Live in nanny or au pair now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You really shouldn't go into it looking at "housing as part of the pay." The "live in" aspect is usually more for the employer's benefit; no "snow days" or tardiness due to "traffic", etc.
Unless your nanny quarters are something truly extraordinary, the nanny would rather have the opportunity to "get away from work" after her shift.

The fact that you also "only need a few hours a day" will also increase the rate/hour.

Depending on the actual housing offered (is this a private guest home on a large estate? A basement apartment? A small bedroom sharing a bath with the kids?) I'd try starting around $25/hr and if you don't get any bites from well qualified candidates, raise the rate.

This!!!!

The only way you’ll find someone who wants a part-time job and will take housing as part of compensation is if you hire a nanny who brings a young child with her to live with you or if you find an online student.

I am guessing the above PPs have never had or tried to hire a live in nanny. I have. The housing is absolutely a factor in the pay. That doesn’t mean they work for free or anything, it means that their hourly rate is reduced to reflect the fact that they have no living expenses - they have no rent, utilities, etc. There are absolutely people looking for this. Obviously these are not people who have homes they want to continue living in while also living in yours. We have a fully legal separate basement apartment and instead of renting it out, it belongs to our nanny. We pay all of the costs associated with the apartment, except food, and that is her home. We pay her $15/hour for childcare and she works 30 hours a week. We pay more if she works longer, we do not pay less if she works less. She gets vacation, sick pay, etc. She is from VA - her family live in Norfolk and (pre covid) she visits them on some weekends but otherwise mostly hangs out with friends or her boyfriend here in DC. We pay taxes and use a payroll company etc. She’s doing a masters in early childhood education, and plans to be a teacher. We found her on care.com and we had a ton of applicants.

I recommend getting a one month paid subscription for care.com and writing a very carefully worded advert saying exactly what the hours are, the pay, and the accommodation, as well as the experience and skills you require (eg driving). It won’t mean you won’t get lots of ridiculous applications - you will! - but in amongst them you should find people who have actually read your advert and may work. Of course check all references thoroughly before hiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You really shouldn't go into it looking at "housing as part of the pay." The "live in" aspect is usually more for the employer's benefit; no "snow days" or tardiness due to "traffic", etc.
Unless your nanny quarters are something truly extraordinary, the nanny would rather have the opportunity to "get away from work" after her shift.

The fact that you also "only need a few hours a day" will also increase the rate/hour.

Depending on the actual housing offered (is this a private guest home on a large estate? A basement apartment? A small bedroom sharing a bath with the kids?) I'd try starting around $25/hr and if you don't get any bites from well qualified candidates, raise the rate.

This!!!!

The only way you’ll find someone who wants a part-time job and will take housing as part of compensation is if you hire a nanny who brings a young child with her to live with you or if you find an online student.

I am guessing the above PPs have never had or tried to hire a live in nanny. I have. The housing is absolutely a factor in the pay. That doesn’t mean they work for free or anything, it means that their hourly rate is reduced to reflect the fact that they have no living expenses - they have no rent, utilities, etc. There are absolutely people looking for this. Obviously these are not people who have homes they want to continue living in while also living in yours. We have a fully legal separate basement apartment and instead of renting it out, it belongs to our nanny. We pay all of the costs associated with the apartment, except food, and that is her home. We pay her $15/hour for childcare and she works 30 hours a week. We pay more if she works longer, we do not pay less if she works less. She gets vacation, sick pay, etc. She is from VA - her family live in Norfolk and (pre covid) she visits them on some weekends but otherwise mostly hangs out with friends or her boyfriend here in DC. We pay taxes and use a payroll company etc. She’s doing a masters in early childhood education, and plans to be a teacher. We found her on care.com and we had a ton of applicants.

I recommend getting a one month paid subscription for care.com and writing a very carefully worded advert saying exactly what the hours are, the pay, and the accommodation, as well as the experience and skills you require (eg driving). It won’t mean you won’t get lots of ridiculous applications - you will! - but in amongst them you should find people who have actually read your advert and may work. Of course check all references thoroughly before hiring.

You’re not paying much less than the average starting live-out nanny if you look solely at hourly rate. And she’s a student.

For a full-time non-student nanny, it’s much different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You really shouldn't go into it looking at "housing as part of the pay." The "live in" aspect is usually more for the employer's benefit; no "snow days" or tardiness due to "traffic", etc.
Unless your nanny quarters are something truly extraordinary, the nanny would rather have the opportunity to "get away from work" after her shift.

The fact that you also "only need a few hours a day" will also increase the rate/hour.

Depending on the actual housing offered (is this a private guest home on a large estate? A basement apartment? A small bedroom sharing a bath with the kids?) I'd try starting around $25/hr and if you don't get any bites from well qualified candidates, raise the rate.

This!!!!

The only way you’ll find someone who wants a part-time job and will take housing as part of compensation is if you hire a nanny who brings a young child with her to live with you or if you find an online student.

