Considerations when hiring Housekeeper

Are you looking to hire full time housekeeper? Considerations when hiring Housekeeper are many because finding the right housekeeper can be hard. Especially, recruiting housekeeper for a high net worth household can be challenging, and today, the market is more competitive than ever. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know, from job descriptions, salaries and benefits, to the questions the experts always ask in the interview process.

For more information on or to contact the best housekeeper agency London, see below contact details: please contact us on 02032900142 or email: info@bespokebureau.com

How to Hire full time housekeeper?

You’re looking for a great housekeeper — but where to start? And, once you find the right person, how do you set them up for success and longevity?

Below, you’ll find an ultimate guide to hiring a housekeeper for a high net worth household, answering all your questions and drawing on tips from the experts at our agency Bespoke Bureau.

We hope these tips help you find the right fit!

What to include in a private housekeeper job description

Before you start writing a job description for a housekeeping role in a private home, you should answer a few questions:

• Is this a full-time housekeeper position or a part-time housekeeper position?
• Who will the housekeeper report to? This might be the homeowner, the house manager or estate manager, or an executive housekeeper
• Do you need a live-in housekeeper?

Next, you should consider which housekeeping duties are a priority for the household. The housekeeper’s responsibilities can include deep cleaning high traffic areas of the house, light cleaning and straightening other areas, dusting, vacuuming and mopping floors, washing dishes, doing laundry, ironing, changing bed linens, and restocking toiletries.

They may also clean and organize closets, cabinets, and drawers, and take care of special items like antiques, artwork, and delicate fabrics.

Have a think!

Think about the specific needs of the home, and be as detailed as possible. Do you want them to use eco-friendly cleaning products or a specific type of cleaning equipment? Does your home have special features that require daily care? If your home is full of antiques, and your housekeeper will need to polish furniture on a regular basis, mention that. The more specific you can be about your housekeeper’s cleaning duties, the better.

What qualifications do I need when hiring a full time housekeeper?

Once you’ve outlined your list of responsibilities, it’s time to think about experience. Are you looking for an executive housekeeper, who will oversee a team of other housekeepers? Are you looking for someone to clean the house on their own, or to fit into a team of other housekeepers? The answers to these questions will help you determine how many years of experience you should ask for, what kinds of housekeeping skills you should mention in your job posting, and the salary and benefits package you should offer. For the purpose of this post, we’ll focus on a typical private housekeeper, rather than a more experienced housekeeper who would oversee a team.

Housekeeper job description template

Here’s a basic sample job description for a private housekeeper. Feel free to use this as a starting point, but note that you should tailor it to your unique household, and add as much detail as possible, as we discussed in the last section.

Job Title: Housekeeper

Reports to: Household Manager

Schedule: [full-time or part-time, hours per week, days and hours]

Position Overview:

We are seeking a professional housekeeper to work in a [X square foot] private residence in [city, state]. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, organized, and able to maintain a high level of cleanliness and order throughout the home. The housekeeper will report to the Household Manager. She/He will work closely with other staff members to ensure the smooth operation of the household.

Housekeeper Responsibilities:

The housekeeper will be responsible for the daily cleaning and upkeep of the home, including all living areas, bedrooms, bathrooms, and common areas. This includes:

• Cleaning rooms and tidying common spaces
• Cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms, including toilets, showers, bathtubs, countertops, and sinks
• Disinfecting surfaces
• Dusting surfaces and baseboards
• Sweeping, vacuuming and mopping floors
• Making beds and changing linens
• Cleaning and sanitizing kitchen surfaces
• Washing dishes
• Maintaining the cleanliness and organization of all closets, cabinets, and drawers
• Washing windows
• Monitoring household supplies and ensuring that all necessary items, such as cleaning supplies, toiletries, and household items, are stocked and replenished when needed
• Preparing guest rooms for visitors
• Occasional grocery shopping, with credit card and car provided

Housekeeper Requirements:

1. Previous Experience: The ideal candidate will have at least [X-Y] years of experience working as a housekeeper in a private residence.
2. Attention to Detail: The ideal candidate will have a strong attention to detail. She or he will be able to maintain a high level of cleanliness and organization throughout the home.
3. Communication Skills: The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills. Also, he or she should be able to work effectively with other staff members and household occupants.
4. Physical Ability: The ideal candidate will have the physical ability to perform the necessary cleaning and maintenance duties, including lifting and moving heavy objects and standing for extended periods of time.
5. Professionalism: The ideal candidate will be professional, discrete, and respectful of the privacy and security of the household and its occupants.
6. Education: A high school diploma or equivalent is required for this position. Additional education or training in housekeeping or hospitality is a plus.

