Let’s face it: everyone wants their house clean and tidy, but most of the time, we do not have enough time or energy to carry full-fledged and thorough house cleaning.
We keep putting it off till later, but that time just does not seem to come. The solution to such a problem: part-time maid!
If you live in Singapore, you have the luxury of hiring part-time maid or cleaning companies according to your work and budget requirements. Many people prefer part-time maids to full-time maids because of their added benefits.
A part-time maid will work flexibly in complement to your schedule of the day or week, so you can enjoy the luxury of peace and comfort of your activities at home. Additionally, employing a helper for your part-time work will neither harm your privacy nor your pocket.
In this article, we will describe what services you can expect from part-time maids and the various advantages that they offer.
We will also describe the approximate rates of a part-time maid in Singapore and what factors you should look for before hiring one. All these aspects can help you in deciding whether or not you want to hire a part-time maid.
What Services Can Part-Time Maids Or Part Time Helper Offer?
Different part-time maid and helper services can offer different types of services. However, generally, you can expect the following work from part-time maids.
- Part-time maids can dust the complete furniture, counters, and curtains to remove all dust and dirt.
- They will vacuum the floors and mop them where possible.
- They will change the bed and bathroom linen when advised to do so. You can set up a weekly schedule or instruct them whenever a change is required.
- Part-time maids will clean and wash the bathrooms, including the walls, floors, sink, faucets, toilet bowl, shower, and bathtub.
- You can expect them to clean your kitchen thoroughly. This includes washing the floor, sink, faucet, and cleaning the tiles. They will also clean the kitchen appliances and refrigerator.
- You can also ask them to polish your furniture, such as upholstery cleaning and clean all the decor items, including wall hangings and light fixtures.
- Part-time maids will also collect garbage from your home and dispose of them outside effectively.
- A part-time helper could also help you with child care. This can include babysitting kids for some designated hours of the day, taking care of their eating and bathroom needs, putting them to sleep, and cleaning behind them.
- Part-time maids or helpers can also do your laundry, dry cleaning, and ironing. You can give them a schedule of when to do it so they can plan everything accordingly.
- You can also expect them to walk your pets.
- A part-time helper can help around in the kitchen also by cooking meals and delivering food for you.
Benefits Of Hiring Part Time Maids vs Full Time Maids
If you hire a part-time domestic help or maid for your house, you can achieve several benefits, some of which are listed below:
Is hiring a maid worth it?
Saves Time And Energy
One of the most obvious benefits of hiring a part-time maid or helper to help around in your house saves you time and energy. The time you save can be used in some other task, or you can simply rest and feel energetic to do the rest of the tasks for the whole day.
Helps You Enhance Your Productivity
When you save time and energy, you can focus your energies and efforts on other important tasks. This helps increase your productivity. You feel more energetic and fresh to tackle all the other tasks of your day.
Offers Privacy As Compared To A Full-Time Maid
If you hire a part-time helper as opposed to a full-time one, you are guaranteed more privacy. The part-time maid will leave after completing her tasks which means you can enjoy your privacy for the rest of the day. This is not possible if you have a full-time maid at your home.
Offers You Flexibility
Part-time maids also offer you great flexibility. You can change their schedule and seek their services when you need them. If you have a change of plans at the last moment, you can contact them and change the schedule so you can carry along with your changed plans. This kind of flexibility is not possible in the case of a full-time maid.
Hiring a part-time maid provides greater flexibility to your schedule as there are no long-term contracts involved. You will be able to switch helpers easily whenever you are dissatisfied with the service that is being provided. There is no trouble engaged as you can simply request another helper from the agency.
On the other hand, changing a full-time maid would require you to go through the entire hiring process again. This includes contracts to be signed, work permits to be submitted, interviews to be conducted, the list of administrative work goes on.
The process of hiring a part-time maid is straightforward. You can call the company or agency that provides the service. After choosing a date and time, you simply wait for the arrival of the part-time maid. Therefore, hiring a part-time maid gives you the option to change helpers more easily should the need arises.
