I ask the clients if they will need to leave while I am there and typically work around their schedule to be cleaning outside while they are gone. On a few occasions they have left me there alone to lock up. So far I have had no problems.
I guess if you are worried about it you could have a legal document drawn up releasing you from responsibility and explain it to the customer before you begin the job. Tell them you either need someone in the house while you are there or a signed waiver.
Tell them it’s company policy.
I generaly schedule the job for when someone can be home.
When I worked for a wc company we had an expensive figurine go missing it cost my boss alot of money to stay away from having to make a claim, he lost a customer and got some bad rep, it happen in a gated comunity that he is no longer able to business in.
I think that I can avoid problems by having someone there when we are performing the job. It minimizes the chance of being accused of any wrong doing.
I go outside untill they return. I take no chances ever!
Squeaky…there is not a legal document out there that will keep your reputation in tact.
The customer you have know for 5 years and are on a first name basis with can still accuse you of something missing. I had a customer for 2 years (quarterly) call me one time asking if I just happened to pick up her cats’ bowl and take it with me. It was gold. She ended up finding it later in the week, but she was home when I did the house. Imagine how that wouldve turned out if she wasnt home?
We all pride ourselves on being trustworthy, but the homeowner dont know that. We are not family to them, so why wouldnt they blame you for something misplaced? I read in American Window Cleaner a few months back, one guy got blamed for the customers’ kid losing his Game Boy, which was found in the customers’ spouse’ car later.
For me, it is just a bad idea. It is great that the homeowner trusts so much to let you lock up, but to me I would be concerned about the homeowner. Dont let strangers into your house lady…dont you watch americas most wanted?
