Celeste, I have good experience with express maid, Serene's service. Although both my maids from them din work out, but her service is still very good. Even when she knew that I've gone to a new agency, she still helps me out to look out for suitable maids.
Gina, I'm not sure which agency you have checked, but recently I'm also checking on pina maids and came back, those with some working experience is fetching about 350 with at least 1 off day. Fresh ones are starting between 320-340 w/o off days, depending on their hometown experience.
Besides, you should tell your maid that before you engage her, you already specify your requirements and despite the contract, she accepted your offer and she has to accept it. Now upon renewing contract, you can also explain to her that MOM has already given exception that maids are allowed to go to 2nd household as long as she is following the kids there to take care of them. But if this is my maid, I will not renew her.
Lilipit, if the maid has ready passport, usually the whole process takes about 2 weeks. If you are getting Indo maids, those without passport will take about 1 to 1.5 months. Pina maid is faster as they can get their passport within 2-3 days.
Whatever arrangement you have, you have to specify to the maid clearly and make sure she accepts the arrangement. Fresh maid tends not to be too calculative over such things as they will want to get a job here. But experience maid, even if they accept but later on find that it's hard for them to cope, they will out front tell you that they want a transfer, even if that's going to costs them another 2 months loan.
It's not going to surprise me if a fresh maid ask for transfer too, cause I have experience with agency that tells the maid that if they can't cope just ask for transfer.