Your helper arrives next week. You've completed the EOP, submitted the Work Permit application, and coordinated with your agency. But have you actually prepared your home?

Most first-time employers underestimate how much practical preparation goes into hosting a live-in employee. This checklist covers everything you need to buy, set up, and decide before she walks through the door.

Phase 1: Her Living Space

Whether it's a bomb shelter, shared room, or dedicated helper's room, prepare it properly.

Essential items to buy

  • Mattress (single-size foldable or bed frame if space allows)
  • Mattress protector (waterproof, zippered — buy 2 for rotation)
  • Pillow and pillowcase
  • Lightweight blanket or comforter
  • Bedsheet (fitted, matching mattress size)
  • Storage: plastic drawer unit (3-4 drawers) or small wardrobe
  • Fan (standing or clip-on — essential for bomb shelters)
  • Reading lamp or LED light
  • Towels (2 sets)
  • Wall hooks for bags/towels
  • Small folding table or tray for meals

If bomb shelter

  • Moisture absorber or small dehumidifier
  • Door hook latch for privacy (S$5 from hardware store)
  • Consider a small drying rack if she can't access outdoor drying

Estimated cost: S$150–300

Phase 2: Personal Supplies

Prepare these so she has basics from day one. She can buy her own preferred brands later with her salary.

Items to provide

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Shampoo and body wash (basic brands are fine)
  • Hand soap
  • Sanitary pads (one pack — she'll buy her own preferred brand later)
  • Laundry detergent (if her clothes will be washed separately)
  • A set of comfortable home clothes (2-3 cotton t-shirts and shorts — optional but appreciated)

Estimated cost: S$30–50

Phase 3: Kitchen Setup (if food is separate)

If you're not fully sharing meals, prepare her cooking basics.

Items to provide or allocate

  • Dedicated section in the fridge (clearly marked)
  • Basic cooking pot or pan (if you don't want her using yours)
  • Her own rice (long grain / jasmine — much cheaper than Korean rice)
  • Eggs, bread, cooking oil
  • Basic condiments (soy sauce, fish sauce, salt, sugar)
  • A set of plates, bowls, cups, and utensils (IKEA basics are fine)

Estimated cost: S$50–80

Phase 4: House Rules Document

Write this before she arrives. It should be no more than 2 pages, covering:

Work schedule

  • Wake time and start time
  • Break times (if any)
  • End time and "lights out" expectation
  • Off day: which day, departure/return time

Phone and WiFi rules

  • Personal phone: when and where it can be used
  • Work phone: if provided, what it's for
  • WiFi: shared or not, any time restrictions

Food arrangement

  • Shared, separate, or hybrid
  • What's off-limits (premium ingredients, children's food, etc.)
  • Meal times and cooking schedule

Cleaning and household standards

  • Daily tasks list
  • Weekly tasks list
  • Specific instructions for appliances
  • Laundry: how often, separate or combined

Childcare (if applicable)

  • Daily routine and schedule for children
  • Safety rules (pool, playground, road, strangers)
  • What to do in emergencies
  • Screen time rules

Other

  • Visitors policy (no visitors without permission)
  • Curfew on off days
  • CCTV disclosure
  • Reporting damage or breakage Print two copies. Review together on day one. Both sign.

Phase 5: CCTV Installation

Install before she arrives. Common setup:

  • Living room / play area
  • Kitchen
  • Entrance / hallway
  • Children's room (aimed at child, not helper's sleeping area) Budget: S$100-250 for 3-4 cameras

Tell her on day one: "We have cameras in the common areas for everyone's safety. Your room and bathroom are private."

Phase 6: MOM Requirements

Ensure these are scheduled before she arrives:

  • Medical examination: Must be completed within 14 days of arrival
  • Settling-In Programme (SIP): Within 3 working days of arrival (first-time FDWs only)
  • Insurance: Security bond + medical + personal accident — must be active before arrival
  • Work Permit card: Collect from MOM after issuance

Phase 7: Emergency Contacts Sheet

Print and place on the fridge or a visible wall:

  • Your phone number and spouse's
  • Trusted neighbor's number
  • Nearest clinic / hospital address and phone
  • Emergency: 995 (ambulance), 999 (police)
  • Poison control: 6423 9119
  • Fire: 995
  • Your home address (she needs to know this for emergencies)

Phase 8: First-Day Plan

Have a plan for day one. Don't overwhelm her with training.

Morning

  • Welcome, offer water and food
  • Tour of the house (her room first, then common areas)
  • Go through house rules document together
  • Show her emergency contacts and key locations (first aid, fire extinguisher)

Afternoon

  • Show her appliances (washing machine, stove, vacuum)
  • Walk through the daily routine
  • Let her unpack and settle into her room

Evening

  • Light first dinner together or guided
  • Confirm next day's schedule
  • Let her rest — she may have traveled for many hours Save detailed task training for days 2–5.

The Complete Shopping List (Summary)

Category Items Budget
Room setup Mattress, bedding, fan, storage, lamp, table S$150–300
Personal supplies Toiletries, towels, basic clothes S$30–50
Kitchen (if separate food) Pot, utensils, basic groceries S$50–80
CCTV 3-4 cameras + memory cards S$100–250
Total S$330–680

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to prepare before my helper arrives in Singapore?

The essentials are her sleeping space and bedding, basic personal supplies, insurance in place, and a short written set of house rules. Beyond the physical items, the most useful preparation is deciding in advance how you'll handle food, rest days, phone use and money — those four topics cause most first-month friction, and it's far easier to agree them upfront.

What is the Settling-In Programme and does my helper need it?

The Settling-In Programme (SIP) is a mandatory one-day course for first-time foreign domestic workers in Singapore, attended within 3 working days of arrival and before she starts work. It costs around S$75 and covers safety — including the rules on working at heights — adjusting to life here, relationships and stress, and where to get help.

When does my new helper need her medical examination?

Within 2 weeks of arriving in Singapore, at an MOM-approved clinic. It's required before her Work Permit can be issued and also serves as her first 6-monthly medical screening. The employer arranges and pays for it, and the result goes to MOM.

How much does it cost to hire a helper for the first time?

Beyond her salary you should budget for agency fees, insurance, the security bond (S$5,000 guarantee for non-Malaysian helpers), the monthly levy, room setup, and her medical examination. The upfront total is commonly in the low thousands, and the ongoing monthly cost is meaningfully higher than the salary figure alone.

How HelperMate Helps

HelperMate's Setup Wizard guides you through exactly this preparation process:

  • Pre-arrival checklist — nothing gets forgotten
  • House rules template — customizable, multilingual
  • Shared schedule builder — create the weekly routine before she arrives
  • MOM compliance tracker — medical exam, SIP, insurance deadlines Start organized, stay organized. HelperMate makes it effortless.

Download HelperMate on Google Play → | App Store →

This guide reflects common practices for Singapore FDW employers. For official MOM requirements, refer to the MOM website. This article is for informational purposes only.