Does Anyone Use A Lock Box???

JPV123

How does everyone handle subs going in & out when you can't be there? Do you hide a key or have a lock box? Anyone use an electronic one that records who was there and at what time? I know the realtors use them. The county inspectors are willing to enter if we give them a code. But then the electronic ones will not work out because they would need an electronic device on their key cahin to get in. What's nice about the electronic one is that you can set it to only operate during certain hours. The manual ones just have a 4-6 digit code that you give out. Just wondering your thuoghts.

jmic

Our company uses them on all our homes, all the subs know the code. The building officials will not go in unless there is a project manager or one of the subs on site.

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Joe

mdshunk

YES!

As a sub, I can tell you that having a lock box is the best case scenario. No more forgetting the keys at the shop. You can send whatever guy, since no particular guy will have the key in his truck. You can go at whatever hour or day suits you, since you don't have to meet anyone.

I really appreciate lock boxes.

JPV123

I'm guessing you use the manual ones and trust who you give the code to.

mdshunk

Well, for Pete's sake, you better trust your subs! It's not like your giving out the code to the local drug dealers and crack whores. Using an electronic lock box is not only expensive, it defeats the purpose. Every tradesman of every subcontractor would need the thingamajig to unlock it.

Yes, use the manual one. In fact, in my area, there's two or three codes that are used by almost everyone. You can just try one of those three codes, and chances are it'll be one of them. Either that, or it's the address of the house. Nothing fancy. Just keeping out kids.

JPV123

I pretty much fiqured the manual ones. I do trust my subs. I just wouldn't want someone showing up late at night or on a Sunday without me knowing because they needed a tool they left behind. I'll just have to set some rules when giving the code out.

mdshunk

If the unit is unoccupied, you shouldn't have any problem with when the tradesman comes and goes. That would be a strange request. One of the beauties of the lock box system is that you can come and go as it fits your schedule, and it promotes more timely completion of the work in total. On a Sunday? I don't work on Sundays, but I know that a lot of the flooring guys like to do certain things over the weekend because nobody else is there. These are odd limitations you're proposing.

Naturally, if the unit is occupied, that's a horse of another color.

I think you might be making a little bit too big of a deal over giving out this "super secret code", when it is something that is a farily normal and fundamental part of doing remodeling work all over.

JPV123

Sorry, I should have clarified myself. Unoccupied is a no brainer. I'm talking about a occupied house where both homeowners work. Leave real early and get back late. I can't be at every job site at the same time in the morning to let subs in. So a lock box would be nice. I also like the idea of a tradesman having some extra time one day and decides to shoot over to do some work. I just don't want them "showing up" "after hours" unexpected when the HO is home. I don't think this would be a common problem, I would just want everyone on my team to understand if it's after hours and they need to get in to call me so I can arrange it.

mdshunk

Yeah, occupied units are another story. Between 7 and 6 or thereabouts is most normal.

Don't forget to put the alarm code inside the lockbox too, if there is one. I've been caught that way, without the code before. I just go about my business and let the alarm go off, and let whoever show up that shows up. It's sort of a pain explaining to the police that you're really supposed to be there. The owners should put in a temporary code or codes for the time period of the construction.

JustaFramer

The combo can be changed if a trust issue a rise's.

JPV123

Ahh the alarm! Good Point! Reminds me of when I had my heating guys sweating pipes and set the fire alarm off. when the alarm company called he decided to answer the phone and explain what happened. Well, He is a loud guy to begin with and know he is even louder trying to talk over the alarm. The alrm person sent the Fire Dept AND police stating "there is an Irate man inside the house". I LMFAO when I showed up later that day and he told me the story.

JustaFramer

The alarm company should of been notified to put alarm on test during working hours.

mdshunk

With regard to the placement of the lockbox:

They are obviously designed to lock over the doorknob. Even the rubberized ones will leave a scuff mark on the door when installed for several months. Unless you're planning to repaint or refinish the door as part of the work, consider locking the box elsewhere. On porch railing, fence railing, etc. is another common place to lock the box so that the door won't get screwed up.

theworx

A little off topic, but did a job for a bank once where they had moved from one location to another. My job was to remove the millwork from where the bank machines were and frame, drywall, tape and paint in the vestibule. They had moved that same day and the vault door was left open (it was empty of course). I was assured that all the alarms had been taken care of.. After two hours of working there, all at once a loud alarm went off and there were red lights flashing all over the place. About one minute later three police cars showed up and they ran in (guns in hand) pointed at me (me with a mud pan and a taping knife in hand). I just about crapped my pants. Have never been on the business end of a gun in my life (not too mention a few guns). They said put your hands up (and not wanting to clean up the mess from dropping my pan) held up my pan in one hand and my taping knife in the other (I must have looked like an idiot). It took them a second to realize I was working there (and not robbing the place) and put there guns down. Ends up, the manager of the bank forgot to inform one of their alarm companies (the one that deals with the vault security) that they were moving that day. Well duh!!! Pretty funny and didn't soil my shorts (but came close)!!!

theworx

Our usual way of doing it is to have keys cut for each of the subs (and have them sign to the fact that they have a key). In the case of an alarm, we get the home owner (most often with our help) set up a code for our trades people. At the end of the job, if we don't get all the keys back, we just replace their lockset or deadbolt. But this has never happened. So far we've never had a problem!! No money out of our pocket (except for the key cutting, and that's minimal).

mdshunk

I must have ten pounds of keys to projects I've once worked on in the past. Some I know what they go to, many I don't. Making keys is silly when you can install one simple lock box.