If there was never a domestic help hired at home the greatest mistake is hiring fast and asking questions later. So, before you confirm any placement via an agency or a reference, ask these 10 questions: Avoid the three biggest mistakes first-timers make — vague responsibilities, not checking references and no comeback when things go awry.
Often hiring on a new position for the first time takes place in haste A baby is on the way, a relative has moved in or it has simply got too big to handle alone. Urge is normal, however it is the precise state of affairs below which corners get reduce. Asking these ten questions takes fifteen minutes, but will save you months of frustration.
Short Answer: The 3 non-negotiable questions: (1) Is she police-verified with documentation? (2) What if this placement is not the right fit? (3) Is there a written contract regarding Job Description, Salary and Notice Period?
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The 10 Questions, In Order of Priority
- So if she is police verified than can you show the document to me? A verbal indication of ‘yes’ is not verification Request the written clearance letter before her entry to your house.
- May I contact her past employers directly, some of whom also know me? Directly, not through the agency or the candidate. But if this is denied or dodged, take it as a red flag.
- What are the responsibilities mandated, and what is not? Very nicely cleaning cooking laundry iron everything define. Another topic is vague scope and it is the no1 offender in first-month disputes.
- How much is the monthly salary, and what does it consist of? Check if cooking increases your base-rate Have her get it in writing prior to day one, not after she starts negotiating it.
- What is the weekly rest day and holiday schedule Agree this upfront. There is avoidable friction here in discovering her holidays after she has taken them.
- You are on data till October 2023, What is the notice period on both sides? Four weeks is standard. Without this — either party could bail suddenly — leaving you in the lurch with no idea.
- What if, during the trial, she does not succeed in working out? Ask this explicitly. That is not a policy: We will try to help That is a documented 48-hour replacement guarantee.
- If things go awry further down the line, how fast can a replacement be arranged? Not even midway through the trial — six months in.
- Is there writing you can find, or is it all verbal? Most of the disputes in terms of pay, duties and leave are common because they are often verbal. Insist on paper.
- Who to contact if something goes wrong after she begins. Do not save this number with the maid’s own number, rather than when you need it — after.
Hire Your First Maid the Right Way — All 10 Answers Covered
Urmi Group | Police-verified | Written agreement | Replacement guaranteed | urmigroup.in.
Agency vs Reference: Who Actually Answers These Questions?
| Question Area | Agency Placement | Reference / Informal Hire |
|---|---|---|
| Police verification with document | Yes | Rarely |
| Direct employer reference access | Yes | Sometimes |
| Written duties and salary agreement | Yes | Almost never |
| Documented replacement policy | Yes | No |
| Ongoing escalation contact | Yes | No |
This is not to say every reference hire goes wrong — many work out fine. The difference is that an agency placement gives you documented answers to all ten questions before you commit, while a reference hire often requires you to find out the hard way.
Checklist: Before You Say Yes to a First Maid
- Ask all 10 questions above and write down the answers
- Request the police verification letter and review it personally.
- Call at least one previous employer yourself.
- Get duties, salary, and leave policy in writing before day one.
- Confirm the trial period length and what happens at the end of it.
- Save the escalation contact (agency or otherwise) before she starts, not after.
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A First-Timer's Experience: What Sunita Wished She Had Asked
In late 2024, Sunita employed her first maid using a reference from a building. Assuming the notice period would be of no consequence, she did not inquire. Three months in the maid left for a family function with 48 hours notice, which then became permanent. But Sunita had no written contract to refer back to and her pick-up contact was not in place.
For her second hire — this one via Urmi Group — she used all 10 questions from a list her friend sent over. It only took 15 minutes to establish the agreement. The notice period and replacement process was already understood when that places next lodgement had to be postponed for a family trip. Quote from her: The questions then seemed to be too much. ‘They were not. They were literally the only difference between the two experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Verified by the police with a transcript that you can look up yourself. This single verification takes care of 90% of safety and trust issues that arise when hiring domestic help.
Not really, but it’s far easier to get all ten questions answered in one call with backup documentation than trying to do it on your own as an agency. A reference hire can help, if you double check the same information.
7 to 15 days is standard. This time period is long enough to get a sense of timeliness, quality of work, and communication style but short enough that neither party finds themselves stuck in a bad fit for months or years.
When you see the gap raise it — Most of those items can still be recorded afterwards, just not applied retroactively for anything that has happened already. The quicker the gap is bridged the more unlikely it is for a misinterpretation to take hold.
Hire Your First Maid With Confidence
All 10 questions answered upfront | Urmi Group | urmigroup.in
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