When to discuss extending?

[Anonymous]

Our AP is #4 and has been with us since the beginning of September, so just over 2 months. We’ve had 3 previous apps all flatly one year each and never really wanted to extend. Our current ap settled in with our family quickly and seems very happy. My kids like her and she’s a good roommate/member of the household. She’s making friends and doing things on her own and is in the middle of an English course.

For a number of reasons we would really love it if she extended 6 or 9 months. We haven’t talked about it with her at all, and I wonder if it’s too early to do so. If/when we do what sort of things are typically offered for aps who extend? We really want to change our start date cycle as right now it’s roght at the start of the school year and it’s very challenging especially for the kids and me. We also really like her and think she’s fit in wel with our family. We are taking a big multi-family trip over Christmas this year that was planned by others many months ago, and we will not be able to take her. We disclosed this prior to matching and she’s made fun plans with friends for that time, but we do feel badly and would like to include her in a family Christmas next year.

Any advice about timing and incentives to consider?

[Anonymous]

Sometime in the spring, basically when you would think about starting to look for your next match. Think about doing a bonus at the end of the extension, and phrase it to her as a completion bonus. A lot of great APs stop trying as hard after they know they’re extending, and knowing that the completion bonus is contingent on the same performance (or better) helps keep the right mindset. Also, throwing in extra vacation towards the very end, or adding $25-50 dollars per week to the stipend can be wonderful.

[Anonymous]

We start looking @ February or so for our next match, although we usually don’t get serious until April-May. Should we wait that long to discuss it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We start looking @ February or so for our next match, although we usually don’t get serious until April-May. Should we wait that long to discuss it?

Yes, wait until at least February. Things can happen that might make you look forward to a change. But I hope not! It would be great if you can have the same person for longer. I do like the idea of a bonus AT THE END of the extension period too.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't discuss extension until at least 6 months in- a lot can happen (two months is still the "honeymoon phase"). Many regret their decision to extend at 10 or 11 months in.

[Anonymous]

In general, I agree with PPs who suggested to wait. However, OP appears to have a unique situation, where she only needs a 6m or a 9m extension. Given that you cannot get a new (out of country) AP for less than a year, I would go ahead and broach the extension either right before you go away for Christmas, or right after you come back. In the spirit of: "We would very much like to spend the next Christmas with you..."