Workmen in your home - how do you handle if you are a woman alone?

[Anonymous]

I'm home with a workman who is installing some things in the bedrooms.

I feel a little weird to be standing over him watching - my husband does this well "so, tell me about that tool - is that a socket-wrench-hammer-thingy? Are those bracket-nails-thingies secure?" and he can observe the work being done and avoid leaving the worker alone in our house, but I feel weird to stand and watch and force small talk.

Also, wonder if anyone questions the safety of being a woman alone at home with workmen. I had 2 moments where I felt really nervous and nothing happened, but by the time I felt nervous, the man was in my home, doing the work; one of the times, I left the front door wide open and hung out in the foyer... Nothing happened either of those times...

[Anonymous]

Why do you need to chat with him while he does his work? If you have valuables in the room where he's working make sure you've moved those prior to him coming over. Then hang out in the living room or something while he does the work. I don't understand the problem. (Woman who has done plenty of renovations and sat in the house watching tv/doing her own work while the professionals do their thing).

[Anonymous]

All my valuables are put away prior to them coming. Then, I don't hover but I do pop in from time to time to see what's going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do you need to chat with him while he does his work? If you have valuables in the room where he's working make sure you've moved those prior to him coming over. Then hang out in the living room or something while he does the work. I don't understand the problem. (Woman who has done plenty of renovations and sat in the house watching tv/doing her own work while the professionals do their thing).

P.S. Every now and then you can pop your head in the room, ask how things are going, ask if they'd like a glass of water, etc. This isn't rocket science. You act like your contractors are predators or something.

[Anonymous]

I make sure there aren't any valuables and I take a chill pill. If you're using a reputable company it should be fine, just don't hire a rando off of craigslist.

[Anonymous]

We never hover - if we didn't trust them, we wouldn't hire them.

I have yet to feel unsafe with the contractors we've hired, but we always go with recommendations from people we trust.

[Anonymous]

Why are you standing over him? Just let him do his job.

This would be an instance in which it might be nice to have a gun. Just saying.

Also, most men aren't rapists or murderers.

[Anonymous]

I go with reliable companies. I show them where everything is, see if they have any questions, and then say "I'll be in the living room if you need anything" and stay out of their way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We never hover - if we didn't trust them, we wouldn't hire them.

I have yet to feel unsafe with the contractors we've hired, but we always go with recommendations from people we trust.

OP here: I appreciate the prior posters advice.

I'm chilling in the kitchen. Will continue chillaxin.

This is a company I found on the internet, so I have no personal reviews of them - that may be the source of my discomfort.

[Anonymous]

No offense, but perhaps you're overthinking this. If you don't have the vocabulary (or, more importantly, the interest) to talk with these workers about the work they're doing, don't! It's your house and you can do whatever you want. They're probably happier working in peace anyway.

As for your safety - I understand this concern. However, in general any person you have coming to your house is employed by a company and is well-vetted. There are always exceptions, but in general I would feel safe with workers - associated long term with an organization or with strong personal references - working in my house. This is how they make their living!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm home with a workman who is installing some things in the bedrooms.

I feel a little weird to be standing over him watching - my husband does this well "so, tell me about that tool - is that a socket-wrench-hammer-thingy? Are those bracket-nails-thingies secure?" and he can observe the work being done and avoid leaving the worker alone in our house, but I feel weird to stand and watch and force small talk.

Also, wonder if anyone questions the safety of being a woman alone at home with workmen. I had 2 moments where I felt really nervous and nothing happened, but by the time I felt nervous, the man was in my home, doing the work; one of the times, I left the front door wide open and hung out in the foyer... Nothing happened either of those times...

What made you nervous during those moments? What were you concerned about?

In answer to the question, I do not hover and ask questions about the work. I do check in to see if things are going alright and if they need anything from me. Then I stay out of the way. I've never been concerned about safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are you standing over him? Just let him do his job.

This would be an instance in which it might be nice to have a gun. Just saying.

Also, most men aren't rapists or murderers.

OP here - seriously? a gun? are you kidding? so you would suggest i walk around my house with a loaded gun while the man is in my house and prpare to shoot if i feel threatened? Sounds like a great way to hurt myself or kill someone innocent by accident.

[Anonymous]

I treat them like the professionals they are.

[Anonymous]

What's a rando?

I figure people can get the job done quicker if they are left alone. I'd personally be annoyed if someone was trying to chit chat if I had to concentrate. Just go to another room but be within earshot if he has to communicate something to you or wander by from time to time and see if he's making progress. If I thought he was about done, I'd try to be out in the open to hear the results and sign off on anything. If they are employed by a company, I kind of doubt they would do anything to you because you could report them. If it's a solo handyman or something, that's a different story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm home with a workman who is installing some things in the bedrooms.

I feel a little weird to be standing over him watching - my husband does this well "so, tell me about that tool - is that a socket-wrench-hammer-thingy? Are those bracket-nails-thingies secure?" and he can observe the work being done and avoid leaving the worker alone in our house, but I feel weird to stand and watch and force small talk.

Also, wonder if anyone questions the safety of being a woman alone at home with workmen. I had 2 moments where I felt really nervous and nothing happened, but by the time I felt nervous, the man was in my home, doing the work; one of the times, I left the front door wide open and hung out in the foyer... Nothing happened either of those times...

good lord, your husband must drive these guys crazy!!