中文
Bahasa MelayuQuestions to ask before hiring a domestic helper
Prepare better questions for agencies and helper interviews when hiring domestic help in Singapore: experience, caregiving, cooking, rest days and fees.
Updated 22 August 2026 · Maidagencies.sg editorial team
A well-prepared conversation gives an agency enough information to recommend more suitable profiles. It also helps your household make fair, practical comparisons.
What support does your household actually need?
Start with the daily responsibilities: childcare routines, elderly support, cooking, cleaning, pet care, mobility considerations and work schedules. List the essential needs separately from preferences so agencies can prioritise the right fit.
What experience is most relevant?
Ask about previous duties rather than only asking how many years of experience a candidate has. An agency can help explain whether a past role involved newborn routines, dementia care, cooking for a particular household size or another relevant responsibility.
How will the agency support the placement?
Ask how interviews are arranged, what documentation is provided, who you should contact after placement and how replacement policies work. Make sure payment and service terms are explained in writing.
What should be confirmed before a decision?
Confirm availability, start timing, required documentation and every employment or service term in writing. Take time to compare answers across agencies rather than rushing because a profile is currently available.
Common questions
What should I ask a helper in an interview?
Ask about her previous duties, the ages of children or elderly people she cared for, the dishes she can cook, how she spent her rest days and why she left her last employer.
What should I ask the agency?
Ask how the helper was assessed, whether references from previous employers are available, the total cost breakdown, the expected start date and the replacement policy.
How do I explain house rules?
Write down the daily routine, rest-day arrangements, phone use and household rules, and go through them with the helper and agency before she starts so expectations are clear.