A housekeeper is an excellent addition to any household, helping with a wide array of duties that free up your time, relieve unnecessary stress, and leave your home absolutely spotless. It’s no wonder that a housekeeper is such a popular domestic staffing choice for many of our clients. However, finding the right match can often prove a challenge.
You want to ensure they are well qualified for the role and also a perfect fit for you and your family. So, if you are wondering how to find a housekeeper for the year ahead then here are some of our expert tips to help you on your search.
The role of a housekeeper
Before we let you in on our advice, let us first establish exactly what a housekeeper can do for you. After all, when considering hiring a housekeeper, you want to be sure that they are the right choice for your household and meet your expectations.
Although sometimes commonly thought of as a cleaner or maid, a housekeeper is so much more. They are in charge of the smooth running of your home and are there to keep everything in excellent working order. Their high attention to detail and problem-solving skills take the weight off your shoulders and keep your home looking beautiful.
The main duties and responsibilities of a housekeeper include:
Cleaning
Cooking
Laundry
Running errands
Organisation of the home
Supervision of other staff
Pet care
So what are the factors you need to consider when looking for a housekeeper in 2024?
1. Be specific with what you are looking for
A housekeeper can be a varied role that will change depending on your specific needs and preferences. The best way to find your perfect match is to understand exactly what you are searching for and the role they will be expected to fulfil.
Having a clear idea of the type of person you are after and the duties they need to perform will help expedite the process of finding your new housekeeper.
For example, if you have a large family, you may want a housekeeper with strong childcare experience. In which case a combination nanny and housekeeper may be the ideal choice. You can find out more about whether a nanny/housekeeper is the right fit for you here.
You may require a housekeeper with specialist skills, such as expert knowledge in the maintenance of stately homes or antiques. Or you may want a housekeeper with an extensive culinary background if their role requires a large amount of cooking and meal preparation. If you are using the services of an expert staffing agency like us at Greycoat Lumleys, then being able to clearly articulate what you are looking for will help us in finding you the ideal candidate as quickly as possible.
2. Consider flexible options
A temporary housekeeper is an excellent option particularly if you don't want to take on a permanent member of staff just yet. Not only are they highly adaptable but they can hit the ground running giving you peace of mind that everything will be taken care of at a moment's notice.
A temporary or part time staff member allows for much more flexibility and tends to be the favoured choice for clients that may be travelling on an extended trip, or having guests over and are in need of a pair of extra hands around the house.
If you are new to the world of domestic staff and are considering hiring your very first housekeeper it can also be a great way to see whether it is the right solution before hiring a more permanent member of household staff.
3. Look for quality experience and expertise
Although this seems obvious, ensuring that a person is well experienced is essential when selecting a housekeeper. They are tasked with taking care of you and your personal belongings, so you want to have the utmost confidence they can be trusted to do the job. After all, a ruined cocktail dress or stain to your antique furniture are scenarios that no one wants to have to deal with.
But training takes time, which many of our busy clients simply don't have. That’s why at Greycoat Lumleys we source only the finest of candidates from across the world, all with impeccable housekeeping training.
Our rigorous selection process ensures that all the candidates on our books have unmatched expertise and experience within the industry, and can undertake their duties with the highest level of professionalism.
4. Leave it to the experts
When thinking about how to find a housekeeper you may decide to search for one yourself, but trust us when we say leaving it up to the experts is the wisest choice. With over 25 years in the domestic staffing industry, we take the time and frustration out of finding dependable and professional domestic staff for you and your family.
At Greycoat and Lumleys we pride ourselves on a seamless and stress-free recruitment process for our clients, and it's why so many continue to return to us for years to come.
So, if you are looking for an experienced housekeeper to take care of all your household needs, then get in touch. Our expert consultants can help match you with the very best candidates throughout the industry.