Leaving a decorator in the house

[QueenoftheNights]

Might seem an odd question but we have always DIY our decorating and work in the house except for having kitchens and bathrooms fitted.

We are now looking at some painting which may take more than a week. I cannot stay in the house for all that time as I work partly from home, but also outside the home. I will have social stuff going on too.

Do you just trust them and leave them in the house? (We are prob going to get a one-woman decorator to do it.)

Yes.
You get recommendations from people if you can, but, let's face it most tradespeople are just honest folk going out to work every day. They would no more do something odd or illegal than you would.

Yes. We got recommendations for a decorator and then went on holiday and left him with a key. He was doing hall landing and stairs, we would have been massively under his feet with the kids in the house. We advanced him money for materials and paid the balance when we got home.

Recently had new windows and redecorated and left workmen the key. Felt like we would be in their hair and let's be honest if anything went missing it wouldn't be hard to find the culprit.

YEs we just did this. Gave them a key as we left for work before they arrived.

Most tradespeople are decent and honest. But lock away money and valuables. Maybe even lock rooms they won't be going into.

This is not only to protect yourself, but also to protect the workers from accusations if anything gets lost or goes missing.

I've only ever known one person who boasted about going through drawers and dancing around with ladies' underwear on his head. Perhaps there are more.