Would you do this?

[humbug]

My job takes me away from home way too much. Also with my mother being sick I have to spend a lot of time going up where I was raised. I am getting way behind on repair work here on my little homestead. It is really hard to find a handyman in these parts and if you do find one who isn't booked up for two months in advance then it will cost you an arm and a leg to get him out here. One of my friends suggested running an ad in our local paper and exchanging rent on my spare room for handyman services. She thought maybe I could find a retired person who was having trouble making it on social security or something along that line. Rents are really high where I live..so it could possible work. My fear would be that I would get someone who was just a moocher and not someone who would provide an even exchange. Would you do this and if you did how would you go about it?

[otterbob]

You can not advertise for a retired person, but you can “consider” ALL applicants and run background checks and require a standard rental application.

I personally would not do it unless I knew that person very well.

You should also consider that if you get someone that does not pay rent you still have to treat them as if they do. This means that if you want them out and they do not get out you will have to evict them legally !

Otter Bob

[fnfredux]

I personally would NEVER attempt thios arrangement.
The liabilities run the gamut from personal danger to theft of all of your possessions to tax problems (believe it your not, you'd probably have tax liabilities). Better to get someone to come in and clean and do your laundry so you can do those maintainance chores yourself in the time you save.
You can never know a person well enough to trust them completely, just look at the divorce statistics.

[madmac]

Good sound advice Bob. I know I wouldn't do it. I can't think of anyone other than a family member I would trust my home to or my personal stuff to. Getting someone out could turn into a nightmare.

[flatwater]

You would be far better off paying an arm and a leg , in the long run it will be cheaper.
Flatwater

[silvergramma]

acutally i prayed for a helper... i thought one came along and for a while it was a young girl who needed my help rather than me needing her..as it happens she got out on her own and went her way we still talk and i see her occasionally and i still have some of her stuff at my place never had to worry bout drugs or stealing..
i kept praying for help and it happened... now my "helper" is basically a new friend,, that her weaknesses are my strenghts and vice versa..and talents and skills and knowledge are evenly exchanged... there are rough bumps in the road and there have been many times i wish i could turn away from the stress of the arrangement,, she has her place and i have mine
but i figure if the good lord arranged this then he knows what he is doing..
you cant expect people to act like you do cause they arent you..
do what you can.... read a book and learn to do the rest.. if you cant do it ask for a helper.. its actually a lot of fun,,, the helpers i had putting the fence up for the horses yah we wanted to kill each other at times,, but i honestly had fun working with them.. you dont forget those times.. they are few and far between

[Suzy]

I wouldn't do it....enough said....I've known too many cases personally and read about too many cases in publications like COUNTRYSIDE and the old TMEN where such "helpers" helped themselves to much of the homestead......

[Native87]

I cant even trust most of my kin let alone a stranger. it is awful how ppl do and act these days. Pay your help. After my father died in Dec. the crap i have seen ppl try to pull, no way. I hope you get the help you need.

[crafty2002]

As bad as I hate to say it, I have to agree with the biggest part of what has been said.
But at the same time, a police check, and several references, "who can also give references" can clean out the dirty laundry.
I have a buddy that is living in a warehouse in the office part for free and getting paid for doing their handy work.
I have let him stay here for weeks at a time before. He's a good worker and can do about anything that needs to be done, but he does still come to me with questions sometimes. He works for the people at Skate Town, Western Sizzlers, and a store they have that only sells lights. If not for the rooming he couldn't make ends meet. He contracted a few jobs and didn't file taxes trying to pay child support (which was outragious, $175 a week just because he hit a couple of luckey streaks before going to court) and keep somewhere to stay, and this job with the room just fits he great. Except it still doesn't get paid enough, which we are all probably like that.
But if you weed through them really good, You should be able to find someone but sleep with an eye half way open and a gun in your hand the first few weeks.
What type of jobs are you talking about anyway.
Actually, come to think of it, I might be interested myself. Where do you live??
I have a huge monster of a tree to cut down and we were supposed to start at 7 am this morning but the bucket lift I was going to rent won't be back until about noon. *:'(
I had 3 people ready to go on this little, (BIG BAD MONSTER, LOL) job and no lift.
But there are people that needs the work and you can trust.
One of the men that was here first thing thing this morning, I don't let out of my site when he is here or helps me on a job, but the other two, I can trust them with my life.
Do a really careful back ground cheak and keep your eyes open for a while. Keep a pistol in your pocket too, *;D
JMHO
Dennis

[huckelberry]

well i left a feller i thought i could trust,in charge of my place one time,i was gone 9 months,thangs wasnt right when i got back,my old school bus was broke into,an my tools an some other stuff was gone,an my old dog was dead...an all the liquer was drunk up,the chickens was gone,an everything on yhe place that run on gas was empty,an they wasnt a single bullet left anywhere on the place,an my old horse was lookin like he aint had a bite in months,an when i finally come back from iraq.....i found out my old lady had run off with the feller i had left ta watch the place,an the weeds had grown up all over everything,an this is all pure bullshit but it could happen like that...huck

[sulix]

+Good Question? In the area i live.We have we appreciate family values. You treat someone like you would like to be appreciated.
I would love to have someone to help with some housework. BUT a good question always arises. Would that someone Rip you off>?? I believe there is always someone close bye you who you would find and do the work without any problems.
Keep searching but be careful.

[MrGreenJeans]

I,am not the sharpest tool in the shed. But NOOOOO! i,ve see this kinda thang go real bad. Not worth the risk. Just my 2 c,s worth. I take care of my dad so i know how hard it can get. If you do it cover your but 50 way,s. I guess ya gota compare the good out of it with the stress it could lay on ya. Trust has to be earned not traded out. At least in my neck of the wood,s. Apology,s if i stuck my nose in the wrong door.