I am guessing the above PPs have never had or tried to hire a live in nanny. I have. The housing is absolutely a factor in the pay. That doesn’t mean they work for free or anything, it means that their hourly rate is reduced to reflect the fact that they have no living expenses - they have no rent, utilities, etc. There are absolutely people looking for this. Obviously these are not people who have homes they want to continue living in while also living in yours. We have a fully legal separate basement apartment and instead of renting it out, it belongs to our nanny. We pay all of the costs associated with the apartment, except food, and that is her home. We pay her $15/hour for childcare and she works 30 hours a week. We pay more if she works longer, we do not pay less if she works less. She gets vacation, sick pay, etc. She is from VA - her family live in Norfolk and (pre covid) she visits them on some weekends but otherwise mostly hangs out with friends or her boyfriend here in DC. We pay taxes and use a payroll company etc. She’s doing a masters in early childhood education, and plans to be a teacher. We found her on care.com and we had a ton of applicants.

I recommend getting a one month paid subscription for care.com and writing a very carefully worded advert saying exactly what the hours are, the pay, and the accommodation, as well as the experience and skills you require (eg driving). It won’t mean you won’t get lots of ridiculous applications - you will! - but in amongst them you should find people who have actually read your advert and may work. Of course check all references thoroughly before hiring.

You’re not paying much less than the average starting live-out nanny if you look solely at hourly rate. And she’s a student.

For a full-time non-student nanny, it’s much different.

But this arrangement isn't going to attract a "full-time non-student nanny." Obviously career nannies of non-student age would at this point have their own places and possibly families. This situation is going to attract someone who needs a job for the summer, doesn't have her own apartment (and will therefore save on rent, food and utilities big time), and realizes that this arrangement is likely temporary. There is nothing wrong with that; for every pot, there's a lid. Just write up your ad very clearly as one PP suggested, and be specific about what you're offering and what you're expecting. Your kids are of school age so likely you will need a big-sister type vs. a grandma type.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You really shouldn't go into it looking at "housing as part of the pay." The "live in" aspect is usually more for the employer's benefit; no "snow days" or tardiness due to "traffic", etc.
Unless your nanny quarters are something truly extraordinary, the nanny would rather have the opportunity to "get away from work" after her shift.

The fact that you also "only need a few hours a day" will also increase the rate/hour.

Depending on the actual housing offered (is this a private guest home on a large estate? A basement apartment? A small bedroom sharing a bath with the kids?) I'd try starting around $25/hr and if you don't get any bites from well qualified candidates, raise the rate.

This!!!!

The only way you’ll find someone who wants a part-time job and will take housing as part of compensation is if you hire a nanny who brings a young child with her to live with you or if you find an online student.

I am guessing the above PPs have never had or tried to hire a live in nanny. I have. The housing is absolutely a factor in the pay. That doesn’t mean they work for free or anything, it means that their hourly rate is reduced to reflect the fact that they have no living expenses - they have no rent, utilities, etc. There are absolutely people looking for this. Obviously these are not people who have homes they want to continue living in while also living in yours. We have a fully legal separate basement apartment and instead of renting it out, it belongs to our nanny. We pay all of the costs associated with the apartment, except food, and that is her home. We pay her $15/hour for childcare and she works 30 hours a week. We pay more if she works longer, we do not pay less if she works less. She gets vacation, sick pay, etc. She is from VA - her family live in Norfolk and (pre covid) she visits them on some weekends but otherwise mostly hangs out with friends or her boyfriend here in DC. We pay taxes and use a payroll company etc. She’s doing a masters in early childhood education, and plans to be a teacher. We found her on care.com and we had a ton of applicants.

I recommend getting a one month paid subscription for care.com and writing a very carefully worded advert saying exactly what the hours are, the pay, and the accommodation, as well as the experience and skills you require (eg driving). It won’t mean you won’t get lots of ridiculous applications - you will! - but in amongst them you should find people who have actually read your advert and may work. Of course check all references thoroughly before hiring.

You’re not paying much less than the average starting live-out nanny if you look solely at hourly rate. And she’s a student.

For a full-time non-student nanny, it’s much different.

But this arrangement isn't going to attract a "full-time non-student nanny." Obviously career nannies of non-student age would at this point have their own places and possibly families. This situation is going to attract someone who needs a job for the summer, doesn't have her own apartment (and will therefore save on rent, food and utilities big time), and realizes that this arrangement is likely temporary. There is nothing wrong with that; for every pot, there's a lid. Just write up your ad very clearly as one PP suggested, and be specific about what you're offering and what you're expecting. Your kids are of school age so likely you will need a big-sister type vs. a grandma type.

1. There are two types of live-in nanny. One is just starting or is a student doing it short term. The other is a career nanny. Career nannies sometimes take temp jobs while looking for something better and long term.

2. There are plenty of career nannies who live in. We either have already had our families or don’t want one.

3. School age kids right now need to be doing at least some educational work this summer. The amount that they missed this school year... A career nanny experienced with that age is a better choice than a student or starting nanny in terms of educating kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
1. There are two types of live-in nanny. One is just starting or is a student doing it short term. The other is a career nanny. Career nannies sometimes take temp jobs while looking for something better and long term.

2. There are plenty of career nannies who live in. We either have already had our families or don’t want one.

3. School age kids right now need to be doing at least some educational work this summer. The amount that they missed this school year... A career nanny experienced with that age is a better choice than a student or starting nanny in terms of educating kids.

There are obviously all kinds of configurations and arrangements of childcare. Whatever works for the family and the nanny is what's best for them. For what it's worth, the career nannies I've observed tend to focus on the preschool set. Once you enter elementary/older elementary years, it's a completely different ballgame. This OP looks like they are looking for a stopgap solution rather than permanent childcare. I feel like families who look for live-in nannies have this mindset from the beginning vs. "omigod no camps this summer what to do??" situation.