To ask whether you stay in while the trades working on your house

[Bornnotbourne]

Just wondering what the norm is? My partner does not want me to leave the house while there are tradesmen working on house. I spent five weeks at home during 2024 and possibly have another four to go this year. Just wanted to know if this is normal or if there any trades on here who could tell me if it’s preferable?

What is your husband worried will happen if you go out ?

He just say I need to supervise him. I should add that there are no concerns from my end about theft as I’ve sold everything to fund the work. Don’t even have a TV anymore.
I have a key safe so they can come and go if they need to.

Also the trades I use have been people I’ve previously used or come recommended by the trades I use.

If it's the same workman for several weeks no unless they're working on something that might need my opinion (e.g. light switches or tiling). If the trades are in for the day I do prefer to be around but more to ensure they don't trash the place with dirty boots and clean up after themselves.

First time that we use someone we would stay in for most of the first day. Make sure they are happy with the job, getting on etc. After that we would go out.

My parents would stay in the whole time.

I try to be home where I can, just because it makes me feel better to be available if there's any questions or concerns. I've had bad experiences in the past of tradesmen encountering problems and solving them in ways I don't prefer, or stupid tradesmen doing things that made zero sense or were straight up wrong. But if the job was straightforward, I wouldn't feel that need.

I wouldn't rearrange my life to be home the entire time a tradesman was there though. Just enough to keep a vague eye or raise any concerns quickly enough that they can be easily fixed.

I wouldn't be concerned from a security perspective, but maybe that's because we don't have anything worth stealing!

God no, I don't have the time apart from anything. My parents do though but they are paranoid that everyone in the world is out to fleece them.

I've found that if they need me they phone or message.

We tend to be the reverse...if at all possible, we'll move out if there's substantial work going on!

I would stay home, I don't like strangers wandering about the house, and I am also nosey and interested in what they are doing. In some ways it's not fair to leave them, if anything did go missing even if simply mislaid or lost they could be suspected of stealing if they had been left alone in the house.

I’d be there for arrival and departure, so that we can talk about progress, hiccups, amendments etc, but then do whatever I was planning to do in between.

DH works from home permanently so normally he is there but if for whatever reason he is out for the day, he makes sure he is there when they arrive to check in on things or discuss issues.

We had people gutting the downstairs living room and hallway, a full kitchen revamp, loft extension. No way I could have stayed in all day with them in the house and the noise of some work actually drove me out.

Wasting annual leave to sit around is a no-go for us. A one-day job which needs checks is a different matter.

No - always keep out of the house. They don’t need you getting in the way. We use trades we trust with recommendations and references.

Surely you'd only be able to supervise them if you were trained and had relevant experience.
As for trades solving problems in an unacceptable way, presumably you'd notice at the end of the day and discuss the next morning ?

Thanks all for responses. I’ve found being at home pretty claustrophobic, especially when the kids are on school holidays and climbing the walls. It’s also pretty embarrassing as the house is tiny and you can hear anyone using the toilet!!
I did say I find the idea of my supervising them quite patronising them as I have no relevant skills and can imagine my hovering over them could be very annoying.