Housekeeping services in demand during Tet

Many companies are now offering a one-off service during Tet: housekeeping in Vietnam.

The Lunar New Year is the biggest festival in Vietnam and many people go away on vacation, especially to take advantage of the long holiday, but a myriad things still need to be done at home.

Step in these housekeeping companies. They take care of plants and pets, maintain the altar, protect against burglary and fire, and even receive guests.

Their fees vary between 600,000 dong (US$31) and 1 million dong a day, depending on the requirements.

It may be pretty high but Hong, who used the service for the first time last year and has contacted the same service provider this year, is willing to pay because she “can be assured, mentally and physically.”

They will take care of the altar and garden and keep her informed if there are friends or guests visiting in her absence.

For service providers, precaution is an important aspect. They have to carefully examine several things before signing a deal, Ai Hien, director of a real estate company that now offers housekeeping services, said.

Her company normally sends a staffer to talk to the homeowner, check the assets, pets, plants, and the surroundings.

“We also check security conditions, emergency exits, firefighting equipment, and others. An agreement with compensation terms will only be signed when everything is alright.”

The top priority for people who use the services is complete security. So, service providers have to carefully screen their personnel before hiring them, Lai Huu Tuong, director of a Ho Chi Minh City-based security company which has just entered the business, said.

His company has set up a supervisory team to keep an eye on the housekeepers, Tuong said.

Sometimes homeowners even ask for a daily report on when the plant was watered or pet fed, he added.

Sometimes a document listing the assets in the house is also demanded, service providers said.

But finicky homeowners or not, demand for the service is very high that Hien has 10 clients this Tet and Tuong has triple that number.

Tuong’s company has 100 employees now and he said it has to recruit more if it gets more contracts.

Demand for related services like decoration and renovation of the house is also booming, with the most popular being painting, laying floors, other renovations, and cleaning. – Tuoitre

Tags: Housekeeping services