Private Household Staffing

Private Housekeeper Placement
for Discerning Households

About This Role

The professional who
learns your home.

There is a particular kind of home where a cleaning service simply doesn’t fit. Where the linens are changed a specific way, the pantry is maintained to a standard, and the person moving through the space knows better than to disturb what doesn’t need disturbing.

Families who contact MHM are not looking for someone to come in twice a week with a checklist. They are looking for a career housekeeper — a professional who will learn their home, their preferences, and how they live, and who will still be there years from now.

This page is a guide to what that role looks like, what level of support your home may need, and how private housekeeper placement works. MHM’s primary markets are Chicago and South Florida — and we work with select families nationwide.

Understanding the Role

A Maid Service and a Private Housekeeper Are Not the Same Thing

A maid service sends whoever is available. A private housekeeper becomes part of the household. Over time, a career housekeeper learns exactly where things belong, which products to use on which surfaces, how the principal prefers the home arranged, and what “ready” looks like — not in the abstract, but specifically for that home.

The consistency is the point. So is the discretion. A housekeeper in a private home is working inside someone’s most personal space. The best ones bring a standard of professionalism that makes itself invisible — which is exactly how it should feel when the role is filled well.

A professional housekeeper placed through MHM is a long-term placement. This is not shift work or contract labor. It is a permanent position, and the candidate pool is sourced and screened accordingly.

Scope of Work

What a Private Housekeeper Manages

Scope varies by household. At minimum, a private housekeeper handles:

  • Daily tidying, deep cleaning, and surface maintenance throughout the home
  • Laundry — washing, pressing, hand care for fine garments, dry cleaning coordination
  • Linen management — changing, laundering, folding, and proper storage
  • Kitchen care — dishes, appliances, surfaces, pantry organization and restocking
  • Closet and storage organization and ongoing maintenance
  • Restocking of household and personal care supplies
  • Coordination with other household staff or vendors when needed
  • Reporting maintenance needs to the principal or house manager

Many MHM housekeepers also assist with light cooking, errands, packing and unpacking for travel, and care for fine art, antiques, and collectibles — depending on experience and the household’s expectations.

Senior Roles

When the Home Requires an Executive Housekeeper

Larger estates and multi-property households often require an executive housekeeper — a senior professional who oversees a team of housekeepers, sets and maintains household standards, manages vendor relationships, and handles seasonal wardrobe and interior transitions.

An executive housekeeper is not simply a more experienced housekeeper. The role requires management instincts, operational judgment, and the ability to run a department within a private home without daily direction. If your household has — or is building — a housekeeping team, an executive housekeeper is worth considering as the first hire.

Finding the Right Fit

How Much Housekeeping Support Does Your Home Need?

The right level of support depends on the size of the home, how frequently it is used, the number of residents, and the standard expected.

01

A Single Private Housekeeper

The right fit for a primary residence where one dedicated professional can manage all cleaning, laundry, and organization independently and on a consistent schedule.

02

Multiple Housekeepers or a Team

More appropriate for large estates with multiple levels and high daily turnover. Tasks are often divided by specialty — laundry and wardrobe, deep cleaning and interiors.

03

Executive Housekeeper Overseeing a Team

The right structure for estates where no principal wants to manage housekeeping staff directly. The executive housekeeper sets standards, schedules, and handles all staffing oversight.

If you’re not sure which structure fits your home, that’s a natural starting point for the Discovery Call.

Adjacent Roles

Related Roles to Consider

Laundress

For households with extensive wardrobe care requirements, a dedicated laundress handles fine garments, linens, and specialty items full-time.

Learn about laundress placement →
House Manager

A house manager oversees the operations of the home and the staff within it, including the housekeeping team. For larger households, the house manager and executive housekeeper often work in tandem.

Learn about house manager placement →
Domestic Couple

For estate properties or secondary homes, a domestic couple — sharing housekeeping and property oversight responsibilities between two professionals — can be an efficient solution.

Learn about domestic couple placement →
Houseman

A houseman handles the physical and logistical tasks a housekeeper does not — moving furniture, heavy cleaning, exterior maintenance, and running household errands.

Learn about houseman placement →
FAQ

Common Questions About Private Housekeeper Placement

If you don’t see what you’re looking for, the Discovery Call is the right place to start.

How much does a private housekeeper cost? +
Housekeeper compensation varies based on household size, scope of work, and whether the role is part of a larger household team or a standalone position. Compensation varies based on household size, scope of work, experience level, and whether the role is standalone or part of a team. The Discovery Call is the right place to discuss current market expectations for your specific household.
What’s the difference between a housekeeper and an executive housekeeper? +
A housekeeper manages the cleaning, organization, and daily care of a private home. An executive housekeeper oversees a team of housekeepers, sets and enforces household standards, manages vendor relationships, and handles seasonal wardrobe and interior transitions. Executive housekeepers are typically placed in larger estates and multi-property households where one person cannot handle all housekeeping responsibilities alone.
How long does a housekeeper search take? +
MHM’s searches typically take four to six weeks from the start of the search. Specialized requirements — such as care for fine art, antiques, or particular cultural or dietary context — may extend the timeline.
Do you place live-in housekeepers? +
Yes. MHM places both live-in and live-out housekeepers depending on the household’s situation. Live-in placements require additional attention to compensation structure, accommodations, and time-off expectations — all of which are addressed during the search and built into the offer from the start.
What if the placement doesn’t work out? +
MHM stands behind every introduction with a four-month replacement guarantee. If a placement does not work out within the guarantee period and within the scope of the original search, MHM conducts a full replacement search at no additional fee.
What is MHM’s placement fee for a housekeeper? +
MHM’s fee is a percentage of the placed professional’s gross annual compensation, collected in part as a retainer at the start of the search and applied toward the total fee at placement. The specific percentage is discussed during the Discovery Call, after we understand the household and the scope of the search.
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