Part-Time Helper

Part-Time HelperFlexibilityWe’re not just talking about the flexible number of hours or cleaners here, you can even customise the area of your home that you wish to clean! As some agencies charge by the hour, they provide a rough duration of how long it would take to clean each area of your house and the type of cleaning included (e.g. 1 hour for the living room, which includes mopping, vacuuming, and wiping of furniture and windows). Based on that, it is up to you to choose the area and duration! Or if you just want a specific part cleaned, such as your windows, that’s possible too!PrivacyHow can we emphasize this more? Your part-time helper will only be at your house for a maximum of half a day, hence you’re mostly free to enjoy the privacy of your own home!CONS:AvailabilityImagine this: Your in-laws are visiting tomorrow morning. Both your husband and you have to work overtime tonight. Who’s coming to your rescue? Not likely to be part-time helpers. Even the most efficient agencies can only promise to offer their house cleaning services 24 hours from the time you place your request. If you have a live-in helper though, that would be a different story… …Miscellaneous Work AllocationWhile some home cleaning packages might even cover tasks such as ironing your clothes or packing your wardrobes, there are just some work that they cannot accomplish. For example, they cannot collect a parcel delivered to your home on your behalf or fetch your kids from school.Foreign Domestic Worker If you require more help in your household, choosing a full-time maid might be for you. Nevertheless, there are still pros and cons that you need to consider.PROS:ReliabilityHiring a foreign domestic worker to assist you with the endless household chores and play the role of the main caregiver for your loved ones – this is something that a part-time helper cannot offer. When you are too caught up with work, your live-in helper might even be a companion to your children or elderly parents.At times when you need to go on overseas business trips, your maid can take care of the house. While having a home insurance (Tiq has a comprehensive plan for you!) contributes to our peace of mind should anything happen, having someone to take care of your loved ones and be the first responder in case of an emergency would be even better.Long-Term BenefitsHaving a live-in helper means she would be able to familiarise herself with the daily routines of household chores. Perhaps she might even be able to manage the chores independently after some time! On the other hand, a part-time helper is not assigned to you on a permanent basis. If an issue does crop up, there is no guarantee that the solution will be conveyed to the temporary helper allocated to you.CONS:Employer-Helper DisputesLiving under one roof is not that easy, especially when there are cultural differences and possibly language barriers. It is common for employers to install a CCTV at home to ensure all things are in good order during their absence. However, there’s a better solution to ease unnecessary distress for both parties: how about building greater mutual understanding and trust in your employer-helper relationship? Check out this article for 3 simple tips!Higher Short-Term CostsIf you’re just looking for short-term house cleaning services, hiring a live-in maid in Singapore would cost you more than a part-time helper. The miscellaneous expenses mentioned in the above table could be travel expenses (i.e. airfare to and fro your maid’s hometown as well as travel insurance) and provision of basic necessities and healthcare.Speaking of healthcare, it is important that you are mindful of your foreign domestic worker’s welfare. While your maid insurance can cover a portion of medical expenses, you should also ensure that she’s not overworked by keeping her health in check.Extra Room/Space RequiredHaving a live–in helper means having to share your home and set aside a room for her. Conversely, that space may be used for other purposes such as a study room, or for storage if you choose to hire a part-time helper instead.We hope the above guide on the pros and cons of hiring a part-timer helper or foreign domestic worker has given you some useful insights. Having a helper is indeed an invaluable asset to the household, but having sufficient protection for your home, family and yourself is also essential.