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Hiring Guide
Step-by-step guides and tips for hiring a domestic helper in Singapore


The First 7 Days: How to Welcome Your New Domestic Helper the Right Way
Your new domestic helper has just arrived. Her bags are in the room you've prepared, she's jet-lagged from the journey, and she's standing in a home she's never seen, surrounded by faces she doesn't yet know. This moment — the very first day — sets the tone for everything that follows. And if you're like most Singapore employers, you've spent weeks on paperwork, medical checks, and MOM processing, but maybe not enough time thinking about what happens after she walks through t
4 min read


What to Do in the First 30 Days: A Step-by-Step Guide to Welcoming Your New Domestic Helper
The day your new domestic helper arrives is a big moment — for you, for your family, and especially for her. She's stepped off a plane into a country she may have only read about, into a home she's never seen, to work for people she's only met through a video call or a profile photo. It's a lot. And how you handle those first few weeks can set the tone for the entire working relationship. A lot of employers in Singapore focus all their energy on the hiring process — the inter
5 min read


Can You Afford a Helper? MOM's Eligibility Guide (2026)
Wondering if you meet MOM's requirements to hire a domestic helper in Singapore? We break down the income criteria, what MOM looks at, hidden costs, and how to prepare your finances — so you can start your hiring journey with confidence.
3 min read


Top 10 Questions First-Time Maid Employers Ask in Singapore (Answered)
From costs and contracts to rest days and pet care — here are the ten questions every first-time maid employer in Singapore asks, answered in plain English with practical advice.
6 min read


Hiring a Helper for Elderly Care in Singapore: What Families Need to Know
More Singapore families are hiring domestic helpers specifically for elderly parents — not for housework, but for dedicated caregiving. This guide covers MOM caregiver eligibility, training requirements, cost expectations, and how to find the right match for your parent's needs.
4 min read


The Complete 7-Day Onboarding Guide: Setting Your New Helper Up for Success
The first week is make-or-break for helper retention. Follow this day-by-day onboarding guide to set expectations, build trust, and create a foundation for a long-term working relationship.
3 min read


Caring for Ageing Parents at Home: How Your Domestic Helper Can Be Your Greatest Ally in Singapore
Caring for ageing parents at home in Singapore? Complete guide to training your domestic helper for eldercare — medication management, mobility, dementia care, nutrition, hygiene & emergency response. Includes infographic, costs, AIC grants & FAQ.
3 min read


How to Choose the Right Domestic Helper for Your Home - How to hire domestic helper right in Singapore
<p>Choosing a domestic helper is one of the most important household decisions a family can make. The right person can bring structure, calm, and dependable
5 min read


Dog Care Maid Singapore: How to Find a trained helper for pets in Singapore
Find and train a dog care maid in Singapore. iHome's guide to hiring a helper for canine care — walking, grooming, feeding, and pet safety tips.
3 min read


The First 30 Days: Helping Your New Domestic Helper Settle Into Your Singapore Home - a new domestic helper 30 day onboarding plan
Bringing a new domestic helper into your home is a significant milestone. Whether it is your first time hiring or you are a seasoned employer, the first 30 days set the tone for your entire working relationship. A warm, structured welcome can make all the difference between a helper who thrives and one who struggles to adjust. In this guide, we will walk you through a practical, step-by-step plan to help your new Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) feel at home, understand your exp
4 min read


First-Time Employer in Singapore? 5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Maid
Starting your journey as a first-time maid employer? Don't let these common pitfalls cost you time, money, and peace of mind. Avoid common pitfalls when hiring your first domestic helper in Singapore. This infographic covers the 5 critical mistakes to avoid—from MOM eligibility to the settling-in period—to ensure a smooth and successful hiring experience. Hiring a domestic helper for the first time in Singapore is exciting but can be overwhelming. With MOM regulations, costs
2 min read


Empower Your Helper: Singapore’s First Pet Care Certification Course for Migrant Domestic Workers
In busy Singapore households, pets are cherished family members. Ensuring they receive the best care—even when you are at work—is a top priority. Recognizing this need, a groundbreaking collaboration has emerged to bridge the gap between household help and professional pet care. Enroll your helper in Singapore’s first Pet Care Certification Course for migrant domestic workers. A collaboration between iHome Agency and Happy Paw Ark to build skills in grooming, toilet training,
2 min read


