by Taylor Shay

Created on: August 30, 2008   Last Updated: June 01, 2010

For those of us who hate to clean, having a maid is a true godsend. However, most of us who grew up as middle-class kids didn't grow up with a maid. So, when we hire household help for the first time, we really don't know what to expect or what to expect of our help.
Here is a short list of things to consider when you take the leap!

1. Hiring through a reputable agency will assure you that the maid will be bonded, will be experienced and will be legal. If you're not happy with her work, the agency will handle it, not you. You will pay more but the simplicity and peace of mind may well be worth it. Also, you won't need to worry about taxes and withholding if you use and agency; they will handle all of those details for you.

2. By law, if you hire household help and pay them cash wages, you may be subject to withholding taxes from your employee's check. See the IRS link for details: http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc756.html You may also be subject to state taxes; check with your state's government web site for specifics.

3. You will most likely think, "no one else reports the wages to the government or withholds taxes for their cleaning lady, why should I?" The answer to that question is up to you. In California, a very popular politician came under fire for not claiming her household help. Again, the decision is up to you, but the law is the law!

4. If you decide to find your own maid, hiring someone who works for a friend is the best way to go. She will come with automatic references. Be sure your acquaintance has employed the maid for a period of time conducive to having absolute knowledge about and confidence in the maid, say a year or more. This has worked well for me.

5. Are you going to give the maid a key or will you make arrangements for her to be let into your home if you are not at home during the day? Remember that, should you and your maid part ways, simply getting back your key does not ensure your security. It is expensive to change your locks; I've learned by experience either make arrangements for someone to open the door for her or give her a key marked "do not duplicate." You will be glad you did and it will save you money in the long run.

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