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Dealing with household chores can sometimes be an issue especially for a growing family. These chores may not only be tedious, they also eat a lot of time and energy which leaves you wondering “surely, I could have focused a lot of my time on work and play if not for these chores.”

The thing is, you surely aren’t the only one with the same sentiment. Across the Philippines, a multitude of families are also facing the same matter. No need to worry though, the solution is as simple as a phone call away.

Apart from direct hiring via the recommendation of a relative or close friend, agencies all over the Philippines can find you a maid in no time. This is very convenient for families who just moved in the country whose friends or relatives are far from the immediate vicinity.

Filipino workers in general are known for being warm, polite, industrious and trustworthy. Having a Filipino maid to help you with your household chores therefore is a sure way to ease up some time on your busy schedule.

Here are some tips to help you find one without any conceivable hassle:

1. Welcome To The Family. Remember that getting a maid is like having another extra member of the family. They don’t only work around the house; they also work with and for you, your spouse and your kids. They also spend a lot of time with you, so it is important to know a number of things about them first before hiring them.

2. Get Recommendations. Having a good friend or a relative recommend a maid to you can be the easiest way to acquire a credible one. Otherwise, get a trusted agency (be sure that the agency you’re transacting business with is duly accredited by government offices such as the Dept. of Labor and Employment).

3. Background Check. Before hiring a maid, make some background check via these agencies. Surely, these third party companies have the necessary documents such as police clearances, employment records etc. of the people you can hire for household help. If an agency (or the maid you are hiring per se) fails to present these important documents to you, move on and look for other agencies. You better be safe than sorry.

4. Money Talks Between You and The Maid. Paying these maids can happen in two ways: its either you pay the company a monthly fee, or you pay the maids directly. The payment can vary according to how much time you require them to work for you (there are maids that live with you and work full-time, while another option is to get one that works part-time, visiting you once in a while) and the chores they need to fulfill. Before hiring, make sure these terms are well discussed to avoid disagreements which sometimes lead to undesirable outcomes.

5. Make An Offer They Cannot Refuse. Make it a point to consider their benefits that protect them in case of emergencies.

6. They Are People, Not Slaves. Having a good maid also translates to a better atmosphere at home since they also contribute to a general sense of order and well-being. Treat them well and they will repay you with a lifetime of good service and kind companionship.

Davao 4 Expats Tips: If you are based in Davao and you are looking to hire household help or professionals, a good place to post them is the DavaoCityJobs.com Website. It is FREE to post there just be very detailed in describing your hiring opportunity.

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Maid In The Philippines is written by Randolph Reserva.

This is Part Two of a series of articles on The Cost of Doing Business in Davao.

Hotel Rates

Many business owners in the city are residing outside of it in the nearby cities and towns. Most of them opt to stay at hotels and other accommodation facilities. Those who have higher accommodation budget can stay at deluxe hotels which have the following rates in Philippine Peso: 6,800 for superior rooms; 8,400 for deluxe rooms; 10,000 for cabana; and 16,800- 53,200 for suites. First class hotels are also best for non-resident business owners. These hotels have the finest facilities and most of them are within the city’s commercial districts. First class hotel rates are as follows; Standard, 3,340- 3, 720; Superior, costs 3,340- 4, 270; deluxe, 5,800; executive suite, 6,100-16,600; and presidential suite, 12,000-20,000. Standard hotel rates are; standard, 600- 2,000; deluxe, 1,099- 2,600; and suite, 1, 898- 4, 000. There are also inns which charge lower compared to others. Inns charge as follows: 405- 600 for standard rooms; 504- 849 for superior room; 849- 2, 200 pesos for deluxe rooms; and 1,200-3, 150 for suites.

Other accommodation centers include apartelles and pension houses. Apartelles charge 500 -1,800 pesos for standard rooms while they charge 700 – 2,160 pesos for double rooms. Pension houses on the other hand charge 500 – 750 pesos for standard rooms, 800 -1,200 for superior rooms and 1,360 – 1,700 for suites.

Power rates

The Davao Light and Power Company is the sole provider of electric power in the city. It charges according to the type of establishment that avails of its service. As of February 2006, residential establishments are charged 5.6460 pesos for every kilowatt hour. Commercial establishments, on the other hand, are charged depending on its size. Power charge for these kinds of establishments ranges from 5.4885- 5.5199 pesos per kilowatt-hour. A 5.0560 pesos per kilowatt-hour is charged on industrial establishments, while establishment which does not fall in any of the mentioned categories are charged 4.9628 pesos per kilowatt-hour.

Commercial Space Rental Rates

Finding an ideal location and space for your business would not be hard in Davao City. However, you should also anticipate bigger rents on spaces especially in areas around the city’s commercial district. Office spaces and small commercial buildings cost roughly from 180.00-332.00 per square meters. Spaces in shopping malls cost higher. It ranges from 500.00-1,500.00 pesos per square meters.

Real Estate Prices

For some businesses, owning a land on which to construct a building for use in conducting their business is a way to go. If you are considering this route, consider the following real estate data.

Residential lands are priced between P 800.00 – P 6,000.00 for every square meter. Commercial ones are roughly from 2, 500.00- 35,000.00 per sq. m.; industrial, 150.00-500.00 per sq. m.; and agricultural lands from 50.00-250.00 per sq. m.

This is according to the Davao Board of Realtors last updated in 2007. These days, it is not uncommon to find land prices sour up to 50% of their value in the span of three years. Soaring of land prices are to be expected especially today that the city’s development is in its fastest.

Transportation Costs

To those who don’t have their own business vehicles, going around the city for business purposes are not that costly. The most common means of transportation is through jeeps since it costs way lesser compared to taxi cabs. Jeep fares start at Php 7.00 up to as much as Php 30.00. Non-airconditioned taxi cabs’ flag down rate is 26.00 while airconditioned ones start metering at 30 pesos.

Car rental is another alternative. There are a lot of car rental services offered around the city. When renting a car, expect a rate of 650.00- 4,100 pesos for no more than 24 hours. Vans can be rented from 800.00-4, 600 pesos while coasters can be rented from 2, 500- 15,000 pesos.

Of course, starting up a business in the city requires initial capital and expenses. For one, there are compliance certificates and other requirements that needed to be accomplished to acquire legal rights on the business venture.

Nonetheless, despite the business expenses, almost any type of business can thrive in the city. All that is needed is wise management and smart handling of investments.

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This article is written by Matt Regis.