How to Find a Housekeeper: A Practical Hiring Guide
Where to look, what to check, what to put in writing, and when an agency saves you time.
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Key Facts
- Decide live-in or live-out first; it changes where you search and what you pay. A live-in housekeeper is $170–$300 a day in Southern California and $220–$300 elsewhere.
- Phone at least two recent references yourself, and run a background check with the candidate’s written consent.
- Put duties, hours, days off and pay in writing before the first day.
- A referral agency screens and introduces candidates; you still hire the housekeeper directly.
A good housekeeper hire comes down to three decisions made before anyone starts: live-in or live-out, how you will check the people you meet, and what you agree in writing. This guide takes them in order.
When It Makes Sense to Hire a Housekeeper
A housekeeper earns her place when the household has outgrown the time you have for it. The most common reasons families give:
- Work and family leave no time. A full-time job, a partner and children, and the housework slips every week.
- You are recovering from an illness or surgery and need the house kept running while you rest.
- You are caring for an elderly parent and your attention is needed there.
- You are away for weeks or months and the home still needs looking after.
- Parts of the home need specialist cleaning you would rather not risk doing yourself.
- Housework is not where your time is best spent, and you would rather pay for it than let it slide.
What a Housekeeper Does
A housekeeper handles the recurring work of the home; the exact list is agreed with each family.
- Cleaning: dusting, mopping, vacuuming and sweeping, plus the kitchen, bathrooms and surfaces in every room.
- Laundry: washing, folding and making the beds.
- Kitchen: washing dishes, and often a meal or two for the family.
- Household: answering the phone, cleaning windows and keeping the house in order.
Cooking and window cleaning are usually agreed case by case. For Asian maid and housekeeper placement, including live-in, see our housekeepers page.
Where to Find a Housekeeper
There are four common routes, and they differ mainly in how much of the screening you do yourself.
| Route | What you get | Screening done for you |
|---|---|---|
| Personal referral | A name someone you trust has used | None — you still check |
| Online job boards and apps | Many applicants, quickly | None, or a basic ID check |
| Cleaning service | Whoever is scheduled, for task-based visits | Done by the service; you don’t choose the person |
| Referral agency (e.g. My Asian Nanny) | A shortlist you interview; you hire directly | Interview, background check and reference calls before you meet anyone |
How to Screen a Housekeeper: A Checklist
Screen every candidate the same way, whichever route found her.
| Check | Why it matters | How |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | The person matches the paperwork | Photo ID at the interview |
| Work history and references | The best predictor of how she will work | Phone at least two recent households; ask about duties and why she left |
| Background check | Someone will be alone in your home | A screening company, with the candidate’s written consent |
| Work eligibility | Required for a new household hire | Form I-9 for household employees |
| Paid trial day | Pace and standards before you commit | One paid day on your real task list |
| Written agreement | Most early breakdowns are about expectations | Duties, hours, days off, pay and notice period |
In the interview itself, ask about the work: the duties in her last household, how she plans a week, and how she handled a disagreement with a family.
Finding a Housekeeper Yourself vs. Using an Agency
Doing it yourself costs nothing but time: you write the ad, sort the replies, run the checks and make every reference call.
A referral agency does that part for you. At My Asian Nanny, every housekeeper is interviewed, background-checked and reference-verified before you see her; you interview the finalists and hire the one you choose directly. The placement is covered by a replacement guarantee of 60 days in Southern California and 90 days elsewhere.
The cost is a $50 retainer ($125 with a copy of the background check) when the search starts, and a referral fee of 10% of the housekeeper’s daily rate over 60 days in Los Angeles and Orange County, or 90 days elsewhere, due only if you hire. See our service fees.
Which Option Fits Your Time and Budget
If you have the time and like to run the process yourself, the checklist above is enough to hire well. If you would rather spend that time elsewhere, an agency search costs the fees above and usually takes two to four weeks from first call to start date. Our matching process sets out each step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a live-in housekeeper cost?
Expect a day rate rather than an hourly wage for live-in help: $170–$300 in Southern California, $220–$300 in Northern California and other states, and $30–$50 a day more if she drives. A live-out schedule is priced on the hours and days you need.
How long does it take to find a housekeeper through an agency?
Through My Asian Nanny, most families see a first shortlist within five to seven business days after the consultation, and the whole process, from first call to start date, usually takes two to four weeks.
Do I need a background check on a housekeeper?
Yes, for anyone who will be alone in your home. Use a screening company, which will ask the candidate for written consent, and treat it as one check among several: two phoned references tell you more about how she works.
What should a housekeeping agreement include?
The duties, the hours and days off, the pay and how it is paid, the notice period on either side, and any house rules, such as rooms that are off-limits or how keys are handled.
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