This is going to be an unusual question for Google Answers, but bear with me...

My wife and I are both working hours that preclude practical things
like getting laundry and cooking done, getting things fixed, doing the
launcryetc. And we have 2 kids (who are in school). She's a surgeon
and I'm the CTO of a new software venture.

Furthermore, we are determined to live WELL -- eating healthy food,
etc. and spending the precious little free time we have with our kids
rather than doing those tasks.

We live in Bangor, Maine. For the last seven years we have been trying
to create a stable situation for ourselves where we could get the help
we need. For reasons that are almost unfathomable, we have failed.
We've had people (literally) stealing from our wallets in the morning,
cooking terrible food, etc., etc. It seems crazy -- we aren't really
asking for much -- just some practical things to get done consistent
with our desires.

We are now feeling that just finding the right people to do these
various tasks, and finding new ones when things don't work out or they
leave or whatever, is itself a task that requires skill,
determination, and TIME -- time that we don't have.

It occurred to me that maybe, somewhere in the country, there is
somebody who is really, really good at that kind of thing --
orchestrating to meet the overall needs of people like us. Someone who
would be like to be paid to work from a distance to tap into our local
resources (advertising on college compuses, conducting phone
interviews, scheduling interviews between us and the people, hiring
whatever services are necessary to check backgrounds) to make sure we
have the local help we need. Because we haven't been able to find
anyone here in Bangor with the ability to do that. And ideally that
person would also be in charge of our practical lives in the sense
that if we need something done, we'd email the person with what it is,
and they'd make sure it was done, by contacting the local folks who
would do it. That would remove enormous time wastage and stress from

To me, it seems that there must be a lot of people with needs that our
the same as ours. Not the majority of people, but enough for someone
to identify it as a niche to serve. I think it could be a very
profitable one. And it seems clear that such a person whouldn't have
to be local if they were GOOD at what they do. So, it seems to be a
perfect opportunity. So my hopothesis is that someone out there is
trying to meet that opportunity right now.

So my question for Google Answers is: who are some people or services
in the US that are likely to be able to fill the bill?

Hello -

If you need any clarification, please don't hesitate to ask.  Thank you.

There are a few means of finding a person or company that can assist
in the capacities you outline.

There's an organization dedicated to training highly skilled,
personal, executive, and administrative assistants to work virtually
(not in person).  The service is called "AssistU."  According to their
website, their graduates are of the highest quality.

Visit the following link to search for a virtual assistant to hire:

	AssistU
	http://www.assistu.com/client/client_how.shtml

---

The International Concierge and Errand Association is a paid
members-only organization representing companies and individuals who
are in the personal assistant business.  I spoke with a representative
there, who says most of their members perform work virtually.

Two individuals/companies are recommended by the organization in terms
of their proximity and quality:

	Eileen Cremin 
	Cremin Concierge Services, Inc. 
	327 Green St 
	Northboro, Massachusettes 01532 
	Work: 508-393-5334 
	Fax: 508-393-5068 
	Email: eileen@creminconcierge.com 
	Website:www.creminconcierge.com 

	Lynn Sudlow 
	The Complete Errand 
	7 Village Green 
	Lebanon, New Hampshire 03784 
	Work: 603-298-6129 		
	Fax: 603-298-5290 
	Email: lynn@completeerrand.com 
	Website:www.completeerrand.com 

---


There is an organization called "Assocation of Celebrity Personal Assistants."  
It's unclear as to whether or not you have to be a "celebrity" to hire
someone from their roster of members; contact them to find out more.

Visit www.celebrityassistants.org, and contact contact@celebrityassistants.org

---


Another means of finding someone is to hire an executive
search/recruitment firm.  Executives are more pricey, but you will
most certainly attain a very high threshold of quality with them.

Kennedy Information has an executive recruiter database that houses a
quality listing of executive recruiting firms.  For $30, you gain
access to 8 firms specializing in finding people in the admin
svcs/home care business:

Visit: http://www.kennedyinfo.com/db/db_der_bas.html

Select Admin. Svcs. in the Function box and Long-term/Home Care for the Industry.


Select search strategy:
  personal assistants
  executive assistants
  concierge services
  (add association)

Hello garyrob-ga,

I had started working on your question before it was answered by
someone else and I thought you might as well have the results of my
preliminary search. It sounds like you might be looking for a
household manager. I suggest that you contact
organizations/institutions that train staff for such positions. You
might also explore the web sites of several placement agencies to see
if their services my help. It would probably be best for you to
discuss your needs with the ones that look most capable of meeting
your needs. My preliminary search for a "virtual" household manager
was not productive. I suggest that talking to the placement agencies
in this industry might give you a better perspective on whether this
is the way you want to go.

Good luck with finding the help to manage your household.

~ czh ~


Salaries and Job Titles 
http://www.worldclassservice.net/salaries.htm
What follows is an attempt to define the various "titles" used in the
United States, though many definitions for some exist, and often some
overlap is present. Salaries will vary depending on area of the
country, skills required, responsibilities of the postition.......and
how much the family likes you and wants your services. These salaries
do not include benefits or bonuses.
 

Starkey International Institute for Household Management
http://www.starkeyintl.com/ 

Professional Domestic Services & Institute
http://www.housestaff.net 
http://www.professionaldomestics.com/index2.asp

International Butler Academy
http://www.butlerschool.com/ 

4HomeHelp
http://www.4homehelp.com/about/mission.cfm

Domestic Placement Network 
http://www.dpnonline.com/index.htm

The International Guild Of Professional Butlers
http://www.butlersguild.com/index2.htm

See if you can find a personal recommendation for a "Professional
Organizer".   These people are usually intelligent women who will do
anything legal for $60 and hour.  They have various backgrounds, which
is one reason you need a recommendation:   People who have computer
skills usually don't do laundry. But there is someone out there who
can help you and I hope you find her (or him) soon.  Good Luck!