By Imogen Crispe
An Auckland company has devised a novel solution for homeowners uneasy with tradespeople working alone in their houses.
TradeSitters offers full-time minders – or babysitters – to keep an eye on workers, ensuring they stay on the job and act appropriately.
Shelley Thompson says she started TradeSitters after seeing a spate of inappropriate tradespeople caught on hidden camera shows.
“[It’s] because of all the TV shows that have been around – Target, Fair Go, My House My Castle,” she says. “[People] are really anxious about having tradespeople in their homes.”
In May this year Target aired an episode where a carpet cleaner was caught on camera watching pornography on the homeowner’s computer and engaging in an indecent act.
Ms Thompson, who also runs an insulation installation company, says it’s commonplace for people to be at work while tradespeople work on their homes, and family members or neighbours aren’t always available to check-in on the property.
She says TradeSitters for $45 per hour follow a strict schedule, arriving at the home before the tradesperson to shut all doors in the house except the room being worked on. Once the tradesperson arrives, the sitter asks them to sign a code of conduct, and then monitors their work throughout the job. At the end, the sitter completes an evaluation report, before locking up the house and leaving.
“It’s giving people back a sense of control in their home when they’re not there,” Ms Thompson says.
Target producer Simon Roy says he supports the sitter-concept but worries it presents yet another risk to the house.
“I think it would give homeowners peace of mind,” he says.
“[But] how do you know the person that’s watching isn’t going to do something?”
Ms Thompson says all sitters are given police and reference checks and potential clients have the option to meet their sitter beforehand.
But reaction from within the industry appears mixed. Master Plumbers spokesman Rod Miller says the service is unnecessary, and will just add extra costs for customers.
He says exposé-type shows like Target and Fair Go are just “scaremongering” and in reality, problems with tradespeople are “few and far between”.
Mr Miller says nationally, Master Plumbers only receives two complaints per month and these relate to workmanship rather than behaviour.
But owner of Auckland’s BT Plumbing Bruce Trenwith says he supports the idea, as it gives both workers and homeowners peace of mind.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea,” he says.
Mr Trenwith says BT Plumbing has a company policy of only working on properties when someone is home. But if no-one can supervise, the company sends two workmen.
He says it gives his workers added safety in case of an accident and provides insurances against false accusations from homeowners.
“In the past there’s been the added pressure that you get accused of something,” Mr Trenwith says. “It’s their word against the customer’s word.”
3 News
source: newshub archive
