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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want builders etc in my house unattended?

46 replies

TigerseyeMum · 19/02/2013 19:40

Or does everyone else just hand them a key and leave them to get on with it?

We bought a run down house with the intention of doing it up, it was the only way we could afford it. My DH has lost all interest in doing it but because I work full time and so does he I am reluctant to just get people in to do the work because neither of us could be there to supervise.

Plus I have two super speedy dogs that would escape the moment a door opened a crack. The last builders I left alone managed to shut my elderly dog in the bathroom and he ate a bath mat and shat everywhere.

Is it me? I'm not saying all builders are criminals, it's just basically inviting a stranger into your home isn't it? But people (well, our parents mainly) keep asking why 'we don't just get someone in'.

OP posts:

Sugarice · 19/02/2013 19:53

We'll you either get tradesmen in and get the job done quicker or do it yourselves and take a long long time.

If you're worried lock away valuables and important paperwork. The dogs aren't the builders responsibility so that's something you'll have to address too.

Word of mouth is always best to get the best tradesmen in, ask around.

MrsRogerSterling · 19/02/2013 19:53

I have left workmen in the house because otherwise the work would never get done. Could you maybe take a week off and be at home when they start work and explain about the dogs etc.

chandellina · 19/02/2013 19:55

We just hand over the key but only hire well recommended people. You'll have to sort out the dogs though.

Original poster

TigerseyeMum · 19/02/2013 20:03

Neither of us can take any time off at all, that's why we're stuck. I don't know anyone locally to recommend anyone either, tend to use Green Pages for recommendations.

I just don't feel comfortable having strangers in my house when no ones around and we don't know our neighbours well so don't know if anyone would really pay attention to anything going on. I think if I'd had them in a few times I'd feel more confident, our electrician was brilliant and lives round the corner so was pretty friendly.

There's a whole house to renovate and it's really getting me down living in a pigstye.

OP posts:

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 19/02/2013 20:10

Use checkatrade. It's a great website to find local tradesmen. We've used it and got really good workmen.

Yes I leave them to it, only because we have a LO who wouldn't be able to sleep with the noise.

AngelinaCongleton · 19/02/2013 20:10

Put your valuables in one room and put one of those little security locks on it. Lock it when you are out all day? I've got one on my bedroom for this purpose. Dont care about tvs and stereos and stuff, just don't want them rummaging through my drawers and leaving jewellry out ( I'm sure they wouldn't but...)

Annunziata · 19/02/2013 20:11

Hire on recommendation and leave them to it.

Original poster

TigerseyeMum · 19/02/2013 20:17

So most people do that? There are certain valuables that legally have to be locked away so I could arrange that.

If its a normal thing and builders are used to it I'd feel more comfortable doing it.

Did it once before when having walls knocked down etc and it was ok but a few things were done how we didn't want them done, or bodged, but to be honest it was a bit like having the Chuckle Brothers in my house (which is why they were cheap).

OP posts:

exoticfruits · 19/02/2013 20:21

I don't see how you can have work done and not leave them to it.

BlatantLies · 19/02/2013 20:22

I wouldn't want anyone who I didn't 100% trust doing any building work for me. They are dealing with health and safety issues and I would need to be totally confident in them.

My builders had free run of my house. I trusted all of them. I was careful whenever we had other workers in the house.

HollyBerryBush · 19/02/2013 20:24

I don't know any one who employs builders who dont come personally recommended.

Primafacie · 19/02/2013 22:04

Yes it is normal to leave them to it. Most tradesmen are not criminals, why would they risk their reputation and living by stealing from you? Sort out your dogs, get recommendations and do it.

AnyFucker · 19/02/2013 22:10

I'll tell you what. Do the work yourself and you might finish it in... ooh 10 years or so ?

Then again, employ some professional tradesman at a fair price and get it done properly in quick smart time, with minimal disruption to you since you won't be there during the day. Good ones even clean up nicely after themselves

How come you are under the impression that tradesmen are likely to be 1) stupid 2) thieves 3) willing to put their reputation at risk by ripping you off

You sound an awful snob

KitCat26 · 19/02/2013 22:11

We are leaving ours to it. But he came to our wedding, so we (DH) knows him quite well.

There are other trades in the house who we don't know but we have locked away our valuables to be on the safe side. Not because we think they will pinch them, but with people going in and out and the front and back door unlocked anyone could walk in off the street and pinch something precious crap.

emsyj · 19/02/2013 22:14

We've just had an extension built and new kitchen fitted - builders were in most days for about 3 months and DH and I were both working FT (I'm on mat leave now) for that time, so yes we gave them a key and left them to it. To be fair though, the builders we used were highly recommended and the main guy lives just round the corner. We've been to his house and met his wife so he'd have zero chance of getting away from us if he wrecked our house or stole our gold bullions! He is now just about to start some work for our friends, who have been really impressed with what he did here.