Helpful Read: Commonly Asked Questions When Hiring Maids In Singapore
Get Professional Service
You can be sure to receive great quality and astounding service when you hire a maid. You need not worry about the products they use or how they carry out their routine because they know what they are doing. You can rely on them to carry out their duties professionally and efficiently.
Maids are properly trained and taught of the responsibility they have. This is because the maids and their agencies understand how crucial it is to maintain service of quality. Given the fact that their industry does not have long-term agreements to sign, it is the only way for them to keep your business.
That is why many agencies tend to go exceed beyond to ensure that their maids are equipped with the necessary skills. Maids are aware that if they perform well, their clients are likely to rehire them again. There is also a chance for you to spread their great services through word of mouth.
Furthermore, because most maids work part-time, for multiple homeowners, they can share their knowledge and experiences with you. These maids make use of what knowledge they’ve absorbed from another job and apply it in your home. The experience gained from working in various homes is another reason why hiring a part-time maid can be more valuable than hiring a full-time maid.
Cost-Effective
A part-time maid can be quite cost-effective as compared to a full-time maid. You either pay for their services whenever you seek them, or you pay by the hour according to the agreement that you have made with the part-time maid agency. Whatever agreement you have made with them, it is bound to be cost-effective as compared to a full-time maid.
Hiring a part-time maid is also a cheaper alternative as a part-time maid does not live with you. Hence, you do not have to pay for her lodging and food expenses. You also do not have to pay a monthly salary for a part-time maid.
You can also save more since you don’t need to hire a part-time maid every day. You pay her for her services only when you require them. This ranges from once to 7 days a week, depending on the number of chores.
If you are on a budget but want the house cleaned, then you should consider hiring a part-time maid.
Peace and Quiet
A part-time maid provides you with great sense of security because you can relax and concentrate on other important things while the maid cleans and performs other tasks.
You do not have to worry about her tasks since you know she will be able to execute the task with effort and quality. This peace of mind helps you to stay more focused on other aspects of your routine.
Safe And Sound
A part-time maid that you hire from a reputed agency can be considered safe. If you have domestic help at your home, there is no promise that they will stay faithful to you and not cause you any damage in the form of theft.
However, a part-time maid from a reputed firm can be considered honest and you will not have to place any worry about any kind of malice from them.
In addition, part-time maids will only be in your house for a few hours, depending on how much work needs to be done. They only have a certain amount of time to finish their work. This reduces the chances of them committing such acts. Most, if not all, of the time spent in your house, will be spent in completing their jobs, leaving no spare time for them to ‘wander’ around your home.
Things you can do to tighten the security in your home
To further prevent such acts from happening, you can choose to hire a part-time maid when there is at least one family member at home. In the case where there is no one available to watch over her, you can always keep your valuables safe and lock them up during the few hours that the part-time maid will be at your house.
Another option will be to install CCTVs in your home so that you can monitor her actions in case something goes wrong.
Productivity
Hourly-rated part-time maids are less likely to suffer from accumulated stress. Being paid hourly means that their work hours are usually shorter compared to full-time maids. Due to this, they are likely to be more focused on the job.
You can also expect part-time maids to complete your household chores more efficiently. As you are paying them based on a fixed number of hours, the part-time maids will be more motivated to finish their assigned duties within the time that you are paying them.
This is different from full-time maids as they can space their duties evenly throughout the entire day. This is because many employers simply require their maids to complete the list of chores in a day. Hence, if you need your duties to be done quickly, hiring a part-time maid will be a better solution.
Downsides of Hiring a Part-Time Maid
Inconsistency
As part-time maids work in more than one home, they may take a while to remember your expectations. This is especially true if your part-time maid only visits your home once a week.
It is difficult for them to remember the different expectations and house rules of all their employers. This might give rise to inconsistencies in their work ethics during their time in your home.
For example, they might forget how you prefer your furniture to be arranged in a certain way after cleaning them. It can be tiresome to have to remind the part-time maid every other week continually.
In this case, you might want to consider hiring a full-time maid instead. A full-time maid will be more consistent in her work as she would have enough time to be accustomed to your way of doing things.
