How to find and keep a good housemaid

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Do you get that uneasy feeling of welcoming a complete stranger into your home? Would you feel comfortable at once with relying on someone you do not know to take care of your household, parents or children? 

Perhaps, you have had some good fortune finding a suitable house angel in the past to depend on – a good and reliable  housemaid which have a fairly good relationship with. If you are looking for a new prospect, you would certainly want to hire a good one again.

So how do you select a good maid? And, more importantly, how do you build a harmonious relationship with her?

Hire an expert and select

Employing the service of an accredited maid agency is one assurance that your housemaid prospects have been preselected for you. You can ask for an interview (telephone or webcam) to further narrow down your prospects. Based on your needs and requirements, and overall confidence, select your best match.

Respect begets respect

Everybody, house help included, deserve respect and should be treated well and in an appropriate manner. Remember their role is to help your household, not to be your slaves. When they are treated with dignity, chances are they will take pride in their work, perform with a bit more enthusiasm than the usual, and give you their best years of loyal service.

Communicate effectively, don’t assume

From the get-go, lay down your cards (rules and expectations). Being very clear and understanding of her background (e.g. culture, education), take time to talk and interact with her to get to know her better and make her feel comfortable in her “new home”. Keep the communication line open between the two of you, not only to talk about what needs to be done for the day, but also for her to clarify any of your instructions and even discuss any missteps or shortcomings she may have. 

Compliment and complement, don’t complicate

If your housemaid has been such an angel – completing all her chores, keeping everything spic and span, clean and spotless, etc. (In short, managing your household tasks well), don’t be stingy with your compliments. Or if she may suffer any gaps or holes in her area of responsibility, show some mercy by not nagging, as this will only weigh the situation down. Patiently explain away until the learning gap is filled.

Motivate, consider incentives

Expressing your appreciation, in words or in kind, can be motivating for your house help. Increasing her wage is a sure-fire great motivator as well as receiving simple rewards for a job well done, and gifts on occasions like her birthday, New Year’s, and Christmas.

Give time to work, and a day to rest

Just like you, your house help need some time to recharge their batteries after a day’s work. Just because they practically live with you, it doesn’t mean that they are at your beck and call 24/7.

A time/day off will guarantee them a much-needed physical and mental break from work and time apart from you to relax and unwind. Or if they choose to forgo their break, be sure to compensate them appropriately.

Employing house help can be tricky yet rewarding. Falling into that familiarity breeding contempt trap, one can easily take each other for granted (or worse, abused). But when we recognize their importance in our lives, especially when we are entrusting them with our possessions, cultivating a good relationship with your house help does matter. 

Find a good maid by selecting a reliable maid agency through Business Directory.