Hiring a Domestic Helper in Singapore: Why Choose iHome Agency Singapore As Your Partner For The Right Family Fit
When choosing a domestic helper agency in Singapore, understanding the market landscape is key to finding value. While the industry is largely dominated by traditional agencies that charge significant placement fees, iHome Agency distinguishes itself by focusing on cost-efficiency and accessible, round-the-clock support. Why Choose iHome Agency Singapore? The iHome Advantage When you choose iHome Agency, you gain access to a service model built on four core pillars: Curated
3 min read


Signs of Burnout in Domestic Helpers (And How to Prevent an Abrupt Resignation)
For many busy households, a live-in domestic helper is the invisible anchor keeping daily life moving smoothly. But when the atmosphere at home starts to feel heavy or tense, it is often a sign that this anchor is slipping. A detailed infographic visually contrasting burnout in a domestic helper with effective retention strategies. Includes text lists, symbolic objects, and a transition from a cluttered workspace to a supportive home environment. Many employers are blindsided
4 min read


Landed Property + Newborn: Does It Make Sense to Hire 2 Domestic Helpers?
Welcoming a newborn is a beautiful, life-changing milestone. But if you live in a multi-story landed property, that joy can quickly be mixed with sheer exhaustion. Managing a massive house while operating on zero sleep raises a very practical question for many parents: Does it make sense to hire two domestic helpers? The short answer? Yes, it often makes perfect mathematical and operational sense. However, managing a two-helper household introduces new dynamics that you need
3 min read


The Emergency "Leave of Absence" Flight Scams
It is a situation every employer dreads. Your domestic helper approaches you with tears in their eyes, describing an urgent, sudden family crisis back home. They need an emergency "leave of absence" right away, promising up and down that they will return in two weeks to finish out their contract. Naturally, out of empathy and panic, you rush to book a round-trip ticket. But once they land, communication stops. Messages go unread, calls go straight to voicemail, and you realiz
3 min read


The Philippines' New Global Minimum Wage Shockwave: What It Means for Household Budgets
The global landscape for hiring foreign domestic helpers has officially shifted. A sweeping policy change enacted by the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has instituted a strict worldwide minimum salary floor for Filipina domestic helpers of USD 500 (approximately SGD 650). For many households, this regulatory change is rewriting the baseline math of home care. If you are trying to balance a family budget while managing household chores or caregiving needs,
3 min read


Is Singapore Moving Away From Indonesian Helpers? The Rise of Myanmar, India & Philippines Alternatives
For decades, Indonesian domestic helpers have formed the backbone of Singapore's domestic labor market. Making up a massive percentage of the more than 280,000 migrant domestic workers (MDWs) in the city-state, their presence allows countless Singaporean households to balance demanding careers with childcare, eldercare, and daily domestic needs. Infographic analyzing Singapore’s domestic helper market, detailing the placement loan cycle, employer best practices for mitigatin
4 min read


What No One Tells You About the "Adjustment Phase" with a New Domestic Helper
Welcoming a Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) into your Singapore household marks the beginning of a significant transition. The first 30 to 90 days are widely recognized as the critical "adjustment phase." Managing this period successfully requires a balance of empathy, clear communication, and adherence to Ministry of Manpower (MOM) guidelines. This guide provides an optimization-first blueprint for employers navigating this onboarding journey. Navigating a new helper's onboard
3 min read


Is Buying Back Your Time Worth S$800 a Month? How a Helper Changes the Singapore Hustle
Hiring a live-in Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) is a distinct feature of urban living for many families in Singapore. With dual-income households being the norm and the fast-paced nature of professional life, outsourcing household management is often a necessity rather than a luxury. Thinking of a helper in SG? Discover the life-changing benefits: gain time, lower stress, and boost family quality. Plus, balance costs, MOM levy, and privacy. But beyond simply getting the chores
3 min read
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