Housekeeping references can confirm the type of home, actual duties, reliability, and how the candidate handled private access and unexpected problems. A useful call is specific, consistent, and respectful of both the worker’s and former client’s privacy.
Ask permission and request relevant contacts
Tell the candidate before contacting references. Ask for two or three recent clients or employers who directly observed recurring work. Request the approximate dates, frequency, general home type, and duties so you know what the reference can verify.
Personal references may speak to character, but they cannot confirm professional cleaning standards or key handling in the same way as a former household.
Verify the relationship
Introduce yourself, ask whether it is a convenient time, and confirm how the person knows the candidate. Ask how often the housekeeper attended, whether they worked independently, and which areas or tasks were included.
Do not disclose details from the candidate’s profile before the reference gives their own account.
Use housekeeping-specific questions
- What did a normal visit include?
- How large or demanding was the home?
- Was the person punctual and consistent?
- Did they complete priorities within the agreed time?
- How did they communicate schedule changes or extra work?
- Did they follow instructions for products and delicate surfaces?
- How did they handle keys, codes, private rooms, and confidential information?
- Did they report damage, breakage, or safety concerns promptly?
- Were substitutes or helpers ever used, and was this agreed in advance?
- Why did the arrangement end?
- Would you hire them again for a similar home and scope?
Ask for examples rather than inviting general praise.
Compare like with like
A reference from a small weekly apartment does not prove that the candidate can independently manage a large home with laundry, organization, and delicate finishes. It still provides useful evidence about reliability and communication, but the experience should be matched to your role.
Treat negative or limited answers carefully
Some former clients provide only dates and duties. That is not automatically suspicious. If the reference raises a concern, ask what happened, how it was addressed, and whether it was a one-time event or a pattern.
Give the candidate an opportunity to explain a material discrepancy. Avoid repeating rumours or asking intrusive questions unrelated to work.
Record and protect the information
Use the same note template for every reference. Record verified facts, examples, and follow-up questions. Store contact details and notes securely and delete them when no longer needed for the hiring purpose.
Combine references with other checks
References do not replace a home walkthrough, identity verification, a clear written scope, and a gradual access plan. Even an excellent reference cannot guarantee that a different schedule or home is a fit.
When the information is consistent, put the agreed schedule, duties, price, supplies, privacy, and access rules in a written housekeeping agreement.