An agency's first call is a sales call. These questions turn it into an evaluation, so you learn how the agency actually works before you pay a fee.
Whatever the agency does, plan to call at least two references yourself. You're listening for things a screener isn't: how the nanny handled a hard day, and whether the family would hire her again.
Tammy Gold, LCSW, spent years matching families with nannies before writing Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin). Today she works beside families, and their agencies, as a neutral expert: defining the job, interviewing candidates, checking references and setting up the first 30 days.
Ask for every answer in writing. See how nanny agency fees work and the agency agreement.
Specific answers are a good sign: names of who does what, how many days a step takes, what's in writing. Vague answers deserve a follow-up question. "We only send the best" isn't a screening process, and "don't worry about the paperwork" isn't an answer about the paperwork.
A red flag isn't always a reason to walk away. It's a reason to ask the next question. Here's what deserves a closer look.
Two or three is usually enough to compare how they match, screen and charge. More than that tends to produce more résumés, not better ones.
Yes, give a realistic range. It saves everyone time, and a good agency will tell you honestly if your budget and your job description don't line up.
Yes. In a one-hour session she can sit in on an agency call or a candidate interview by video, or review the agency's answers with you afterward.
Tammy has no stake in which agency or candidate you choose. $189 for an hour.
$189
Screening call, reference questions, clinical interview, and trial-day checklist.
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Tammy is not an agency and has no affiliation with, or financial interest in, any agency you use. She provides independent expert guidance; hiring decisions remain your family’s. Legal, tax, and licensing questions belong with the appropriate professional or state agency.