Leaving contractors/people to do work in your home alone

[Milkchocodigestive]

Hi there! Just need some other views on this!

So we’re getting our carpet cleaned and refreshed after years of built up stains and my husband asked one of his colleagues (who does cleaning as a side hustle) to do it. The price was very reasonable and the colleague had come to our house to assess the carpet and see what tools he’d need. I was fine with it but then my husband forgot that he’d booked the guy to come in at a day when we’d all be out of the house and rescheduling would be a bit tight. Now, I don’t actually know the colleague myself and although I’m sure he’s lovely and all that based on my husband’s judgment, I’m still not 100% comfortable of having someone who’s essentially a virtual stranger (to me) left alone in my house to carry out work. It’s not that I’m assuming he’s capable of anything bad, it’s more to do with me wanting to protect my home and taking due diligence due to not truly knowing him. Also, trust should be earned in my opinion! So I asked my sister to house-sit whilst he carries out work. She’s not there to hover over him like a drone, more to just be a presence in the house. Part of me feels like it’s a bit too cautious but I think it’s just due diligence- right? Would you guys do the same?😀

I've had loads of work done at home without me there. Never really thought about it.

Erm, he's your husband's colleague, not like he's a stranger

If it was an actual stranger, I’ve booked them for when I’m home in case they have questions or need to speak to me about the job. This is someone your husband knows, so not a stranger. If anything happens your husband knows where to find him. I wouldn’t worry.

Your husband is fine with it and he knows the man. Why would you worry?

We went on holiday and came home to a lovely new fitted bathroom. The workman’s dad lived in the street and he had previously fitted a bathroom for a neighbour.
He even did extra work for no extra charge.

He's not a stranger, he works with your husband ...

I have always had workmen in doing things when I am at work. Over the years we have had a loft conversion, new bathroom, kitchen, electrical work, decorating, plumbers, windows fitted and never felt the need to be there. What exactly are you worried about? Is your husband a poor judge of character?

Do you not trust your husbands judgement on this person?

I would never have someone I’ve never met, having free access to my entire house when I’m not home. You did the right thing.

Yes, I do get that, but I want to put measures in place to ensure my home is safe. It’s honestly nothing personal to the guy.

I do!

Painters, plumbers, electricians etc

i have a trusted group of tradesmen and trust them completely in my home

Yes I agree. I’m sure he’s lovely, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

I wouldn’t went to put my sister out for this
No urgency
just reschedule if you’re bothered

Is someone telling you in RL that you’re being over cautious?

Exactly. I guarantee you if anything went wrong, people would be incredulous that you left him unattended! So do what’s best for you.

But your husband trusts him. How would you feel if your husband made his brother come to the house whilst someone you knew well did some work in your absence. Not only have you shown your husband you don't trust his judgement you will also have his work colleague thinking your husband doesn't trust him. That doesn't make for good working relationships

Don't worry. He's not going to nick anything!

Make sure you hide your dildo though! 😆

Well, it’s not that I don’t trust my husband’s judgment; I just didn’t know he’d booked it on a day we were all going to be out of the house -I think there should have been more communication perhaps. Plus, we have had a an experience where my husband trusted a colleague with sensitive information and a few years later my husbands name ended up being used fraudulently and it caused immense stress, going up and down different cities to attend court hearings but we finally managed to clear his name and he was compensated too. So maybe this is the underlying cause of the distrust perhaps?

Op is anyone in RL saying you’re being over cautious? You husband? Your sister who’s being put out?

Plus, we have had a an experience where my husband trusted a colleague with sensitive information and a few years later my husbands name ended up being used fraudulently and it caused immense stress,

and there’s the drip 😆

Leave the poor guy to work in peace. He doesn't want someone who doesn't even live there hovering around.

Yes I know it’s making me seem like I don’t trust my husband’s judgment, and I understand it might not look too good/judgmental. But I guess I’m just trying to protect my home. My husband can be quite trusting sometimes - he is a good judge of character most of the time but he can overlook certain things - we’ve had things go missing in the car and he always helps drop his colleagues to and from work most weeks. Coincidence? Maybe? My wedding ring which he’d kept in the car (it needed to be fixed) suddenly vanished as well as his gold chain. These are items that were kept inside the car - so what other explanation could there be?

Just lock away the things you don't want them to see, especially items in your bedside locker 😊. I had my house renovated over a couple of months (I moved out) and just put all valuables in the only room that didn't need doing - the boxroom, and locked the door.

Thank you for this. I honestly don’t mean any harm - it’s just due diligence.

Oh please. I wouldn’t trust my own colleagues to roam free in my house totally unattended - let alone my husband’s colleague!

To build trust at work, the test is NOT letting them visit your house with no one present. Completely ridiculous to use that as a basis to build trust at work.