Hi Chris, if it's one of ur option to get a maid, then should go for it now. At least got time to shop for a good one. Can try transfer maids, if you have kids, bring them along to see how they get along with her.
I personally don't trust bio-datas from agents because I was told by my current maid that most indo agents will ask their maids to state that they have maid experience so most of the info not accurate.
My first maid was from Myanmar, stated age 27, came over, she confessed that she's only 19 and needed the job badly so she begged her burmese agent to change the details. I sent her back in 2 weeks because at 19 years old, she got zero experience in handling babies. Housework also jialat.
i'm my current maid's 3rd employer, she had problems with her first two but I feel that she's a very good helper to me.
Like now as I type this, she's feeding my #2 cereal while my #1 is beside her doing his colouring.
My kids sleep with me so she sleeps alone in another room.
Usually, I'll handle one child, she'll handle one. But last week, i sprained my ankle badly so she handled both herself. Housework, cook, feed, bathe. My #1 is in childcare from 10am-6pm, #2 is at home with me.
At times, i'll leave #2 alone with her. My hubby and I observed that she dotes on my daughter alot. But we also installed cameras in the house (except her room) and instruct her to stay in the hall with #2 when she's alone with her.
I don't let her do marketing herself because I don't want her to be exposed to too many strangers. One of her previous employer complains was that she talked alot to other indo maids. That one also another problem, cos when maids come together, they compare their pay, employers, everything under the sun. Too much exposure for them is not healthy for us!
So either she follow me to the supermarket or I go alone. But I'll let her bring my son to school on the next block, bring the dog down for poo, let her breathe abit, give her time limit like 5-10 minutes must be back home kind.
We do bring her out because of the kids.. but if we going to have our meals at more expensive places, we'll ask her to have her dinner at home first.. then our reason to her is that later when we having dinner, she gotta feed/take care of the kids.. so no time to eat. so jian.. hahah but ya la, it's still up to us to bring her out or not.
Sorry for the long post... just sharing what I feel about having a maid.. Cheers.