Daft question - Do you give your builder a key?

[DrSpechemin]

Bathroom refit is starting in a few weeks. Should take a fortnight.
I work from home but spend lots of time out in the field so my hours aren't regular - dh is on shifts so again - not very regular.

What do you do if you're not going to be around to let your builder/fitter in? Give them a key???

Silly question I know - but have never had people in to do long term work.

We've always given builders a key. I don't always feel that happy about it but there doesn't seem to be an alternative!

I'd set ground rules though, such as always ringing the bell first so that if you are in you have an opportunity to answer the door. They always seem to start early and once we had a builder who'd let himself in at 8am when I always seemed to be rushing about in a towel trying to find a clean pair of pants

We always do, and it's never caused trouble, but agree with Betty that you should tell them to ring the bell first if there's a chance you'll be in when they arrive. We've always been gone before they get here, so there's no other way of working it really.