when contractors are in your house

ali-1411 · January 2011

Today through Wednesday, we're going to have contractors fixing the ceiling in our living room and kitchen. Everything is going to be covered in plastic.

Do I need to be here the whole time? Can I leave for an hour or two to take Layna somewhere? I can't imagine how I'm going to keep her happy for three days in her room.

I think it would be fine to leave for a bit. DH thinks I should be here to guard our possessions. I'm not sure what we have that's worth stealing....and its not like we wouldn't know who took it!

What do you do when you have people working in your house?

agran · January 2011

for us it depends on the contractor-- some we've given a key, some we stay the whole time. If it's someone we've interviewed and chosen and they are bonded and insured then we're good to go. If not I might worry a little more. If we leave we do try to hide the little things that can easily be taken (jewelry, camera)

I think you are fine to leave a little bit though. FWIW I had time warner cable installed and was here the whole time just in the other room and the guy pocketed our digital camera. My bad for not putting it away... but seriously dude I was right here the whole time!!!

risa_4-11-09 · January 2011

I would hide any rx, jewelry, and other valuables. But I'd probably be okay to leave for awhile and not specify the time I'd be back. If they are going to be doing plaster or dusty work it should be hard to hid footprints in the rest of your home, right?

ssinca · January 2011

Ditto pp about not having anything in plain sight - the 2nd day we moved to tx we had 3 painters come over for estimates. One of them swiped MH's ipod. We think we know who, but since there was more than one stranger in the house we weren't positive. Again, our fault for leaving it out but still. Eta - and we were home! It's not like we left the house and he took it, so you can never be sure. We were running around unloading stuff and I didn't want to stick to him like glue.

emabend · January 2011

I agree with everyone else about not leaving anything valuable in sight. People will steal stuff even if you are there. Having said that, there is no way I would leave my house with a contractor there. Absolutely no way at all. But I'm not trusting at all.

jml5q · January 2011

we both work out of the home, so we are rarely there when people come to do things unless we need to let them in. we've had the kitchen done, carpets done and left the whole day. if we're able we may come home at lunch just to check on progress.

but i think you're fine not being there. i don't even like being there when our housekeepers come cause i feel like i'm in the way!

ali-1411 · January 2011

Great, now I'm paranoid about my stuff being stolen.

This sucks. Its going to be a long three days.

ditzydi_2000 · January 2011

We're pretty paranoid people so we hide everything and stick around until they're done. If we are unable to be at the house when the contractor is there, MIL comes over to oversee the contractors.

Want a personalized experience?

when contractors are in your house

Re: when contractors are in your house

Choose Another Board

Search Boards