Leaving workmen in the house....

[tupperwarequ]

What's the consensus here. I've found a great builder who's coming to do work in my house ( wil take about 4 weeks) I can't really work from home at this time due to the noise levels. Is it common practise to leave them to it? My parents live 2 mins away if anyone was needed.

What's the general thought

Yes I have done once I get to know them

Of course leave them to it
easier for them and you
just make sure if they find something unexpected they speak to you about it
show them where the kettle and biscuits are as well

Do you live alone? Be aware that some male work people defile women's homes.

I've done this and it's always been fine. I just tell them to help themselves to a cuppa and biscuits and leave them to it.
No defiling has occurred.

Just be cautious if you need to let workmen into your home unsupervised. Can’t your parents call down daily to check on what’s happening ?

make sure you set clear boundaries and ensure your privacy is protected. Can you parents control the key ?

every builder uses sub contractors and you may like the boss but this is your home.

What?!?!

Is it not common knowledge?! Most workmen are fine, some will defile women's private space. There's no way to tell which, so best not left unsupervised imo.
There was a thread on MN where a builder had wiped his arse on a handtowel!

Muddy boots all over your house, toilets left dirty and crud all over your kitchen. Not all builders but a lot of them.

We had workmen in and out our house for abut 6 months. I couldn't have stayed at home for that long and just left them to get on with it. They were all lovely and left the house neat and tidy in the evening. They also knew where the cleaning stuff was for the loo if they needed it. The toilet was always left spotless. They even looked after the dog for me when I couldn't take her with me. Not all workmen are awful.

Round here people rent portable toilets like at festivals for workpeople, they eat in their vans and only have access to the rooms they are renovating not heard of any problems. Just choose a good firm and tell them no subbies.

Don't be ridiculous!

A male friend of mine told me his work colleague used to steal women's knickers from each house and he kept them in the glove compartment of his car!

I make sure of the contractor, painter, plumber, foreperson first. I look at examples of their past work and read bona fide reviews.

On the phone a day or two before, I tell them of my HOUSE RULES. The prime house rules are: 1. Leave the toilet and vanity area (and the floors) as you found them. 2. Please place all rinsed cups/mugs/glasses upside-down on the draining-rack. 3. If you are leaving before I get home, close every window and door you opened and secure the door deadlocks.

I leave out spare hand-towels and pump-soap at the vanity and beside the kitchen sink.

Out of eight people (indoors) spread over nine years, seven were perfect or near to it while just one, a glazier, was appalling.

And the tiler who was close to excellent inside was a pain-in-the-backside with not cleaning up out on my driveway. I rang him at home but he was at the pub so I told his wife how disappointed I was to have come home to his outdoor messes. He rang me to apologise the next day. (He also discounted my $AUD600 bill about 15% when the invoice arrived.)

Treat people reasonably and most will look after your assets as you outline!