Be Prepared

Household assistance can serve as an anchor of rescue for many of us, especially those who work full-time jobs or spend a lot of time away from home. However, the type of assistance needed varies significantly from person to person. For some of us, home assistance is a necessary regular need, while for others, it’s occasional and mainly required during holidays and events.

The required tasks also vary greatly from person to person. Some of us are content with surface cleaning, while others expect thorough cleaning that includes moving furniture, cleaning cabinets, windows, balconies, and more. Additionally, there are additional services that not everyone needs but are essential for some, such as laundry, ironing, shopping, and cooking.

Who Comes to the House?

On one hand, it’s essential to recognize that each of us has personal requirements, needs, and habits regarding household management. However, it’s crucial to invest in finding and hiring a worker who precisely suits our expectations. So, before we start searching, let’s begin with the basics: What is essential to us, and how can we find someone who fits us perfectly? Many people turn to familiar paths - recommendations from friends, neighbors, and family. While this approach provides reliability, which is essential, it might miss the personalized fit - our needs may differ from those of our acquaintances. Therefore, it’s essential to first understand and define precisely what we are looking for.

First and foremost, we all seek a reliable, responsible worker whom we trust and feel confident entrusting our belongings and privacy to. Reliability and good communication are significant, especially due to daily interactions with the home and its occupants, which sometimes involve intimate and sensitive situations. Often, it also involves handling valuable items like jewelry and money. Once we’ve defined the basic and initial requirements for a worker entering our private fortress, it’s essential to precisely define the specific needs that characterize our household - relative to them, determine the scope of work and the budget.

Who Is the Homeowner?

Another important consideration when hiring household assistance is who the service is for. Some of us seek help for elderly parents, while others experience the opposite situation - parents who have experience hiring workers and managing household help for their younger children. In such cases, it’s crucial not to overlook the gap between the requirements of the “point of contact” (the parents) and the homeowner’s needs. Sometimes these needs differ without our awareness. It’s advisable to discuss this matter in advance to be well-prepared for the task.

Defining Requirements

A central variable in the scope of work is the size of the home. Is it a small apartment or a multi-story private house? Does the home include a roof, a pool, or a garden? Larger homes typically require more extended work hours. The type of cleaning needed also defines the required work hours - tasks like vacuuming carpets, washing dishes, doing laundry, and ironing should be taken into account. On the other hand, there are rooms or furniture items that don’t require regular cleaning, and we need to determine how often they should be cleaned. Additionally, it’s essential to define any additional responsibilities required from the worker during their time in the home. For example, if there are delicate pieces of furniture, explicit instructions regarding their care should be given. If there are pets, it’s essential to know in advance that the worker can handle them and provide guidance on their care. Sometimes we establish a good enough relationship with the worker, allowing us to trust them even with sensitive matters, such as opening the door for arriving children or accepting deliveries.

Privacy

We must also consider our privacy. Many people are uncomfortable when they feel their privacy is being invaded. It’s essential to pay attention to this issue to avoid conflicts. If there are items we don’t want them to touch, we should explicitly communicate that. Locking drawers or cabinets containing sensitive documents or valuable items is advisable. For parents with children, especially teenagers, preparation is essential to avoid the familiar scenario: chaos is the “perfect order” for a child who remembers where everything is, and when we tidy up, suddenly everything seems lost. Another way to address privacy is through a confidentiality agreement, which is now common in the field of household assistants and provides a sense of security, especially for professionals in specific areas and individuals known to the public

Setting Expectations in Advance and Coordinating

When seeking a reliable worker we know and trust, without wasting time on unsuccessful attempts, it’s advisable to conduct thorough expectation-setting that leaves both sides satisfied. Clarify relevant details about the worker, and on the other hand, ensure that the job requirements are clear and understood without surprises.

Experience, Previous Workplaces, Availability, and Flexibility: Clarify the worker’s experience, where they’ve worked previously, availability for work, and flexibility as needed. Discuss available days and hours, taking into account future changes in schedules or availability during holidays and one-time events (especially if the worker is employed at multiple places simultaneously). In the next stage, align expectations regarding salary, employment conditions (including time off), and social benefits as required by law.
Initial Introduction Meeting: Once we’ve agreed on the basic terms of employment, arrange an introductory meeting. In this meeting, define precise expectations regarding the scope and quality of cleaning, the location of items, what not to touch, and what should remain in place. It’s recommended to go through the house together and explicitly explain how and what to clean (e.g., special cleaning materials for parquet floors, external window cleaning, stove cleaning, staircases, etc.). Divide the requirements into regular cleaning tasks and occasional ones, such as cleaning the refrigerator or the attic. To prevent misunderstandings, ensure that the location of every item in the house is clear. You can even ask the worker to prepare a list of necessary cleaning supplies, ensuring they are purchased in advance.

Trial Period

Before officially starting the employment, consider a trial period of approximately one month to evaluate mutual satisfaction. And always remember… create a positive atmosphere, be humane, employ ethically without infringing on rights, and pay according to the law