I would never use a tradesman without a personal recommendation though - could you try and find someone on here? What area are you in?

morethanpotatoprints · 19/02/2013 22:35

Have you asked your electrician to recommend anyone.
I would say that unless you are booking a group of builders that nobody has heard of you will be ok. Don't forget they will want recommendations from you and its hard for all tradesmen right now.
If you want to lock your valuables away and obviously sort out the dogs. Take this opportunity to get to know your neighbours better. It can be worthwhile, ours are brilliant but didn't think they were our type when we moved in. You don't need to be best mates but you never know when you'll need them.

SizzleSazz · 19/02/2013 22:40

I left the boiler man in our house today (and told him to shut the door behind himself!) as had to collect DC from school. I was more bothered about getting a warm house than worrying about theiving. I also left my handbag hanging on the bannister.

I think you are naive to think you can get a building job completed without you leaving them alone at some point tbh.

can you ask on here for recommendations if you don't know many locals? then get references and talk to previous customers (good builders will insist on this)

Original poster

TigerseyeMum · 19/02/2013 23:43

We renovated our last house ourselves and yeah it did take almost 10 years. But I don't want to go through that again.

I think the electrician is a good try, he probably has some good links.

Not a snob, no AnyFucker, bit of a conclusion to jump to, but as you don't actually know me I'll let you off.

OP posts:

AnyFucker · 19/02/2013 23:51

I'm just going off what you typed. No biggie.

midastouch · 19/02/2013 23:53

YANBU i wouldnt let anyone in my house unsupervised that i do not know, no matter how many good reviews they have on check a trade...

Aniseeda · 19/02/2013 23:57

I'd leave them to it as far as the house is concerned but I don't think it's fair to expect them to have any responsibility for the dogs. The builders will want to be in and out all day and won't want to have to worry about stopping the dogs from bolting every time they open a door.

Do you have anyone who could have the dogs during the day?

Original poster

TigerseyeMum · 20/02/2013 00:03

No, that's part of the problem. It's just one of those awkward situations where we need to get stuff done but can't be around for it at the moment.

Generally it's better to be on site when getting anything done as its not trades peoples responsibilities to make decisions about things, like coming up against any problems or getting decor mixed up, just feels wierd leaving instructions then buggering off.

I might be between contracts in the summer so could take some unpaid leave and get it done in a big blitz, it's just stressful in the short term.

OP posts:

Agrestic · 20/02/2013 00:22

I think people have been a bit harsh.

I wouldn't feel 100% about anyone I didn't intimately know being in my house alone.

But you don't really have a choice! Hide all your kinky stuff and try not to worry.

lannyshrops · 20/02/2013 06:51

We just had a large back extension completed. We used a local firm with personal recommendations. We are both out of the house by 7.30am and not back until 5pm at the earliest, so they had keys to the house. It took about 2 months so being off work all that time was not possible.

DH and I had a schedule of works from the builder, which we agreed to, so we were aware of what was happening next. We inspected every evening so we knew where everything was up to. We had regular phone calls and e-mail conversations with the project manager (he preferred e-mail as then we all had a paper trail of conversations).

The works went well, there were little problems that occured (an electric wire was buried under 4 feet of concrete and had to be dug up, a strip light was put in the wrong place) but as we checked daily, these were rectified before becoming an issue.

Prior to commencing works, the builder asked us to keep anything of value (jewellery etc) locked away as he didn't want his teams to be put in the situation of being accused of anything and he assured us that our house keys were kept in a safe in his office, which we actually saw, and were returned there every night.

It is an unnerving thought having people in your home I totally understand that, but it sounds to me like its that or do the work yourself and accept that may/will take an awful lot longer. Rather that trying to co-ordinate all the trades yourself, is it possible to hire a project manager or a firm to manage it all? I assume a lot of work needs doing?

Is there the option of boarding kennels during the day for the dogs? If this is not an option if your dogs can't 'do' kennels, what about a dog minder? an internet search should help find someone. It is unreasonable to expect tradesmen to care for your animals, they are at their place of work doing their job, which does not include keeping an eye on your animals. Sorry.

I hope this helps and gives you some options to explore? Good luck!

lannyshrops · 20/02/2013 06:55

Oh, if there were any issues during the day, such as where exactly to position a light switch, one of us would get an e-mail of phone call to clarify. If they could not get through to us, they just left it and moved on to something else until obtaining clarification.

We also paid for the whole job and not a daily rate, although I don't think any reputable builder charges a daily rate anyway?

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