Domestic Help Guide in Sydney
It is not uncommon for people that work long hours to hire a domestic helper to come in to regularly clean the home, do ironing and basic chores. Your arrangement can be weekly, bi-weekly or even monthly. You can find a cleaner in your local newspaper, online, or in the Yellow Pages. Occasionally you will find flyers in your mailbox as well. You can also advertise for a cleaner in your local paper or in Gumtree, which is a free classifieds website, similar to Craigslist. In addition, you may find a domestic helper by asking a colleague or neighbor if they can recommend someone. It is uncommon to have a live-in helper but it does happen. Often they will work for reduced or freeboard, or they may be paid as well. It really depends on the amount of work they are required to do.
A number of larger companies can offer a very convenient one-stop-shop for finding different domestic services under one banner. With these organizations you also have the added advantage of knowing that workers’ references have been screened thoroughly and that people entering your home will have current Australian police checks.
What you will pay will depend on the job. Many services charge for the whole job rather than by the hour and will provide a free quote. Expect to pay anything from $60 and higher for any kind of domestic service.
Some of Australia’s most respected companies providing domestic help include:
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- VIP, Offers home cleaning, window cleaning, gardening, home handyman, and maintenance services. Phone 13 26 13 http://www.viphomeservices.com
- Dial An Angel, Provides domestic housekeeping & home cleaning, gardening & home maintenance, nannies, childcare & babysitting, supervised contact visits, pet care, caretaking, eldercare-at-home, in-home nursing and home & corporate functions. National 1300 721 111 http://www.dialanangel.com
- Absolute Domestics, Provides in-home help to dust, vacuum, mop, clean, and polish (kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, toilets, patios, floors, carpets, windows, ovens, hotplates, fridge, pantry benchtops, sinks, and cupboards) Phone 1300 36 46 46 http://www.absolutedomestics.com.au
- Hire a Hubby, Provides household handyman type services including painting, repairs, carpentry, tiling, doors & locks, maintenance, landscaping, installation, fencing etc. Phone 1800 803 33 http://www.hireahubby.com.au
- Grey Army, Provides a suite of people who can provide the following services: appliance repair, bathroom renovations, bricklayers, builders, cabinet makers, carpenters, carpet cleaning, cleaners, concreters, electricians, fencers, gardeners, gutter cleaning, handymen, lawn mowing, painters, pavers, pest control, plasterers, plumbers, roof repairs, rubbish removal, tilers, tree lopping, window cleaners. 13 11 98 http://www.greyarmy.com.au
- Yellow Pages http://www.yellowpages.com.au
- Gumtree http://gumtree.com.au
