Renovation while hosting an AP

[Anonymous]

We will soon be interviewing for a new AP and know that we will be renovating the house during part of her year here. Has anyone navigated this type of situation before?

If we tell the AP candidates about the renovation, I suspect good candidates will be unattracted to our family because of it, even though it is only a 2 month project.

[Anonymous]

I went the a 6 month renovation. I told my au apair ahead of time. How will this affect them? No kitchen? Her bedroom are-?

[Anonymous]

Really? Your post offers no information. How will the renovation affect them?

Also, are you super stingy on the benefits you offer to your AP, and are renovating to get a state of the art high end appliances kitchen? If so, your AP may be resentful of
That.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really? Your post offers no information. How will the renovation affect them?

Also, are you super stingy on the benefits you offer to your AP, and are renovating to get a state of the art high end appliances kitchen? If so, your AP may be resentful of
That.

Why is that OPs problem? AP might be resentful because the family might get a nice kitchen? AP needs to deal

[Anonymous]

Are you staying in the house during renovations? How will it affect the APs living situation?
I would disclose the renovation during interviews, simply for the sake of starting off your relationship with incoming AP on a basis of trust. I had a wonderful and mature the year we had unplanned work done on the house, and during the one week of work, our AP Was deeply unhappy. Had it gone on for two months, she probably would’ve left.

[Anonymous]

FYI, a two month project means it will take closer to four months.

[Anonymous]

The bathroon that our AP would use was flooded during the week of her arrival. She had to make due for 6 weeks. She understood that it was an unplanned issue that came up. If it's a planned renovation, I would disclose. The mature ones will be okay with it.

[Anonymous]

We were going through a home renovation when our first au pair arrived. She knew about it and had no problem with it. It lasted probably 6 months. Her room and bathroom were not at all affected. Our LCC said that as long as there was running water, heat/ac, etc. and her room was unaffected, it was totally fine/within program rules.

However, I do think that the current group of au pairs expect more than au pairs in the past. And while it didn't affect our matching when we did it, it may affect you now.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone for the feedback.

We are not stingy at all. AP's bedroom and bathroom are in the basement and those areas will not be impacted. We are renovating the kitchen on the first floor and putting on a small addition off of the kitchen area as well. We have worked with this contractor before. The addition would be done first with most of the work taking place outside initially. Contractor said that real impact to kitchen is 6 weeks. They will work around the kitchen and get other work done before that.

We have a second fridge and sink and kitchen cabinet set up in the basement. I suspect we will be using paper plates, microwave, the bbq grill a lot. Probably lots of take-out too. We plan on going on vacation and taking AP with us for two weeks while the kitchen is out of commission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone for the feedback.

We are not stingy at all. AP's bedroom and bathroom are in the basement and those areas will not be impacted. We are renovating the kitchen on the first floor and putting on a small addition off of the kitchen area as well. We have worked with this contractor before. The addition would be done first with most of the work taking place outside initially. Contractor said that real impact to kitchen is 6 weeks. They will work around the kitchen and get other work done before that.

We have a second fridge and sink and kitchen cabinet set up in the basement. I suspect we will be using paper plates, microwave, the bbq grill a lot. Probably lots of take-out too. We plan on going on vacation and taking AP with us for two weeks while the kitchen is out of commission.

Hi OP,

I would tell the AP all of this, when you interview. Full disclosure is always better. If your dream candidate will be put off by the renovation, then she was not the right fit for your family.

Good luck, OP! It sounds like you have a good plan.