes/businesses or given keys beforehand to let myself in. Then there are others who want to be there at all times, which is understandable.
What I would say though, is that if I were to be dishonest I'd probably do ok out of it! People leave a lot of valuable things in plain sight! Spare car keys, wads of cash, expensive jewelry, credit cards etc! Some of which they probably wouldn't notice went missing until a few weeks after I'd been!
So remove anything of value out of sight, it's not unheard of for things to go missing, but is rare IME. Although in the cases I've heard, it has been the labourer/apprentice rather than the tradesman being light fingered.
We had this a couple of weeks ago. We had the boiler moved so moved out for a few days.
I went to the plumbers house on Sunday night, gave him the house keys, we returned on Wednesday, he posted the keys through the letterbox.
He trusted us to settle the bill when we returned, so I trusted him with the keys.
I went to the plumbers house on Sunday night, gave him the house keys, we returned on Wednesday, he posted the keys through the letterbox.
He trusted us to settle the bill when we returned, so I trusted him with the keys.
I once, when young and foolish had some work done while I was away on holiday. On return I found (or rather didn't) the camera that I'd left out to take on my hold missing. The job had been done by a guy, who I'd met and trusted, but also some subcontractors when I mentioned it had walked he confessed he'd had trouble with the plasterer in the past and wouldn't be using him again. Price of the camera was knocked off the bill.
Now we meet all the people who we've had working on the house and those we've not got on with haven't been employed. We've also hired people directly rather than having teams of people who bring in others. Reason being that most trades mens reputation is worth more than whatever petty theft they could get away with. We've reused almost all of the tradesmen we've had recently and I'd have no issues leaving them with a key where required. What we do do is to set a guest code on the alarm and revert it to a personal code once they've finished work.
Now we meet all the people who we've had working on the house and those we've not got on with haven't been employed. We've also hired people directly rather than having teams of people who bring in others. Reason being that most trades mens reputation is worth more than whatever petty theft they could get away with. We've reused almost all of the tradesmen we've had recently and I'd have no issues leaving them with a key where required. What we do do is to set a guest code on the alarm and revert it to a personal code once they've finished work.
Buy this
http://www.amazon.com/Yale-Security-YRD220-ZW-619-...
Change the pin once the work is complete
http://www.amazon.com/Yale-Security-YRD220-ZW-619-...
Change the pin once the work is complete
I currently have the keys for 5 customers properties, one who goes away on holiday on Saturday, including another PHer.
It does amaze me at times how trusting some people are, even to the point of leaving valuables out on show.
But we get all our work through recommendations, and being trusted is a key part to getting the job in the first place.
You have to go with your own gut feeling, a recommended tradesman has previously proven themselves to be good otherwise your friend / family wouldn't have recommended them.
Would agree with WR, if you don't trust them don't employ them. Or always be at home.
It does amaze me at times how trusting some people are, even to the point of leaving valuables out on show.
But we get all our work through recommendations, and being trusted is a key part to getting the job in the first place.
You have to go with your own gut feeling, a recommended tradesman has previously proven themselves to be good otherwise your friend / family wouldn't have recommended them.
Would agree with WR, if you don't trust them don't employ them. Or always be at home.
Too Late said:
Buy this
http://www.amazon.com/Yale-Security-YRD220-ZW-619-...
Change the pin once the work is complete
I love these locks, I have one on my apartment and never even take my keys with me anymore.http://www.amazon.com/Yale-Security-YRD220-ZW-619-...
Change the pin once the work is complete
Interesting thoughts - seems everyone else is as anxious as me!!!
To be fair, I don't think it's practical to say - if I can't trust them with the keys, I can't trust them to work on my house.
So many times, the person who quotes/agrees a job is not the one who actually does it - so, while I may trust the business owner etc ... I will often only meet the actual worker on the day the job starts.
And in the real world, just because he looks a bit shifty or glum or shy or whatever, I don't tell him to bugger off and get his boss to send someone I like the look of better.
It's reassuring to think that people still do trust others in this way but yes, I will be hiding all valuables.
To be fair, I don't think it's practical to say - if I can't trust them with the keys, I can't trust them to work on my house.
So many times, the person who quotes/agrees a job is not the one who actually does it - so, while I may trust the business owner etc ... I will often only meet the actual worker on the day the job starts.
And in the real world, just because he looks a bit shifty or glum or shy or whatever, I don't tell him to bugger off and get his boss to send someone I like the look of better.
It's reassuring to think that people still do trust others in this way but yes, I will be hiding all valuables.
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