Many maid questions

[intime0]

I have thoroughly searched the archives, and I came up more confused than when I started.

1.  What is the bottom line price for a maid?  Including the payment to the government, the maids salary, incidentals, health insurance, .  Every possible fee.

2.  Is there REALLY a $5000 bond?  Who can afford that?  Who is able to put that up and not receive it back until they are done with their maid?

3.  Are you always responsible for a trip to their homeland?

4.  Is it cheaper to go through an agency or do it yourself?  And do you have some suggestions or lists of agencies.  I only found one.

5.  Is a transfer maid the better way to go, in your opinion?

6.  A thread mentioned another thread where there was a list of questions to ask a potential hire.  I was not able to find the list. can someone direct me?

7. WHat happens if you hire a maid, pay all the fees, the doctor check up, etc, and she's not a good fit?

8.  I've never had a live in maid, so can you tell me what you can expect them to do?  Do you give them lists, require a set amount, etc.  What exactly do you do?

9.  If I dont need them for child care, but do have children, will that make it harder to find one?

Thank you for your time.  I really appreciate anyone taking the time to answer my questions and help me figure out if this is in our budget and a good fit for our family.  If there is anything else we should know, please share your advice.

[Another Odd Ball]

If you never had a maid, why do you need one now? A maid shouldn't be something you automatically get just because you now live in Asia.

Since you already seem to have fear and angst about the costs of a maid, let it be. If you lived without domestic help until now, I can assure you, you will survive...

[Some ans]

PP is right, you will survive without one but if you'd like the opportunity to hand over some of the jobs that you hate, why not?

1. Not really sure, think ours comes to about $1200pm but she moved with us from HK so is in a much higher salary than the SG average.

2. You can buy insurance to cover it, so don't actually hand over $5k as such.

3. I believe the requirement is once per contract.  We've offered ours 2 trips a year but she only wants to take one because it costs her so much when she gets there with people asking for money.

4.Cheaper to do it yourself.  There are some reputable agencies out there but usually the cheaper ones make their money from the girls rather than their employers.  Some are treated very badly.  The paperwork is very straightforward.  You have to use an agency to process exit visas within the 1st 2 years (to the Phils).

5. Mixed reports; some people give glowing references for crappy transfers out of guilt or desire to cut their own costs.  I always get verbal references too because people seem to find it more difficult to lie if you can hear their voices and ask many questions.

6.  No idea where that thread is.  Just ask lots of questions about the things that are important to you.  Do not ask yes/no type questions; let her talk.  If you ask what she can cook, probe a bit, don't just accept 'lasagna' as an answer, ask what ingredients she likes to use etc.  Just like you would at work.

7. Just suck it up and move on.  Try to find her another employer for whom she is a good fit.  Learn from your mistakes and interview more carefully next time.

8. Set out your expectations clearly.  Describe the job as accurately as possible at interview stage, then everyone understands the deal.

9. Again, make that clear.  We just need the odd evening of babysitting as I don't work.  We were very clear about that from the start.  It was very clear at interview when someone talked about how she loved children etc that she wanted to be a nanny, we wanted a housekeeper so she was not the right fit for us and vv.

Just go with your gut.  Most of us have employed the wrong person at some point.  With us, it was a case of third time lucky.  Start as you mean to continue.

[more answers]

I pay my maid S$450. Insurance is around 300 for two years, insurance on the bond instead of paying the 5K yourself is $50. I use an agency so all up I never get out of their without parting with about 180 for their fees plus a loan of around 300 to the maid for her fees which she pays back over time. Some agencies charge more (mine did initially) but if you replace with the same one the costs drop. Find an agency which always has a lot of maids on their books - its essential. If not if it doesn't work out with the first how you going to find another. I use an agent because I can never get enough choice by word of mouth.

When you interview most are not put off by kids. The agent should match your requirements with maid's strengths ie NO. 1 Cooking; No. 2 care of infant; no 3 housework.

If you have kids ask the maid how she copes in cetain situations ie crossing road; injuries; fighting kids; cheeky kids.

Ask her about her current sallary and days off including bank holidays, especially what time she comes home. Check that works for you and if you require her back early then be completely clear in the interview. Nothing worse than Sunday night waiting for a late maid knowing she has no respect for your boundaries - but if you didn't say it at interview, what can you expect.

If you have animals be very clear about your expectations of her - our current maid left her last employer cos she wasn't warned about the huge dogs and as a muslim that was intollerable for her. What idiot would try to hide that at interview stage?

I used to send my maids back during the contract because I had a soft and bleeding heart over them missing their kids, but my generosity has been worn down by them letting me down after.

Don't fall into the trap of treating them like your little sister - keep it businesslike and tell them calmly if your expectations are not met. That way you are less likely to find yourself freaking out later when you've let things come to a head.

