Giving part time help a set of keys?

[beppi]

At least 99% of our fellow humans are honest and good willing. You'll fare better by ditching your worries and letting those friendly people rule your life rather than the small minority of bad eggs.
I've always given anybody a key who might need it (maids, contractors, visitors, neighbours, friends, etc.) and never had a problem. Trust begets trust. And I prefer work around my house be done when I'm away - less hazzle and more privacy!
But this seems to be at odds with the logic many people think in. Well, to each his own ...

[ScoobyDoes]

That's why I am in a dilemma. The comfort I can get is, there is a security guard at the place I am staying. So anyone who attempt to "clear" my apartment, I would like to believe that my security guard will do some questioning...

No he won't, he'll just assume you are moving..... like one apartment probably does each week anyway.

I hired my part-timer from an agent. I took care to make sure that agent was licensed and has worker's compensation and liability insurance in place etc. although we agreed some work was not possible.... like climbing the ledge to clean the outside of the windows

Only after a couple of months did i give her a key, once i was reasonably secure of her personality and work. But if there was a problem at least i knew i had legal recourse <cough> against the agent.

[Girl_Next_Door]

I must be quite lucky then, since my help can iron very well! Apparently, better than the dry cleaning!

The digital lock is a good idea but is it easily implemented? My door belong to the old door that work with just one key. Not sure there is a way to hook a digital key safe to it. Can I know where did you buy it?

http://www.insight-direct.co.uk/DotNetS ... rodID=5243

I cant believe you leave your door open how green is that? In doing so all your insurance will be voided, if something goes missing you have no idea who is to blame ( well apart from you for leaving the door open ) you could unfairly accuse the part timer when it was some kids next door or the security Guards. If nothing is missing you may start to wonder why your underwear draw is always open when you come back We all know the tooth brush and camera story!!

There is only one unit in each level, so there wont be any kids next door knocking on my door. In fact, its once in a blue blue moon that I even see any neighbours (if i have any!).

But thanks for the Digital Key Safe thingy! Now I know how it look! Will see if I can find it somewhere in Sg first.

[Dorothy Lo]

[QRM]

I have been using XXXXX SPECIALISTS for more than 3 years and would strongly recommend to those who really need a good, reliable and experienced part-time maids to free up your time and headaches/inconvenience.

The customer service is very prompt, excellent and professional to send mostly good helpers. I had recommended XXX to some of my friends, relatives, colleagues and even Bosses and most feedback were good, min no-show and replacement. NO REGRETS

You must visit their professional website www.XXXX :

This sums up the sort of scheming scums some of these agency employ, here you are conning people into believing you are a decent helpful sort, when in fact you are the contact person listed on the website. So not just dishonest but a bit dim as well.

[econoMIC]

Funny thing is that the avatar our scammer here used is very familiar. Thought I saw it around this forum before.

[sundaymorningstaple]

It's also ChixChix's 'tar as well as one of the regulars in the PS threads. It's one of our stock 'tars you can pick from the file.

[BooneC]

Do you have a kitchen entrance.
Give her the keys to that. Use a deadbolt on the inside when she is not supposed to enter.

Or add another lock or chain to you main door.
Give her the key to that and leave the main door unlocked when she needs to clean.

That way only she can enter, and only on days she needs to clean.

[JimH5]

We have a part time helper and she has keys to our place. She'll be leaving Singapore in January and we'll find another person, though the key thing won't be automatic. . .

[x9200]

For the time being, I will leave my door unlocked on the day she comes over to clean (when I am out at work) but I am thinking of giving her a set of the keys. I am just wondering how many of you are doing the same, and how many of you give your part time help a set of keys (so that they can come over to clean while you are at work)?

1. Change the lock or buy biometric/electronic one if you are afraid the key may be duplicated.
2. Buy a camera with motion detection option (cost below SGD300) and point it to the entrance door - I understand that you trust her to that extent that she is left home alone. This way you will know who and when enters your apartment.

[Girl_Next_Door]

In the end, I gave her a set of the keys because I was away for an entire week and can't really leave the door unlocked for a week. There is no kitchan entrance so I cant give her a key to the kitchan entrance only.

Luckily, everything stayed intact (and cleaned)!

I might get one of those camera with motion detection thingy. Does DIY shops sell them? Or any suggestions on where I can look around for such things.

[x9200]

I might get one of those camera with motion detection thingy. Does DIY shops sell them? Or any suggestions on where I can look around for such things.

Yes, they do - at least I recall seeing one some time ago in the DIY shop at Jelita. If not, local ebay sellers should have plenty of them. You have 2 basic types: stand-alone, battery driven where the images are recorded to the SD card (this type I have seen in the DIY), and wifi/network cameras that can upload images to an ftp server over Internet, like this one:
http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/WVC54GCA
2nd type has this advantage that even if someone damaged or removed the camera you should have the images up to the very moment. On the other hand if something is wrong with the camera it may be already good indication of some troubles going on around.

[Girl_Next_Door]

Thanks, will check that out!