The honest answer
Not most of the time. For exterior work you rarely need to be home at all, as long as the crew has yard and hose access. For interior work, it helps to be there at the start on day one to walk the space and confirm colors, and again at the final walkthrough — but the hours in between are yours to spend however you like.
The short answer
You don't need to be present for most of the work. A quick start-of-project walkthrough and a final walkthrough are the two moments where being there genuinely helps.
Many homeowners set up access — a key, a code, or a specific unlocked entry — and go about their week.
Why this matters
- Worrying about taking time off work is one of the first things that makes homeowners hesitate to schedule.
- How access is handled sets the tone for trust: you should always know who's in your home and when.
What surprises most homeowners
- Exterior projects often progress without the homeowner there at all — you come home to visible progress.
- The start-of-day-one conversation matters more than being present the rest of the time.
What to expect from a professional
- A clear plan for access — key, lockbox, code, or scheduled arrival — agreed before day one.
- A named point of contact so you always know who to reach and who's on site.
- Respect for your home whether you're there or not: doors secured, tidy work, nothing disturbed.
SnowPeak's approach
- We agree on access and a daily rhythm up front, and you work directly with the owner, not a rotating crew.
- We do a walkthrough at the start and end, and we're reachable during the day if anything comes up.
Common misconceptions
I have to take the whole week off work.
Most homeowners are away for the bulk of the project and only present for the short start and finish walkthroughs.
If I'm not home, the work won't be done right.
A good crew works to the same standard whether you're watching or not — the written scope and final walkthrough are what protect the result.