Remember if they are ill and need the doc, its you who meets the bill. Lock things away which might be valuable to steal - I never had anyone steal but friends of mine have lost a lot. Don't try to be stingey with food - all my maids have seemed to have eaten pretty meagrely despite being told to have whatever they want - but equally its probably best if they eat seperately from you unless its a special meal. That way your family life is not changed too much. People who try to feed their maid just noodles and the odd egg will just encourage the maid to be resentful.
You don't need to go over the top with generosity - when I have it has normally backfired - but if you are even-handed, don't loose your temper and stick to what you agreed in the beginning most maids seem pretty happy with that.

Oh yeah - and the final thing is, if you realise within weeks that she's not the right one and its turning into a nightmare, my experience tells me it will only get worse and you will be waiting for an excuse to get rid of her. DOn't wait for that day, you get bitter, just transfer her if its just a personality thing or if you know she'd be a liability for another family send her home and move on.

I always take a transfer - but always phone previous employer to check the maid's story. So many lie about sallary or reason for leaving. When I have tried to overlook this in the past it has come back to haunt me - and the maid lied again about more serious issues. You can check her employment history on the MOM website if you have her work permit number and you have a singpass. This alone tells you quite a lot - look for someone who has managed to finish their 2 year contract in the past and maybe had it extended with same employer. Lots of short employments could be dodgey....

[Been there...]

...

6.  A thread mentioned another thread where there was a list of questions to ask a potential hire.  I was not able to find the list. can someone direct me?
...

 Do a search in The Archives here:   
Go to Message Board tab, then scroll down to 'Forum List' and click. then scroll all the way down pass the 'Market Place' to the last section titled  'The Archives'.  put  'Questions when interviewing a maid' in the search box and you should get a long thread (posted in Dec 2002 but still very relevant today) with some excellent interviewing questions. 

Good luck.

[who knows]

If you never had a maid, why do you need one now? A maid shouldn't be something you automatically get just because you now live in Asia.

Since you already seem to have fear and angst about the costs of a maid, let it be. If you lived without domestic help until now, I can assure you, you will survive...

perhaps she's just got a job!

[Not the sharpest crayon]

She is not even here yet!

One requirement her future maid should meet is being able to find
things on the internet. OP stated in another post that she is unable to find the MOM website...

[who knows]

She is not even here yet!

I can't see it saying that she's not here yet, but anyway, perhaps she is GOING to get a job - jeez, it's like the inquisition coming in here sometimes 

[intime0]

LOL...yes, I was fearful to even ask on here.  I've seen so many get flamed.  But I had so many questions and no one to ask them of, that I just broke down and asked.

Thank you to those who answered.

For the record, I am here right now picking out a house, but wont be back for about a month.

In America, it is cost prohibitive to have a maid.  So, no, never had one.  However, the cost is much cheaper here.  So why not?  I have children and we would love help.  My husband thinks it would be great as well.

Not scared or fearful...just want info.  Thank you for your help!!! 

[intime0]

ah, yes, funny joke about needing someone who knows how to use the internet.  FIRST I had to figure out what MOM stood for.  Once I did that I was able to find the website. 

I love how helpful people can be over here.  LOL

[some questions]

If you have kids I'd ask about basic first aid. An amazing number think putting butter on a burn is a good idea (madness).

Can they swim.

Cooking, what can they do.

How do they spend off days? They will almost certainly tell you they go to church but anyway.

What do they do with their cash, is it theirs or goes home. While not really your business a lot send most home and you are more likely to get sob stories about some uncle who needs xyz.

[Good points.]

If you have kids I'd ask about basic first aid. An amazing number think putting butter on a burn is a good idea (madness).

Can they swim

What do they do with their cash, is it theirs or goes home. While not really your business a lot send most home and you are more likely to get sob stories about some uncle who needs xyz.

For some odd reason, almost none of the Filipina's can swim, so be wary even if - or maybe especially if - one tells you she can. For some it is 'I can only swim in shallow water' (read: I have to be able to stand in the water or I'll drown because I don't actually know how to swim.

The money thing is a good one - here's the rule I wish I'd known to set years ago: No loans or cash advances off salary EVER. If you ask you're fired. Seriously. That's my only major complaint about our maid - and it didn't start right away - took more than 18 months or so. I've kept her because I really don't want to start fresh with someone else and overall she's decent and isn't trying to rob me blind.

[Think]

LOL...yes, I was fearful to even ask on here.  I've seen so many get flamed.  But I had so many questions and no one to ask them of, that I just broke down and asked.

Thank you to those who answered.

For the record, I am here right now picking out a house, but wont be back for about a month.

In America, it is cost prohibitive to have a maid.  So, no, never had one.  However, the cost is much cheaper here.  So why not?  I have children and we would love help.  My husband thinks it would be great as well.

Not scared or fearful...just want info.  Thank you for your help!!! 

In America you don't have maids. Period. And it is not just a question of being able to afford it. You clean your own house and take care of your kids. Btw, I am American too.

[Except that]

In America you don't have maids but you employ illegal immigrants from Latin America to do the chores.  How many political careers have come unstuck for that reason?

[swimming]

In our Condo maids aren't allowed in swimming pool!