Compensation:

Salary [or hourly rate] for this position will be competitive based on experience and qualifications, within a range of [$X-Y]. This is a full-time position with benefits, including health insurance, [X] paid vacation days, [X] paid sick days, and retirement savings plans.

Formal background check required.

How to determine your private housekeeper salary and benefits

The right salary and benefits package for your private housekeeper depends on the candidate’s housekeeping experience, your location, and the scope of the housekeeping position you’re offering them.

Typically, a live out housekeeper will want at least 15 pounds per hour net. Usually more. Live in housekeeper salaries start at 650 net per week.

When it comes to benefits, competitive healthcare coverage, 10-15 days of paid time off, and retirement benefits are table stakes. Full-time housekeepers may be offered on-site housing, or other housing benefits.

Questions to ask when you’re interviewing private housekeeper candidates

Even if you have a clear idea of what you’re looking for, it can be difficult to find the right person. Someone who’s not only a good housekeeper, but also a good fit for your household.

1. Ask candidates about the type of housekeeping experience they have
2. Would this be their first time working full-time in a private household?
3. Do they have experience in the hospitality industry or in a corporate setting?
4. Have they worked for a house cleaning services company? While domestic housekeeping experience and an understanding of the unique work environment of a private household are important, varied experiences can lead to unexpected benefits for your household.
5. What are some of the projects you do for deep cleaning when the principals are out of residence for extended periods?
6. What’s the one thing about being a housekeeper that you love the most? This may help you understand exactly why they want the job.

Red flags and green flags to look for during the interview process of a housekeeper

A slow nature, appearing unorganized, and of course a negative attitude.

Green flags are people who seem: Hard working, good high energy, a positive attitude and flexibility.

Schedule of the housekeeper

Housekeepers may be hired to do seasonal cleaning. She or he may be hired as full-time employees. Alternatively, he or she may be hired to come on a part time or weekly basis. Full-time housekeepers may live with the family or live in their own residence and commute to work each day. Full-time housekeepers are likely to have daily, weekly and monthly housekeeping tasks arranged. All to ensure the home is thoroughly cleaned and remains clean on a regular basis. Daily and weekly housekeepers tend to clean the entire home while they are there, focusing on more thorough tasks, like cleaning baseboards, on a rotating schedule.

The Housekeeper’s application

With a completed application, you’ll learn about a candidate’s experience, picture, references, training, health, family history, personality, outside interests and skills. From our personal interview of the candidate, you’ll receive our assessment of the housekeeper’s overall level of professionalism, personality and experience for your consideration. A clear Cv will be presented to you so that you can choose if this is a candidate you like the look of. From a candidate’s work history you’ll discover previous employers’ names, phone numbers and occupations. Ideally also details about the position the housekeeper has held.

References

What references say – as much as what they don’t, helps gain a better insight into the quality of a housekeeper’s previous work. Since most job applicants only provide contacts of those who will speak positively about them, it’s important to dig deep. Try and uncover additional references and ask lots and lots of open ended and follow up questions.

How to set your housekeeper up for success

By thinking about your expectations in advance, you will have an advantage. Laying them out in the job description, and getting thoughtful about the questions that will help you find the right person for this role, is a great start.

A strong onboarding will help you ensure that you set your new housekeeper up for success. This is critical, because without training and clear communications, they’ll be set up for failure — and they may leave within weeks.

Start with an employment agreement — something you should have for all household staff. Make sure it states all the correct details regarding paid time off, vacation (also how to ask for it in advance), issues that would end in termination, wages/salary, payment terms and more.

How do we find the best housekeepers for you?

Clients repeatedly mention how remarkably sweet and wonderful the personnel provided by us are. Unlike many other housekeeper agencies, we do not advertise. Instead, candidates are generally referred to us by people known or placed before. Birds of a feather tend to flock together. All candidates are personally interviewed face-to-face in person or by video. References are personally checked (with those references shared with you if you like).