Who besides me HATES having workers in your house?

Gogar · 04-30-2008, 11:12 AM

Is it just me?

I'm getting my 80-year-old windows replaced today. There's a nice crew of 5 or 6, including some English-speakers, doing a fine job.

What's the problem? I have this intense, perhaps-unreasonable fear that they're going to see my $100k+ of recording gear, guitars, microphones, etc. and write down my address for a return trip when I'm not home.

Quell my fears, friends.

OR, tell me a horror story.

And, can anyone in my area recommend a good Alarm Co.? I'm ready.

TERROR. TERROR.

legion · 04-30-2008, 11:21 AM

There is a reason why I have shotguns hanging on my wall and make sure to tell them that I sent the St. Bernard to the in-laws while they were there...

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

Well, looks like Banda "Los Putos Del Norte" are going to be wailin' with some new gear

Seriously though, I don't think you'll have any problems. I used to do some residential remodel when I did construction and that is still something I dislike to this day (being a landlord and doing my own repairs), working in someone elses "living space". I just want to get it done and get the hell out of there. The company should be bonded anyway.

Rikao4 · 04-30-2008, 11:34 AM

Like Legion said,
or
moan about you Vet. bill for you killer beagle,

Rika

Tim Hancock · 04-30-2008, 11:37 AM

I worry every time a stranger shows up with one of the kid's friends or when I rarely sell something and the person buying gets a good look at my shop.

KFC911 · 04-30-2008, 11:38 AM

Bush hates guitars

KFC911 · 04-30-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

I worry every time a stranger shows up with one of the kid's friends or when I rarely sell something and the person buying gets a good look at my shop.

You just need a pic of the missus from a while back (w/ her new revolver) and a sticker: "Protected by Ms. Hancock"

legion · 04-30-2008, 11:44 AM

I have a small sticker on my back door that reads:

"If you are found here tonight, you WILL be found here tomorrow."

Jims5543 · 04-30-2008, 11:45 AM

As some of you know I am a Land Surveyor. I go to houses, most of the time with no warning to the home owner. I have asked repeatedly for the owners contact info so we can call ahead but this rarely happens.

I cannot count how many times I am at a home, no one is home and a back sliding door is open, not unlocked, I would never check for that, I mean OPEN, back doors on porches open. Its amazing.

One time we were surveying a house and there was a cigar box on the table on the back porch, the guy that was working with me looked in it when I was not looking and announced it was full of weed and he wanted to steel it. I first yelled at him for snooping and to never do it again then yelled at him for thinking about steeling. He laughed at me asking me how they were going to report it. He did not last another week with me.

The thought has NEVER crossed my mind to come back and rob someones house, and I would like to think the crew of guys I have here think the same way.

Jeremy, if you were robbed you know exactly where to look first. I do not think a company would risk its reputation employing thieves. But what do I know I am honest to a fault.

KFC911 · 04-30-2008, 11:49 AM

Jim, I think you are like a HUGE percentage of the population, but all it takes is a few (like the one you let go). I'm overly paranoid about stuff like this too...I'm hiding my cigar box from now on

masraum · 04-30-2008, 12:03 PM

I'm always a bit leery letting strangers in to walk around the house.

cashflyer · 04-30-2008, 12:23 PM

Years ago, we had a new heating system installed. The duct workers damaged many items, some deliberately, and we found evidence that they had rummaged through some of our belongings.

Up until that point, I thought professionals were... professional. Since then, I have never trusted any worker to be out of my sight while at my home.

EdT82SC · 04-30-2008, 12:30 PM

When I did a remodel a few years ago. We packed up everything in the affected rooms, and stored them in parts of the house that weren't being worked on. We were out of the house for a few months, but I stopped by at least once every day. At some point someone went through some of the boxes, and took a few things. My wife had surgery a year before the remodel, and they gave her a ton of vicodin, 120 pills, for the pain. She used less then 10 of them because she didn't like taking them, but one of the construction workers took them. They also took a few music CDs. They didn't touch my Fender strat and amp, the wife's jewelry, or any of the other valuables they might have found if they dug a bit deeper. We didn't lose much, but the fact we lost anything at all still bothers us.

Gogar · 04-30-2008, 12:33 PM

Well, the window manufacturer is a pretty good company, It's just when they sub out jobs (which they do almost all the time) I get a little leery, because I wonder how well the Install Manager at the company knows his subs.

I'll tell you this much, the kid who's my go to guy (the one who speaks Ingles the best) is HIGH AS HELL. He went and put some sunglasses on after I asked him if he wanted some Visine.

I'm not afraid of getting robbed or anything, but it's something that kind of jumps into your mind every once in a while.

vash · vash's Garage

yea, sometimes you dont have a choice. i had to work, my plumbing had to go. i gave my plumber my house key. i made a pot of coffee, and left. this went on for 4 days. so far, i havent found anything missing. i wont do it for everyone, but i checked this guy's references, and i just got a good vibe.

oh, i did take all my "very" valuables, and ditched them at my MIL's house. no sense being completely foolhardy.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

don't have 100K worth of stealables, just don't like folks in my house coz i'm antisocial

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

I don't think I would ever let anyone in my home unattended.

The guy who had the vicodin and the music CD's stolen, they took things they did not think you would notice missing right away

My wife had pain medication stolen out of a hotel room once, called the cops and security and they did absolutely nothing, did not even take a report. This was at LAX

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

plumber shows up monday am to try and fix the ceiling in my shower. I get to stay home and babysit. Can't have them stealing my vicodin

Rikao4 · 04-30-2008, 01:17 PM

go to guy is high already...Dude you gotta hide your stuff better..

JoshB · 04-30-2008, 01:24 PM

Find a used dog food and water bowl - larger the better. Also buy a beat up dog chain with a big collar and a large beat-up dog house. Place conspicously in the back yard. Scatter some large dog chew toys in the house - hopefully you can find some large mauled bones. I think you can buy door bells that when you push them they bark