Limited Skills
Although part-time maids can be more highly skilled and professional, they are only limited to specific areas of expertise. A part-time maid can be an expert at washing the dishes but lacks the skill to prepare your home-cooked meals to your liking. Hence, you may need to hire two different part-time maids to clean and cook for you separately. Doing this, however, will cost you twice as much.
On the other hand, a full-time maid is usually better rounded in her skillset and can handle a variety of household chores.
Not readily available
As part-time maids work on a schedule, their absence may cause you to experience some inconvenience. For example, a mess may happen after the working hours of your part-time maid. It is simply not practical (and unhygienic) to leave the mess in your home until the next time your part-time maid is scheduled to work for you. Thus, you would have to clean the mess up by yourself, which may result in some inconvenience for you.
Although the presence of a full-time maid in your home may deny you of your privacy, we have to admit that it is always more convenient to have an extra pair of hands that is readily available. You can also rely on a full-time maid to help you in the event of an emergency.
How Much Does it Cost to hire Part-Time Maids In Singapore?
A part-time maid in Singapore can cost anywhere between $300 to $900 per week.
A 4 hours per week package can cost somewhere around $230-$480 on a monthly basis, as compared to a Full-time maid ($500-$800 per month).
For more thorough cleaning, you may choose the 8 hours per week package, which can be roughly $600 per week.
The average cost of a maid service is $168, but homeowners can expect to pay anywhere from $116 to $235 for their services. Cleaning services are usually charged by the hour. The cost of a cleaner per hour ranges between $40 and $80. The cost of square footage is determined by the size of your home. For example, a small area of less than 1,000 square feet costs around $90, while a larger area of 3,000 square feet or more can cost up to $250.
Similarly, if you hire a maid for a longer period of time, the rate will rise. The cost of hiring varies depending on the setting of the location, such as home cleaning versus commercial office cleaning.
Helpful read: Home Cleaning Cost Guide In Singapore
Factors Affecting The Rate Of Part Time Maids
There are certain factors that determine the cost that a part-time maid may ask. These factors are discussed below:
- The company or agency from which you are hiring can determine the cost of the maid. A well-reputed agency with insurance premium and excellent customer reviews will cost more than a new agency with little or no customer reviews or referrals.
- Another important factor that can affect the salary of a part-time maid is the type of services that are expected of them. Different tasks are assigned different rates, and together they will determine the final rate of the part-time helper.
- The number of hours that the maid spends at your house for doing her designated tasks will also affect the cost. Most of the part-time maids offer a per-hour rate, and this is calculated based on how many hours you expect them to spend at your house.
- The rates of part-time maids will be different if you hire them on a monthly or weekly basis as compared to if you hire them on a need-to-need basis.
- The rates of part-time maids will also depend on how many helpers or workers will the agency provide for your work.
Which Factors To Consider Before Hiring A Part Time Maid
If you have decided to hire a part-time maid for your house, you should consider several factors before choosing the final one.
After all, it is your house and you will not want to let in a stranger or someone without any reference into your house. You want a reliable person whom you know will only stick to her job and not incur any kind of damage to your house or your possessions.
You should do thorough research before finalising a particular part-time maid agency and consider the following factors:
Valid ID proof and work permit
While hiring a part-time maid in Singapore, you must ask for a valid identification card and work permit. If you are going to hire her for part-time work, she must have a legal work permit.
A foreign domestic worker (FDW) needs to meet age, nationality and education requirements to get a Work Permit. Check out the foreign domestic worker’s eligibility on MOM’s site.
As you are taking the risk of inviting a person into your home, look for her legal standing or contact a licensed company to avoid any severe consequences in the future.
Experience
The experience of a part-time maid is one of the most important things that you should look for. You don’t want a completely new person who does not even know how to do the job, and you end up guiding them every step of the way.
An inexperienced part-time maid may cost you less, but she can be a huge burden on you when you have to instruct her on everything and still not be able to achieve your desired results.
Ideally, when the maid arrives at your home for the first time, you may want to explain to her the expected duties and responsibilities.
You should observe her work performance to gauge her capabilities as per your needs and expectations. If you are not satisfied with her performance, you may want to ask the maid agency for a replacement.
Cost And Rates
The cost and hourly rate of the part-time maids also plays an important role in determining which one to choose. You have to check your budget and see which maid best fits the profile so you can get your job done.
