At last you’re being kind to yourself and getting the help you deserve. But how do you choose a personal concierge that is going to suit you and your lifestyle?
So how do you choose a personal concierge?
Will they take more time than necessary to run an errand and overcharge me?
How will I know if they are working off commissions instead of finding the best service for me?
Do they really understand what I need?
Can I really trust them?
These are all valid questions, and something you need to think about when engaging someone to handle your most personal tasks and items.
If the personal concierge you’ve found was a referral from a friend or family member – fantastic, there is rarely anything better than a referral to a good service, but it still pays to do your own due diligence.
Asking these questions will ensure you’ve found a personal concierge that’s reliable and professional:
1. Will you meet me before you start working on my list? (this should be complementary)
You should meet the personal concierge or owner of the business first, just a 20 minute coffee should be enough. An initial meeting should be offered so that you can see if you have a rapport. Equally, the personal concierge will want to make sure they are able to meet your expectations and an initial chat to establish a working relationship is important for both sides. Even if they have been referred to you, what suits your friend may not always work for you. Be cautious of a personal concierge who will ask for your list and credit card without making appropriate introductions.
2. How long have you been in business?
Given this is a relatively new industry you might like to ask how long they’ve been in business. While all businesses need to start somewhere, if the company is new to the industry ask them what they did before that enables them to perform personal concierge duties. An established concierge company should have more credentials and relevant work to show you. There are some personal concierge services that have been established in Australia for around 12 years.
3. What kind of local, national and international networks do you have?
A personal concierge with no network is not someone you want to work with. You’d be better off asking Dr Google for what you need. In essence, you are paying a personal concierge for their time and their connections. You want them to do the task faster and better than you could do it yourself. Also can ask how they source their providers and what checks do they do.
4. Do you have insurance and a Police Check?
A reputable personal concierge will have both Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance. You can also ask them to produce a Police Check if you wish. They should not be offended by this request, particularly if you are asking them to undertake work that is highly personal or of a sensitive nature.
5. Can you provide references and testimonials?
You should be able to ask your personal concierge for at least two clients that you can call to check on if you like to do some digging of your own. Alternatively, they will have a testimonials page on their website that you can read. If you’re still not sure, or are getting bad vibes, ask yourself – can you work with this person? Will they listen to your needs?
6. Are they a member of the Institute of Concierge and Lifestyle Managers (iCALM)?
All members above Associate level need to be insured and police checked, this is checked annually by the Institute. All members must sign the Code of Ethics. You can report any concerns about a concierge service to iCALM, and you can also call them to check if your personal concierge is a member.
And the million dollar question…
7. How much do you charge?
Most personal concierges work on an hourly rate, however some may offer a project rate. Ask them how they would go about managing a project. For example you might be asking them to help manage your house relocation and would like them to estimate the number of hours needed. A good personal concierge will be upfront with their hourly rates.
Hopefully you are now confident in your ability to go ahead and choose the best personal concierge for you! Take a look at our services for more information on how we can create more time in your life for you to do the things you enjoy!
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