Experience Files

Once authorizations are signed, the responsibility for residential project-site security shifts squarely to you, the contractor. It's not enough to simply say, "But I always lock the door before I leave." True security goes far beyond that.

Establishing a Robust Daily Security Protocol

Did you close all the windows you opened? Did you close and lock the back door after stepping outside for a quick phone call? These seemingly small oversights can create massive vulnerabilities. You need to implement a clear, daily process that you and your crews consistently follow to ensure the project is secure. This is as simple as requiring a crew leader to walk the entire property before leaving, checking all doors and windows, and most importantly, DOCUMENTING this check.

Safeguarding Client Keys

What about the client's key handed over on day one? Are you taking it with you, or worse, stashing it under a planter on the front porch? Stop doing that immediately. Invest in a lockbox. Losing a client's key will, at a minimum, cost you the expense of re-keying all affected doors, which can be considerable if multiple locks share the same key.

Lockboxes are typically inexpensive, often less than $30, and provide controlled access to the client's home. Critically, do not use a single code for all lockboxes within your company. Instead, use a permanent paint pen or engraver to put a unique two-digit ID number on the back of each lockbox. Maintain a secure list, preferably with management, linking these lockbox IDs to their corresponding four-digit codes. This system controls access for both your employees and subcontractors.

However, simply buying and hanging a lockbox isn't enough. You and your crews must return the key to the lockbox immediately after unlocking the door and then SPIN THE NUMBERS. I've personally encountered clever individuals (potential criminals) who showed up on a project, even had conversations with me, my crews, sub contractors, and the client, then left. Moments later, we realized no one knew who they were. (Yes, the lockbox code was changed.) Encourage your employees to question the presence of strangers on a project. Empower them to take photos of unfamiliar individuals and their vehicles/license plates if they feel something is amiss. I've also arrived on unoccupied projects to find lockboxes left with the numbers still set to the code – a level of negligence that should have zero tolerance.

Mitigating External Risks

Finally, be aware that a residence displaying a restoration company's sign in the yard can act as a magnet for criminal activity. Do yourself and your client a favor: pull the sign at the end of the day and put it back in the yard when you or your crews return in the morning.

The last thing you want is for criminals to steal your client's belongings or cause additional damage, leaving you on the hook for failing to provide reasonable security. Proactive security measures protect your client's property, your reputation, and your bottom line.