Hiring a domestic help!!!!!

Hi,

I am moving to Hong Kong next year from Canada and plan to have a baby before I move. I don't know anyone in Hong kong so any input or advise would be helpful and appreciated. I wanted to ask that If I want to hire a domestic helper is it better to get someone from my home country that is India or is it better to hire someone locally in Hong Kong? And what are the good areas to live in Hong Kong. I would really appreciate if someone can answer my questions. Thank you. Regards

Can't answer the domestic helper question. There may be immigration issues if they're hired in Canada and you want to bring them over. There's alot of advice on finding a helper on this website but I don't think you'll find an answer to your specific question. There's also a book called Helper's Helper by Julie Jacobson that is written for domestic helpers - we used it to work out what we wanted our helper to do. Filippino helpers also get given a guide book (by their govt I think).


This website has a relocation tips section. It includes other expats comments on their experiences, things to bring, etc.


In addition the American Chamber of Commerce in HK has a book titled Living in Hong Kong which is specifically aimed at expats and covers moving to HK. If you can't get it in Canada, then try their website - www.amcham.org.hk. It gives you some background into the different areas of HK to help you make a choice of where you want to live. There are also a number of other books available on moving to HK. I found Routes to Roots (by Icy Kwok) useful for an initial overviews of different areas, although it is rather brief and slightly out of date (eg. it doesn't cover Sai Kung).


Before you make any decisions though, you should try to make a trip to HK before your move as the impression you get from a book is very different to reality. If you or your partner's company are moving you, then you should ask for an advance trip (to have a look around, including looking at housing options/areas) and if possible a relocation consultant. That way you will have some idea of what to expect, what to bring, etc.


With a place to live, you may also want to consider whether you want somewhere with a lot of facilities, or a larger place with few or no facilities. We are in a complex with pool, indoor play area, small shop, etc. It makes life alot easier with kids in the hot and humid months, or when the pollution is bad, or when it's pouring with rain, etc. But you sacrifice some space (or pay more).


Generally, the further away from Central you are the less expensive, although areas such as the Peak are more expensive even though further away.


In addition, it's not always easy to get around HK with a pram/stroller as there are alot of stairs and steep hills, so assess the areas you're interested in for this as well. Taxis are relatively cheap but they don't have baby seats/capsules so you hold your baby in your lap. Having a car is expensive in HK, and I hear that finding parking can be difficult sometimes. (We don't have a car so don't quote me.)


There are alot of playgroups here so it's just a matter of finding one near to where you live. The Matilda hospital also runs a mothers and babies group. You will probably meet alot of people in similar situations through these groups (although in some playgroups it's alot of helpers taking the kids not the mums).


Most things are available here, but sometimes you have to hunt around for ages to find it. Or it may take a while to work out what an equivalent product is. Or they sell out and you have to wait weeks or even months for the next shipment. We brought things like children's medicines from home just in case - so we didn't have to worry about finding equivalents in the early days.


The major supermarkets Park'n'shop and Wellcome, will deliver free of charge if you buy HK$400 and you can order online. (Check out their websites as you get some idea of the products available - there's more in the stores though. www.Parknshop.com, www.wellcome.com.hk) But you will still want to buy fresh produce yourself. Again check out what sort of supermarket/facilities are available near where you want to live. Even if your helper is doing the shopping, go and see what is available in the nearby shops.


By the way, winter in HK is actually reasonably cold. It doesn't get anywhere near as cold as Canada, but it's not hot and humid all year round.


And lastly, I hear that the YWCA-ESMD has a special programme for newcomers that runs one morning each week for 4 weeks. It basically shows you around HK. I didn't do this as my boy is 2 and would not have sat through 3-4 hours, but you may consider it.


No doubt that HK is very different to home (we moved from Australia). But it's a fascinating place. And we have found the other expats and locals here very helpful.


Good luck.

If you want to hire Indian domestic helpers, you can find them here. It might use too much of your time and energy to bring one here, so I think it wl be easier for u to find one here locally.

Thanks J.D. and Mighty ...your inputs and suggestions were really great and helpful. I will ask my husband if he can arrange a short trip to HK before we move permanently just to get a fair idea. I really appreciate all the help. Thanks once again. Both me and my husband have decided that we will hire a helper from Hong Kong. Thanks a ton. Regards

By the way, when looking at the cost of rental - don't forget that alot of rents are quoted exclusive which means they haven't included mgt fees and govt rates. If the rents are quoted inclusive then these are included in the rental cost quoted. Fees and rates can add quite a bit on.


Also the size of a place (in sq feet) is usually quoted gross which means it includes your share of the common areas. I've heard that common areas can add more than 10% onto the quoted size in some cases.


Be prepared - rents can move alot here. I had a look last October and by the time we got here in March rents had increased by over 10%.


Look at the size of the lifts (take some measurements when you're here for a visit if you can). Then measure your furniture at home. If your couch or cupboard doesn't fit in the lift, they will then try to carry it up the stairs. But they'll charge you about HK$80-100 per floor. If it can't fit up the stairs, then you're stuck.


And some unfurnished apartments will have white goods (fridge, washing machine, dryer and microwave). But apartments don't usually have curtains or light fittings. If you come in winter, then expect a cold flat without curtains. No heating is provided. (Then again, we had our curtains made and fitted in 5 days - but it took us about 2 weeks to pick them!)


And even though your child will be small when you arrive, make sure you allow for the cost of schooling. Even playgroup can be expensive depending on where you go (some can be HK$30K+ pa for 2 hours 2 mornings a week).


