Housekeepers, Nannies and Tutors, Oh My!
By Rachel Hoeing
I have a good friend who has moved almost every two years for the majority of her adult life. I don’t mean moved to a new neighborhood, but has moved from Arizona to CA to NC to TN to FL to Hawaii and back again, all due to her husband’s work with the military. Not only is it difficult for her to find necessary resources when she arrives at her newest city, but she usually needs them fairly quick. Her husband is only home with her a few months out of the year, so with three children, babysitters are usually at the top of her priority list.
She recently told me her secret to hunting down these local resources. She uses a website called Care.com. I checked it out and it seems like an incredible idea. You can easily find hundreds of nannies, care for seniors, care for those with special needs, tutors, pet care, and housekeepers right in your area. Best of all, they come with reference checks and background checks. My friend has used the system and found a fabulous babysitter that she says is a life-saver.
My friend did inform me that just because someone is on the site, don’t take it for granted that they will be top notch. She said she can usually tell just by the photo whether or not someone would be suitable to work with her family. Then as you start researching, you will also find out quickly whether or not they are a good match.
You can browse the site as much as you want for free, but if you actually want to contact someone you have to pay the service fee. My friend said she pays per month and believes it is a minimum of three months. It is important to just make sure you email and cancel before the three months or they will continue to bill your credit card until you cancel. She has used them for up to six months because she likes to see who joins that is new to the area, since you can never have enough baby sitters on your list!
So, check out Care.com and let us know what you think. Better yet, if you have used this service, please add your comments below!
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