Domestic help: how to find a housekeeper and agree the terms
First decide what kind of help you need
People look for domestic help in three formats. A part-time cleaner who comes once or twice a week for a few hours. A regular helper: cleaning, ironing, cooking, laundry. And a live-in arrangement, where the person helps with the house and the children. These are different agreements in content and cost, so decide before you search which one you need.
On BlaBlaPrice you describe the terms once, and domestic helpers reply themselves: when they can work, on what schedule, their experience and the pay they expect. They see where their offer stands, so terms often improve. It is free for you, and your phone number stays hidden.
What affects the pay
Most of all, the scope and the difficulty of the work. A 400 sq ft flat and a 2,000 sq ft house with a garden are completely different jobs. Next comes the schedule: hourly pay is usually higher than the monthly equivalent for regular full-time work. Extra duties also count: cooking, looking after children or pets, ironing large loads.
Experience and references are an important factor. A person with verified references from previous families is usually more dependable for the long term.
What to include in your request
- Duties — cleaning, ironing, cooking, laundry, help with children.
- Size of the home — sq ft or number of rooms.
- Schedule — days a week and hours, live-in or not.
- Household — how many people, children, pets.
- City and area — where the home is.
- Experience — years of work, references, special skills.
- Start date — from when.
- Pay — what you offer per hour, day or month.
Example: “Rawalpindi: I need a housekeeper 3 days a week for 6 hours: cleaning, ironing, cooking. A 2,000 sq ft house, a family with 2 children and a dog. At least 3 years of experience, with references. From 1 July, Rs 33,000 a month.”
How to choose from the replies
Read carefully what the person writes about themselves and their terms. Ask about experience and previous workplaces. It is worth checking references in person: call the people who can confirm them. Agree a trial day so you can see how the person works and whether you are comfortable together.
Agree the limits of the duties straight away: what is part of the usual cleaning and what is paid separately, such as deep cleaning, window washing or ironing large batches. Reviews next to each offer will also help you decide.
Common mistakes
A vague list of duties, which leads to misunderstandings. No agreement on pay for missed days and holidays. Handing over keys without trust and a trial period. High expectations at low pay. If the arrangement is long-term, write the agreement down: schedule, pay, rules.
When you need a one-off heavy clean, for example after an illness, think about disinfection and pest control. For washing large items look at dry cleaning and laundry, and after renovation there is rubbish removal. Everything is in one place in “Household services”.
