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Original poster

Would you go away and leave workmen in the house?

73 replies

Twospaniels · 25/10/2019 21:27

Just that really.
We’re having the kitchen updated and it will take 5 days and be dusty etc and kitchen not in use. Kitchen company man said they quite often do the work while the family is on holiday.
Would you leave them to it?

OP posts:
holidays987 · 25/10/2019 22:22

I wouldn't. Not unless I had used them previously, knew who was going to be there and that they were trustworthy and going to do the job well.

I'd just stay in another area of the house and make do for a few days.

ExcitedForFuture · 25/10/2019 22:27

I wouldn't go away but I'm happy to be out during the day. I had things to choose and questions to answer during my latest work so definitely needed to be around. I trusted my workmen though as they had previously done my kitchen and did a good job.

saraclara · 25/10/2019 22:30

Not sure about a holiday, but surely people don't take time off work to supervise every time they have workmen in?

If I was still working, I'd have had to have ten days off work just this year, for a decorator, a new boiler fitting, a new carpet being fitted, and some bathroom work.

ChickenyChick · 25/10/2019 22:33

Haha, i did this and came home to a half painted house and a drunk man asleep on the floor

I also had workmen nick things (like CDs and trinkets and brand new make up Hmm)

LoyaltyBonus · 25/10/2019 22:36

Yes, every time, if at all possible. I really don't understand people who take time off work to be there with them. Why would you want to be there? If you can go away, far better for everyone concerned

Shoutymomma · 25/10/2019 22:37

I once went to work for the morning, dropping DD1 (4) at school and DD2 (2) at preschool, whilst builders worked on our extension. Returning home around 1pm, I immediately knew what was amiss. Popping DD2 in front of a dvd, I summoned the 4 man crew to the kitchen and made it very clear, using some choice terminology and fairly specific threats, that they were not to smoke dope in my house. It absolutely reeked, the cheeky fuckers. So, keep a close eye.

TheFutureIs · 25/10/2019 22:41

We've moved out for 6 months for a big refurb. We do pop in weekly to check up but we really don't need to

TheBigFatMermaid · 25/10/2019 22:42

It very much depends! A few years ago, I was working nights and a few men were painting the outside of my house. I left my front door unlocked and left mugs out, telling them to help themselves to tea and coffee!

Last year I had a new kitchen fitted and often went out leaving them to it.

I live in a housing association house though, and these were their own staff. I have known some of them for years!

Probably wouldn't be do relaxed with random kitchen fitters though.

Aragog · 25/10/2019 22:42

We have done a number of times. However it's been overseen by a man who dh knows via his work contact for a few years and had previously done work for us on occasions too. He was the only one with our key and burglar alarm code, the latter was changed before and after as a secondary precaution.

Aragog · 25/10/2019 22:43

Oh and we've done it both during the day whilst we were at work, and for a fortnight whilst in holiday.

When we had the extension there is no way we could have always been at home. It took a few weeks.

MrsDimmond · 25/10/2019 22:45

I moved out to stay with my parents when I had extension built. Took months! I couldn't stop going to work snd couldn't live in a building site with a 3 year old.

Hassled · 25/10/2019 22:45

God yes. I'd much rather be far far away - we've always made sure we've timed any major house stuff with a holiday. The stress of having strangers in your house and the noise and the dust - it's horrible.
And realistically - they're bloody unlikely to nick things even if they wanted to - it's not like we don't know who they are and where to find them. It's never been an issue.

Ahwig · 25/10/2019 22:52

I had my kitchen done while I was in the canaries. I did my research carefully and checked up on references. I was there for the first day then caught a plane on day 2. Everything was fab, they phoned us once with a query. Oh yes and they fed my 2 cats as well

flabagoose · 25/10/2019 22:54

never would in london but yes and been fine up north.

BackforGood · 25/10/2019 22:55

Well yes, but I'm lucky enough to have a builder who I've known virtually all my life (and he took the company over from his Dad who used to do work for my Mum and Dad.). I've other friends who do various work (like kitchen fitting) that I've known for 50 years too, so it's a no brainer for me.
I'd still want to be able to be in contact in case there were any major decisions to make, but I trust them all to make lesser decisions for me, as I've known them so long, and they've done all sorts of work for me over time.
In truth though, when I have any job done, I go with people / companies that have been recommended to me by other people I know and trust so would still be happy to leave them.

ISawyouinTescoyesterday · 25/10/2019 23:06

Done that. Got the T-shirt BIG MISTAKE

BrokenWing · 25/10/2019 23:22

Dh used to have a big plastic coke bottle full of £1 coins, we had counted it the week before and there was > £500. Then had a decorator in (friend of a friend) and noticed bottle had moved. Recounted and there was over £100 missing.

Now I try to be at home whenever possible (and dh doesn't save coins anymore!)

Ginnymweasley · 25/10/2019 23:30

I took the kids away for the week when I got my kitchen done. My husband stayed at home but most days he left before they arrived and was home after they left. We did know them though so I suppose that makes a difference. It was a lot better than having no working kitchen and 2 kids under 4 to feed and entertain.

Brackish · 25/10/2019 23:34

Of course I do. How could I take days at a time off work every time we need something done in the house?

BlankTimes · 25/10/2019 23:36

I stayed at home whilst my kitchen was fitted, old property so I knew it wouldn't be straightforward. I was on hand to sort out all queries and also to benefit from the professional fitters' advice.

Things you don't think of, but might look "wrong" if you just left someone else to it, if there's a run of units, do you want the doors of adjoining cupboards to open like double units, or all singles? Do you want wall cupboard doors to open to match? Where did you want the joins in the worktop? Which way round do you want the sink and drainer?

StrumpersPlunkett · 25/10/2019 23:44

we went on holiday when the walls were coming out and new patio doors were being fitted, we were back by the time they were doing anything that could need intervention by us.
VV happy to not be there when grim dirty work was going on.

katy1111 · 25/10/2019 23:46

Holiday no, out at work yes. Well probably not in my case as I have a nervous cat, so would want to be there. But if I didn't I'd leave them to it during the day. Definitely wouldn't go on holiday though. You hear horror stories about that kind of thing.

Parker231 · 25/10/2019 23:50

We go to work and on holiday whilst work is being done on the house. How do you not - can’t keep taking time off work or put holidays on hold. Would hate to be at home in the mess.

gleegeek · 25/10/2019 23:53

This is the current topic of conversation in our house! We've compromised... We live in a very tiny house and are having a kitchen extension. Next week there will be 2 electricians a plumber and a plasterer on siteShock There just won't be room for us as well and it's half term so dc too. We're renting a cottage 45 mins away! We've got to come back Monday to see the kitchen guy, and we'll pop in a few other days too and they'll have our mobile numbers. They're all nice guys and highly recommended byfriends so hopefully all will be fine🤞

FionaOgre · 25/10/2019 23:59

I had a kitchen fitted. We didn't go away on holiday but we're happy to leave for the day. I've seen too many horror stories of dodgy builders and thieves to be happy to leave for more than a few hours.

My friend thinks she has been stung by a dishonest labourer. She checked her watch leaving the house. Once she was driving on the main road she noticed it had come off. She had seen a labourer bending down to pick something up from her drive in her rear view. Figuring he had rescued her watch she turned back. Nope. He said he'd not seen a thing. No gold watch, nothing. She's not seen the watch since and now feels she can't trust her builders.it could only have been on her drive or her car and her car's empty and her drive is a country lane off a busy A road so no passerby's to see and take it.