The First 30 Days with a Household Manager: What to Expect and How to Onboard Well

Tessa King
May 5
3 min read

You finally found the right person to help you manage your home—cue the deep sigh of relief! But hiring someone is just the beginning. What you do in the first 30 days is what sets the tone for a long-lasting, successful relationship.

As someone who's helped dozens of moms find and onboard household support, let me walk you through what to expect (and how to make it go smoothly). This is exactly the kind of thing I wish more moms talked about—and I’m here to help you do it right from day one.

Week 1: Lay The Ground Work With Your Household Manager

In the first week, your goal in onboarding is to get your household manager familiar with your home, your routines, and your expectations. Think of this time like orientation at a new job. Be present, be patient, and over-communicate.

Here’s what to focus on:

Tour the home: Show them where cleaning supplies are, how your laundry is sorted, what belongs where. Even if it feels obvious to you, it’s all new to them.
Demonstrate key tasks: Show them how you prefer the beds made, how you fold towels, or how your dishwasher is loaded. Snap photos of finished work for them to reference later.
Set clear expectations: Walk through their schedule, task list, and any household rules. If there are non-negotiables (like no shoes inside or no peanuts due to allergies), be clear from the start.
Start small: It’s okay to ease into things. They don’t need to conquer your entire to-do list day one.

Week 2: Build The Routine

Once they’ve gotten their feet wet, it’s time to establish consistency.

This week, focus on:

Reinforcing the schedule: If your assistant is working Monday–Thursday from 9 to 2, honor those hours. Don’t add last-minute tasks that push them past their shift.
Encouraging initiative: As they get more comfortable, invite them to spot small needs—like restocking diapers or noticing when a pantry is getting low.
Providing feedback: Gently correct anything off, and offer praise when they get it right. A simple, “Thank you, this was exactly how I like it,” goes a long way.
Addressing questions: They may still be unsure about a few things. Keep communication open and supportive.

Week 3: Fine Tune The Details

By now, they should be getting into a rhythm—and you can start adjusting based on what’s working and what’s not.

This is the week to:

Review priorities: Are the core tasks being done well? Are there areas where they’re spending too much or too little time?
Tweak the task list: You might realize they’re great at organizing but slower on errands—or vice versa. Adjust their weekly flow accordingly.
Empower them to own it: Give them room to suggest improvements. Maybe there’s a better way to organize the mudroom or prep lunches.

Week 4: Reflect and Confirm the Fit

You’re nearing the 30-day mark, and now’s the time to check in formally.

Here’s what to do:

Schedule a review: Take 15–20 minutes to sit down and talk. What’s working? What could be better? Invite honest feedback from both sides. (Pro Tip: Keep this on the schedule each month. A check-in
Celebrate wins: Acknowledge what’s going well—and how much lighter your mental load feels.
Commit or course-correct: If it’s a good fit, fantastic—keep the momentum going! If something’s off, talk about it now and see what changes might help.

Creating a win-win partnership is the key to long-term success—and setting your household manager up to thrive in your home is a crucial part of that. Don’t rush the process or skip steps. Take your time. Invest in your new hire. You’ll thank yourself later.

Need More Help

Hiring help is a big deal—and when done right, it’s life-changing. That’s why I created the INJOY Master Task List to help you define exactly what support you need. And if you’re still on the fence about hiring, or you’ve had trouble finding someone reliable, my Full-Service Hiring option might be your best next step.

With the right match and a clear, thoughtful onboarding process, you can stop feeling overwhelmed and start living with a little more ease (and a lot more joy).

Let’s build the kind of support system that actually supports you.