Background Check
The background check of the part-time maid is another of the most important factors to consider. You want to hire a maid from an agency that does thorough background checks of their workers before hiring them.
This way, you also know that whichever maid you are hiring from the agency can be considered reliable since they must have carried all the necessary background checks.
Before saying yes to any maid agency, you may want to inquire whether they provide training to their part-time maids.
References
When you are hiring a maid from an agency, it is a good idea to check if they offer references for that particular maid. You want someone reliable, honest, and trustworthy. So if you can find a few good references for the particular maid you are hiring, that will be a good step.
Insurance Or License
Another important factor to consider is whether the part-time maid has any insurance or other policy which can save you against any kind of legal process in the unfortunate case that the maid gets injured during work or any other negative consequences.
Modes Of Payment
The mode of payment that the maid agency uses is also an important factor to consider. They might only take credit card payment, whereas you may be more comfortable with cash payments. So do consider the different modes of payments and your convenience with them before finalising your decision.
Missed Appointments Rules
Before deciding on which part-time agency to choose, you should read about their rules and regulations regarding missed appointments.
For example, you may cancel any particular cleaning appointment because of your commitments, so you should know what the alternatives for that are.
Some agencies charge you the full amount whether you cancel or not while others may be willing to charge some form of the cancellation fee.
Other agencies may offer to change your cleaning day appointment to some other day, so you don’t have to pay any extra to them.
Similarly, they should have clear rules about missed appointments by their side, i.e. if their worker is unavailable or sick, how will they compensate for it.
Will they send some other maid or will they transfer the cleaning day to some other day that is acceptable to both parties?
And if the new date and time do not suit you, then will they subtract that day’s cost of work from the final weekly or monthly cost?
Types Of Cleaning Products And Supplies They Use
The types of cleaning products and supplies that the part-time maids use can also shape your decision of which one to choose.
You may be allergic to some products or would prefer environment-friendly products to other chemical-based products. So a good idea is to ask the agency which products to use and if they would be willing to use your preferred choice of products.
Myths About Part-Time Maid Service
Myth 1: A cleaning procedure takes all day
This is the most common myth that people have in mind. For an efficient part-time maid, it only takes about four to six hours for a cleaning session. Although the measure of time will vary based on the amount of work that needs to be done, it usually will not take the entire day.
When you have the right helping hand and maintenance plans, house cleaning is just a matter of a couple of hours.
Myth 2: The part-time maids in Singapore only work in the morning
Yes, it is a myth, and you don’t have to believe it. There are both morning and evening services available throughout Singapore. A part-time maid can be accessible according to your flexible hours, and while you may have to make arrangements, you will not have to worry about the timings.
Myth 3: Laundry isn’t an issue
Singaporeans often struggle to manage their laundry needs as they are too busy with other work. A part-time maid from a good maid agency can work on both the cleaning part and laundry, as both falls into her job scope.
Myth 4: Maids don’t work on walls
A part-time maid in Singapore can care for many things on walls such as stains, cracks and even paint jobs in a home. Be it through the use of professional materials, fillers or new coats of paint, a maid should be able to work well with walls when required.
Myth 5: Part-time domestic helpers are legally approved
In Singapore, do note that it is illegal to hire Foreign Domestic Workers (FDW) as part-time maids. These FDWs are only legally allowed to work for the employer stated in their work permit.
As such, it is an offence to hire a FDW that works under another household to do part-time work for your household. This offence prevails with or without their employer’s consent.
It is also illegal for the employer of the FDW to deploy them to work for another household – even if it is for non-domestic jobs.
Final Words
Your house is a haven where you unwind and relax. Ensuring it is tidy and comfortable to live in is a need. If the hustle-bustle of life doesn’t allow you to have time for your household chores, simply hire the right part-time maid in Singapore.
There is no need for a tremendous bank account to employ someone to assist. To add on, the downtime you get in return can be well worth your money.
There are a number of part-time maids in Singapore who are diligent, hardworking and great at their work. All you have to do is to follow the above guidelines to find a maid who will meet your circumstances perfectly.
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