How to Choose a Reliable Domestic Helper: A Practical Checklist

Most hiring problems in Indian homes start before the helper's first day. The family is in a hurry, the role is described in one line ("someone for the house"), and expectations about hours, cooking, childcare or weekly offs are never spoken aloud. This checklist walks through the decisions that matter, in the order you should make them.

1. Decide what kind of help you actually need

"Maid" covers very different jobs. Before you speak to anyone, list the tasks you want done and how many hours they realistically take. Then match them to a role:

• Cleaning, utensils, laundry and upkeep usually point to a house maid.
• Cleaning plus basic cooking and some help with children or elders fits an all-rounder domestic helper.
• A full working day of household support suits a full-time maid on an 8, 9 or 10-hour schedule.
• Someone who stays in your home means a live-in maid, which needs a private space and agreed rest hours.
• Childcare, newborn care, cooking or elder support are specialised roles: nanny, Japa maid, cook or elder care attendant.

Choosing the right role first prevents the most common mismatch: hiring a cleaner and later expecting cooking and childcare from the same person within the same hours.

2. Fix the working hours and arrangement

Decide whether you need daytime help for a fixed number of hours or a live-in arrangement. Maidvy arranges daytime help on 6, 8, 9 or 10-hour schedules and 24-hour live-in help. A 24-hour live-in arrangement means the helper lives in your home; it does not mean continuous work. The helper still needs sleep, meal breaks and personal time. If you are unsure which suits you, our comparison of daytime and live-in maids explains the trade-offs.

3. Check identity and documents

Ask for a government identity document and keep a copy, with the helper's consent. Note the permanent address and an emergency contact. Where the helper has worked in homes before, ask who you can speak to. When you hire through Maidvy, identity and available document verification is carried out as applicable before deployment.

Be realistic about what verification means. It reduces risk; it cannot guarantee anyone's future conduct. Good household practice, such as keeping valuables secured and setting clear boundaries, still matters. Our safety checklist covers this in detail.

4. Interview on the real job

An interview should test the work you actually need, not general friendliness. Ask how they would handle a normal day in your home, what they have done in previous households, which tasks they are not comfortable with, and what working hours and weekly off they expect. Maidvy coordinates audio or video interviews (for example on Google Meet) with shortlisted candidates so you can speak to them before deciding. Use our list of questions to ask during a domestic helper interview.

5. Agree duties, salary and rules in writing

Write a one-page duty sheet: daily tasks, weekly tasks, working hours, breaks, weekly off, leave, and anything that is not part of the job. Share it before the joining date. Our guide on responsibilities to discuss before deployment includes a template.

The helper's monthly salary is agreed directly between your family and the helper, based on experience, duties, hours, city and mutual agreement. It is separate from any agency fee. See agency fee vs worker salary for how the two differ.

6. Understand the cost of using an agency

If you use Maidvy, you pay a service fee for sourcing, verification as applicable, interview coordination, deployment support and plan-based replacement. The current plans are:

Plan	Service fee	GST (18%)	Total
Daytime Plan	₹15,000	₹2,700	₹17,700
24×7 Live-In Plan	₹25,000	₹4,500	₹29,500

The helper's salary is not included. Full details are on the pricing page.

7. Plan for the first two weeks

Show the helper where things are, explain your routines and give feedback early and politely. Small corrections in the first week prevent large disagreements later. Pay the agreed salary on time and respect the agreed hours. These basics are also the foundation of a respectful working relationship.

8. Know what happens if it does not work out

Even careful hiring sometimes ends in a mismatch. With Maidvy, replacement is available during an active subscription: up to 2 replacements on the Daytime Plan and up to 3 on the 24×7 Live-In Plan, subject to the Replacement Policy. The standard replacement turnaround is generally 2 to 15 working days and is not guaranteed. Read how the replacement process works.

Checklist summary

1. List tasks and choose the right role.
2. Decide hours: 6, 8, 9 or 10-hour daytime, or 24-hour live-in.
3. Collect identity documents and an emergency contact.
4. Interview on real duties.
5. Share a written duty sheet and agree the salary.
6. Understand agency fees and what they include.
7. Give clear feedback in the first two weeks.
8. Know the replacement terms before you start.

If you would like help with any of these steps, request a callback and a Maidvy advisor will discuss your requirement. We arrange domestic help across Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata.

Red flags and green flags during hiring

No single sign decides a hire, but patterns help. Green flags include specific answers about previous work, honesty about tasks the person has not done, clear expectations about hours and weekly off, and willingness to share identity documents. Red flags include refusing any identity check, pressure to pay large advances before joining, or agreeing to every task and every hour without question, which often means the role has not been understood.

Using an agency or hiring directly

Families hire domestic help both ways. Hiring directly through references can work well when you know the person who recommends the helper. An agency adds structure: requirement consultation, profile matching, identity and available document verification as applicable, interview coordination, and replacement support if the placement does not work out. Whichever route you choose, the steps in this checklist still apply, because the duty sheet, salary agreement and working conditions are always between your family and the helper.

For reference, Maidvy's service fee is ₹15,000 + 18% GST = ₹17,700 on the Daytime Plan and ₹25,000 + 18% GST = ₹29,500 on the 24×7 Live-In Plan. The helper's monthly salary is always separate and agreed between the family and the helper.

Maidvy arranges domestic help in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata. These are operating service areas; Maidvy's registered office is in Bengaluru.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most important step when choosing a domestic helper?

Defining the role and working hours clearly before you start. Most problems come from unclear expectations, not from the interview itself.

Does verification guarantee a helper is trustworthy?

No. Identity and document verification reduces risk, but no check can guarantee future conduct. Combine verification with clear rules and sensible household practices.

Is the helper's salary included in the Maidvy fee?

No. The Maidvy fee is a service charge. The helper's monthly salary is agreed and paid directly by the family to the helper.

Can I speak to a helper before deciding?

Yes. Maidvy coordinates audio or video interviews with shortlisted candidates before you make a decision.

How long does it take to find a domestic helper through Maidvy?

Deployment generally takes between 2 and 15 working days, depending on the role, city, availability and your requirements. It is an estimate, not a guarantee.