Feeling uneasy with tradespeople in the house.

I don't like them in the house but needs must. Most are professional and respect the fact that it is my home. I have a had some 'mansplaining' which I found annoying. Not sure if it's because I'm a woman? or old?

I don’t feel uneasy about them; quite like having a cup of tea with them.My only problem is feeling embarrassed to use the loo when there are people around and, of course the more I try not to want to go the more I need to!

We’re having work done at the moment, plumber, plasterer, tiler next week, I’ve organised it all, I’m not hovering over them, I trust them to do their jobs.
I’ve had no problem with anything thus far.

I’m easy with them, although I’ve known and employed most of them for years.
The oven cleaner was a recommendation from DD1, so I gave him a cup of tea and left him to it, as it was going to be a full day’s job.
My neighbour is very distrustful of having anyone in her house, recommended or otherwise. I can’t really understand it if there’s a job that needs doing.

I dont like the mess and noise often associated with having work done but if something needs doing then having someone in will make it better therefor I dont have a problem with having someone in. I leave them alone and go out if it is a big job and they dont mind.

I dont know how they treat others so do not know if they are treating a solo woman differently.

I don't feel uneasy but invaded! It interrupts my routine but needs must as AGAA4 says.

I try to have the same people until they retire. My electrician is here so often, he has a key! He does other work as well so is a general handyman.

I have had a roofer 4 times in the last couple of weeks. I hope he's at last found the cause so now it will be the insurance inspector followed by plasterers and a painter as a lump of the ceiling has fallen in.

Doesn’t bother me in the least. I offer them tea, tell them to help themselves if they want more, show them where the loo is, and to shout/phone if they need me for anything, and get on with my day. If it’s a big and/or messy job, I either go out a lot, or go on holiday.

if they're going to be a while, I show them where the kettle and teabags are and let them get on with it .

All the decent tradesmen are just so busy round me that I feel such triumph at having secured them to come and do the job that no, I don’t feel invaded or care if I have to make them a drink and feed them biscuits every half hour.

I'm fine with it, it's great to have things fixed by someone who knows what they are doing. I have my go-to village decorator in right now, currently having whole house done to treat myself after the ending of a longterm relationship. I just let him get on with things, and provide tea and biscuits at intervals. Sometimes I go out, he has a key. It helps that I have known him for years, I think he has done work for half the village

We have known them for years and leave them to it. They know where the boys’ toilet is and the kettle etc.
If it’s going be an along job I always go out.

We completely refurbished our house when we bought it and had men in every working day for 8 months so got used to it.

* a long job

I am at home when tradespeople come to do jobs and so far I have never had a problem, they are all very friendly, I always offer them a drink and a biscuit and they always accept. This week we have had the gas network in our street, digging holes everywhere replacing gas pipes in all the houses drives and taking up paving stones and digging a hole in the garage floor. I have made them tea, coffee and given them biscuits and bottled water and they have done a fantastic job. During the gales my 6 x 6 ft fence blew down so I had to order another one and when it was delivered the gas workers fitted it for me because I had looked after them giving them drinks. They told me that no other house had done this for them and they apreciated it. I told them that my late husband used to be on the tools, an electrician, until he became management and he always told me how grateful he was when someone offered him a drink, especially on cold or hot days so I carry on the tradition.

TBH it’s never occurred to me to be uneasy about it. Just the other day (when dh was away) I had someone in to service the boiler. Perfectly nice chap.

And I have no problem with letting them use the loo. I’ve been appalled to read of people on MN who won’t allow them because of ‘dirty, alien germs’ or whatever their paranoid reason is. To me that is positively inhumane.

We are first week into a very big job which will take months, have no choice other than to get on with day to day life

I can honestly say it has never bothered me. We have had long term workmen when our extension was built and short term repair men and service men.

I just lead them to where they will be working. Offer them tea or coffee and show them where the loo is, then leave them to get on with it, while I get on with my day.

This possibly explains why I have never had a problem with workmen in the house and/or garden.

I find people getting in a state about them using the loo really peculiar and rather weird.

Using the loo by anyone, including myself, never crosses my mind with workmen in the house, how odd.

Jaxjacky

Using the loo by anyone, including myself, never crosses my mind with workmen in the house, how odd.

You obviously don’t suffer from IBS then .

If you regularly look at Mumsnet you’ll know that they don’t even like answering their front door, much less actually have people in the house. I’ve never seen so many neuroses in one place. 🙄

If I don't feel comfortable when they come to give me a quote I don't engage them. I quite like having them around- they just want to do their job and sometimes it's nice to have a chat.

Are there lots of people on here and on Mumsnet too?

Heaven's above!

I'm not fond of anyone invading our home. If musts, I ask my husband to come inside whilst I go out to his sheds. We typically diy.

However, anything that must be repaired (apart from the kitchen) is in the trades entrance, with a loo - secure door to the house going inside.

I can't think of the last time we had workers in, apart from beloved cleaners. The kitchen appliances were fitted in 2003, soon needed, I suppose.

I do understand not liking invasions by others.

Why do you call it invading Norah, I don’t understand that? Surely you invite them to come to your house to do whatever work you have commissioned, they aren’t the enemy?

I am just now relaxing after having had my en-suite completely renewed over the past week.
I detest having workpeople in my flat, but do love what they do and have left and I have cleared properly.
The fitter for this as arriving well before 8.00 am each day, first day I was up and dressed for his arrival at 7.15 am. but after that I was up and bed made (as obviously they were in my bedroom),but I did not get washed and dressed until later.

\i am fortunate that I have a separate bathroom in my flat, which myself and the fitters used during the week when there was nothing in the en-suite as they removed, tiled, painted, changed around leccie and plumbing, etc. etc.

As they arrive each morning I present them with a mug of tea and biccies, Leave everything out in kitchen for them to make themselves more mugs of tea.

It is the upheaval and the mess that gets to me. No matter how clean they work, dust from taking down tiles etc, gets everywhere onto every surface. I feel embarrassed that my neighbours are disturbed, although I always warn them.

My home is my 'safe and quiet place. So find the upheaval hard to cope with. Each time I have such work I tell my children that when I start thinking about something else they are to STOP ME. However, I do love it when it is completed and I can admire what they have done.

Been in this flat now for four and a half years and have had completely re-done, bathroom, kitchen, en-suite, flooring throughout -living room and hallway (that was hard was camping out for a week in my bedroom),

I would love to have the walls in my living/dining room painted, but the idea of having to empty all my high nits so they can be pulled clear of the walls. etc. is more than I think I can cope with.

It as been suggested that I should go away whilst such work takes place, do not think this is a good idea. After all most workpeople are gone by late afternoon, so have my peace and quiet in the evening and sleep in my own bed. And, usually, no matter how well arranged and prepared, questions arise as the work takes place.
Was easier yonks ago, when I would let them in early in the morning, make a mug of tea and then go off to work, arriving back in afternoon usually after they had left for the day.

Regarding other people using the loo, I do not mind that at all, but as I live here by myself do not have internal locks on ANY door including bathroom.

My decorator is in my house this week doing the kitchen and I am away on holiday! The reason I am comfortable with this is that he is my son’s friend. I am equally happy with him continuing next week when I am back. He just gets on with the job.