Home Services: Protect Your Family and Possessions
All of us lead busy lives—so busy that we find ourselves employing others to take care of commitments and household chores that we might otherwise do ourselves. Just a few examples of professional home services include lawn care, house cleaning, child care, dog walking, house and pet sitting, and home renovation. Many of us allow these employees, essentially strangers, free access to our homes via keys or entrance codes. This gives these service providers plenty of time to develop information about our families and our possessions while we are absent.
If a worker is sent to do a job by a company, you can only trust that the owners have done a credible background check. If you don’t personally know the owner, or even if you do, there is really no way to be sure that the person they’ve hired has been screened. A company may be working on a thin profit margin and their ability or willingness to take the time to do it properly may lead to no check at all.
The Davidson Police Department urges any resident who employs such services to do due diligence. While our recommendations are no guarantee against becoming a crime victim, doing nothing almost assures you will be victimized. It is better to be safe than sorry!
- Talk to friends and neighbors who have had the company/person do work for them. How long have they employed this person/service? Have they been satisfied with their work? Have there been any problems? If so, what were they?
- Talk to other contractors that have satisfactorily worked for you in the past, they may have some positive or negative insights.
- Check the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org), or other agencies that compile reviews of contractors. [e.g. www.angieslist.com.]
- If hiring by yourself, check to verify the company is licensed. The internet site, www.contractors-license.org or your local/state government may help provide that information.
- Do your own background check on the company and the workers that they send. With most background companies you only need to provide the person's state of residence and first and last name. Too often, we are reluctant to ask personal questions for fear of upsetting others. Don’t be. They are entering your home and have access to your family and your possessions. Ask for references and then be sure to contact them.
- Conducting a background record check is now pretty convenient. Internet background record sites search many sources, including criminal records. The information from these sites is a matter of public record, there is no violation of privacy concern. All background-checking sites offer different services, so review to determine which one fits your needs. However, keep in mind that there is no way to be sure information taken from the internet is true.
- Companies that provide handyman screening and referrals are alternatives to franchise companies or hiring and doing background checks yourself. The referral company screens their list of handymen for licensing and insurance and may be able to help with problems or disputes. (Each company differs in their services. Check with them individually). These companies are listed on the internet and in the phone book.
- Each Sheriff’s office website provides a Sexual Offender list. The names of workers can, and should be checked against these lists: http://charmeck.org/ mecklenburg/county/MCSO/Pages/default.aspx or www.co.iredell.nc.us/departments/sheriff/index.asp
- Secure your valuable items inside and outside your home and garage to prevent easy crimes of opportunity. This includes jewelry, firearms, money, personal papers, mail, checkbooks, and all other items that include your identity information.
- When workers are at your house, whether inside or outside, and there is not a responsible adult at home, make arrangements for young children to stay elsewhere. Teens should always be reminded NOT to allow strangers in the home. Use of a bathroom and/or phone should be discussed ahead of time with the service.
These are recommendations only, and are no guarantee to prevent you from being the victim of a crime. There is no way to absolutely verify the truth of the comments made on websites. Using a systems approach can give you a more complete picture of the people you let into your home.
Jeanne A. Miller, Chief of Police
Town of Davidson Police Department
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