A survey that was recently conducted by the Chartered Institute of Building Identified here in the UK found that 92% of participants in the survey from the Construction Industry are affected regularly by theft with 21% admitting that it happens on a weekly basis on their sites.
Now whilst these figures refer to theft of machinery, tools, etc there is also a very real threat to your home once it becomes a building site.
I mean, if they are bothered about some tools then they won’t mind a sniff around your house as well.
I once had my house robbed. I have to say it’s an awful experience.
The scumbags got in through our back garden, managed to break in through our sliding back garden door.
It left my wife & I feeling violated and vulnerable.
We managed to shield most of it from our daughter but both my wife and I had trouble sleeping for quite a while afterwards and feeling very angry about the whole thing.
We had to go through the whole police report and insurance claim scenario and then we got about recovering from it.
It isn’t as easy as it seems and it was a few months before things went back to normal.
The worst part was thinking that it’d happen again and they’d come back.
We took a few security measures about the house such as better locks, a more robust rear door and a proper alarm system.
And thankfully they didn’t come back again anyway or at least I couldn’t tell it they did or not.
With all that said, I remember working on a nice project in Chelsea about 6 years ago or so.
The property was already a big house and the clients, a middle aged couple wanted to build a large double storey extension to extend the rear kitchen and get an extra room above it.
The idea was that they would be living there whilst the work was going on.
Everything was actually going well until the place got robbed one weekend when the clients were away and the building work access entrance was not properly secured by the builders.
The thieves got in and absolutely fleeced the place and then pretty much thrashed the house.
It was an awful mess and understandably the clients were very upset.
But to make matters worse the builders insurance only covered his equipment & accidents on the site. The builders insurance didn’t cover the client’s contents which were stolen.
And because the clients hadn’t informed their insurance company about the building work, their home insurance didn’t cover their contents either.
In short it put the client out of pocket by a considerable amount not to mention the hassle of replacing everything that was taken or thrashed.
This isn’t a unique situation either and your property will be more vulnerable to being robbed by thieves during the construction work as it can be easier to access a building via the building contractors temporary entrances/exits.
Plus if they do get in then you’ll have to prove that they did get access through the builders’ entrance which can be tricky.
How Responsibility Works During A Building Contract
Who is responsible for what during a building contract then?
Well, it has all to do with who has possession of the site.
What do I mean by this?
Well, when a building contractor has been hired to build anything under a contract, he takes possession of the site.
So if it was a greenfield site with a brand new house to be built on it, the contractor would take possession of the site for the duration of the building work.
This means he is responsible for everything that happens on the site including accidents, theft, etc and he requires the necessary insurance to do this.
This also applies to a house renovation project if you will not be occupying the house for the duration of the project. The builder would be responsible for everything that happens to that house during the construction work.
But it all gets a bit complicated if you are going to be living there whilst the building work is going on.
The builder will only take possession of the areas that he will be contracted to work on.
The rest of the property will remain in your possession and as a result remain your responsibility.
So if your house gets robbed during the construction work then that’s your responsibility unless you can prove that access was gotten through the contractors very own access routes
If not then you’ll have to carry the can for it.
And if you haven’t informed your insurance company well then they’ll shaft you too.
Double whammy.
But that’s not all.
Your home is also subject to the following risks besides theft:
- Greater risk of fire
- Vandalism
- Presence of dangerous construction materials
- Construction accidents that affect your property
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Greater Risk Of Fire
A home under construction is more susceptible to fire.
Keep a sufficient number of fire extinguishers available throughout your home and if you have a fire alarm already installed, do not have it disconnected.
Vandalism
A home under construction is an attractive target for theft or vandalism. Installing motion-activated lighting, perimeter fencing and securing the house each day can help minimize the chance of loss while vacant.
Presence of Dangerous Construction Materials
Ask your contractors to clean up every day. Construction materials can be dangerous, even combustible.
Make sure that debris is removed regularly to cut down on the likelihood of injury or fire.
Construction Accidents That Affect Your Property
You may be surprised at the type of accidents or damages that can happen during a renovation or construction project. Your builders insurance is there to protect you against these.
- Bulldozer hits your water line causing major water damage.
- Your roof is not properly covered and three inches of rain and high winds cause major wind and water damage.
- Rain water collects in the hole dug for your new foundation and seeps into your finished basement ruining your carpeting, furniture and new television/stereo system.
- Squirrels enter your home and chew on the legs of your antique dining room table and chairs.
- A roofer slips and falls off your roof injuring his back.
- Vandals enter your home and steal tools and materials and break windows. Even worse, one of them trips when leaving and breaks his/her leg.
- A fire starts when power tools are left outside in the rain.
Protecting Against Theft
Like most burglaries, job site theft typically is a crime of opportunity. Here are three strategies you can use to make your job site more secure and less attractive to thieves.
- Let there be light — and lots of it. Darkness is a thief’s best friend; a well-lit job site makes it much more difficult for a thief to arrive and leave unseen. The goal is to provide adequate and even lighting that eliminates shadows. Flood lights with motion detectors mounted on the eaves of the house, just like most homeowners have on the corners of their homes, are a great first line of defence
- Set a watch. Enlist the eyes and ears of your neighbours to keep an eye on your home when you can’t be there. Let them know you’re working on a remodelling project. Give them your phone number. Tell them if they see anything suspicious, like a van that rolls up while all the lights at your house are off, they should call you immediately. When the job is finished, give them a small token of appreciation.
- Secure Builder Entrance. Make sure your builder has a secure entrance/exit to your home whilst the work is going on. Ensure it is securely maintained.
Issues With Insurance
To keep your insurance valid during construction, you will need to inform your insurers of the construction work.
Also make sure beforehand you ask what insurance your builder carries and how that covers you for the items we spoke of in this article.
Most people never ask this stuff and then get bitten on the ass afterwards.
Don’t be one of them.
Imagine getting your home renovated with the peace of mind of having a back up plan to any of the things we spoke of earlier actually happening.
And it doesn’t take much to prepare for it and it’s much easier to deal with it when prepared than trying to deal with it only when it happens.
The big thing here is to make sure your builder carries adequate insurance and that they provide secure access to the building work.
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Joe Hall says
It’s really interesting to learn about how you can actually install a security system when you are building a new home. My partner and I are going to build our own house this summer so that we can get all the features we need. We have been looking for prebuilt houses that have everything we want, but we can’t find anything.