And lastly, the cost of utilities here is much higher we were used to in Aus. Don't know how it would compare to CAN, but you may want to check it out.


But then again there are alot of things that are cheaper (eg. clothes, shoes, furniture, etc).

Thanks a lot for your time and effort, it is much appreciated, I will keep all these things in mind all your input has given me an idea as to what to expect. I am not sure wether we would be able to make a trip before we move.

I asked my husband and his bank cannot give hin time off and tickets are really expensive too!!!

once again thanks a lot, hope we meet when we are there!!!

If your husbands willing to travel a bit to work then I'd recommend living in Clearwater Bay or Sai kung with a family. A lovely place to live, can get a big villa with garden for the same rents or less than for a small flat in town. Near to beaches and hills. Also Sai Kung for shopping and walking is pretty buggy friendly.

getting a helper from india is not a bad idea. however, you must consider that the helper might get home-sick 'soon'. a few of my friends here have faced the problem, and it can get tough if the helper decides to leave in a couple of months. so, if you consider the indian helper option, try to make sure that the helper has very few people back home she is going to miss. if i were you, i would have opted for someone from india after rigorous interviews. but, it depends a great deal on how lucky you are. good luck. hope you and your family have a nice stay here.

Hi C.D. thanks for your help... I will keep that in mind and my husband and I will look at all the properties, the place you have mentioned sounds really nice. I don't know much about Hong KOng but whatever research I have done Discovery Bay and Causeway Bay seems to be quite popular places to live? Are these places with High rise apartments? We both would love to live in a place with a garden though. So will keep your suggestion in mind. Thanks a ton.

Rads

Hi Bobbie CH ... thanks for tips.....After reading everyone's replies, even I think that getting someone from India may not work out as well as we will be new to HK and the helper would of course be new to the country might feel homesick and might want to go back. And it will make the situation bad.Mighty on this forum suggested me that I can look for an Indian domestic Helper with experience. So thats what I think we are going to do. I think it will easier that way.

Discovery Bay is an Island off HK. Very geared towards families, especially young children. But it is either a place you love or hate, personally I couldn't live their, far too insular, also I have a teenager who I think would die of boredom and frustration as there is nothing for them. I know people who live there and even they admit they have to have frequent trips to Central to stay sane.Causeway Bay is on HK island and is one of the most busiest places in HK, definately wouldn't recommend it for living, just shopping. Your best bet would be to get a serviced apartment for a month and have a really good look around.

Thanks CD..So Causeway bay is more for shopping and commercial.I come from India which is a very crowded place but have been living in Canada for quite sometime now and I like open spaces. Both me and my husband would like to live in a more open neighbourhood with gardens and all. You suggest that clearwater is a good place to live, will surely keep that in mind. And another quick question I had in mind, Should you go through an agent to look for a place or just try it on your own? Plus is it mostly that you get furnished apartments there coz I would like to furnish it on my own. Thanks for all your help.

Most places apart from serviced apartments are unfurnished. Your best bet would be to use an agent, but you will be charged a fee, a certain percentage of the rental price, but we have moved 5 times in HK and have never paid this fee. We have always asked the new landlords and so far no one has said no, twice we even manged to get a month rent free too.

hi

i'm also coming from CAN in 3 yrs ago, is there anythings i can help, i will suggest live in Discovery Bay more for little kids and its feel likes home.

I live in Causeway Bay and definitely do not recommend it for someone with a family. Noisy. Crowded. Dirty. But great for shopping...

We live in Wan Chai because it's close to my husband's work, and given he travels a bit he wanted to have as much time with family as possible in the mornings and evenings.


But anywhere close to Central is expensive, crowded and it'd be a flat with no or only a small balcony. Unless you have alot of money to spend in which case you might be able get a flat with a rooftop garden.


I haven't been to Sai Kung but hear it is lovely and that you can get a lot more for your money there. And there is space, less pollution, etc. But it is quite a trek into work (depending on where your husband will be working).


We had a look at Discovery Bay when we first arrived here and while it has alot of facilities, less pollution, and it is very nice, for me it just felt a bit too much like a resort. But I know people who live there who wouldn't live anywhere else.


Another area you might consider is Stanley. It is on the southside and is next to a beach. It is cheaper than alot of areas on HK Island as it is further from Central. But it has alot of facilities as there are alot of expats there, and feels more like HK than Discovery Bay. It is more expensive than Discovery Bay or Sai Kung though, and again I don't know your budget but doubt you'd get much of a garden there (maybe a small courtyard in a block of low rise flats).


With regard to agents, my husbands company provided a relocation consultant - which we ended up paying for! (Wish we'd read the fine print in his contract as we didn't realise we'd be paying for it.) In any case, she was very useful. We gave her our budget and she showed us around various flats in different areas, showing us all the facilities in each area, etc. And then she negotiated the deal for us, including explaining the rental contract. Very useful for a newcomer. I'd ask if your husband's company will provide that as it made it alot easier.


Note also that the quoted rental price is usually negotiable, but it depends on the state of the market as to how much of a discount you can get. During and just after SARS I hear that the discounts could be more than 30% but these days it's much less - maybe 5% now although I'm not sure on that.

I have to say a big thanks to everyone for all your help. All of your suggestions and ideas have given me a fair idea. I will keep all these places in mind. My husband would be provided a Relocation Consultant and hopefully the consultant can take us to all these places. As of now I don't exactly know where will be my husband's office. If we can find a place which is in nice surrounding but a little travel wouldn't be bad. We plan to buy a car there to make our lives easier. And J.D. I did visit both the websites you mentioned wellcome.com and parknshop.com, they were quite useful.

Thanks