Getting Settled

Furnishing your home:

Many rental apartments and houses in Warsaw come fully furnished and accessorised, ready for moving in upon arrival. They’re typically equipped with beds, tables, couches, TVs, telephones and European-size washing machines and kitchen appliances, often including dishwashers. Properties designed with foreigners in mind usually sport a fresh, modern interior decor. If, however, the furnishings are unappealing or show signs of wear and tear, try to negotiate with the landlord for lower rent in exchange for you adding new decor elements. Go with an unfurnished or semi-furnished property if you want to ship your existing household effects into Poland or have strong interior design preferences. Pre-owned furniture and appliances can be acquired from expats leaving the country or at antique stores and flea markets, where prices depend largely on your bargaining skills. Modern but budget-friendly items can be found in TJ Maxx or the perennial favourite IKEA, which has outlets in Janki and Targowek. At the higher end of the price scale Domoteka (www. domoteka.pl), Bo Concept (www.boconcept.com.pl), Red Onion (www.redonion. pl) and Bed & Breakfast (www.bedandbreakfast.pl) all offer a sleek selection of contemporary furniture, trendy kitchen tools and other one-of-a-kind design treasures.

Laundry:

Most furnished properties include washing machines, but dryers are few and far between. Although appliance stores do carry dryers, Varsovians tend to hang their clothes up to dry in warm spots like bathrooms and corridors or even on the balcony in warm weather. Dry cleaners and launderettes are widespread, either in large shopping malls or smaller local operations in neighbourhoods, but self-service laundromats are almost unheard of.

Domestic help:

It’s common practice among local and expatriate families in Warsaw to employ domestic help, including housekeepers, servants, maids, cleaners
(known as sprzataczka), cooks, gardeners, handymen and babysitters. Depending on their job descriptions, domestics can undertake light tasks such as hoovering, dusting, tidying up and doing the laundry, and will even assist with tasks like shopping, running errands, preparing meals or watching your kids while you’re away. The presence of a stranger in your home may take some time to get used to, especially if you have little experience with full-time domestic help. Many do not speak any English, so it might be helpful to learn a smattering of Polish, especially numbers, time and cooking and shopping vocabulary.
When looking for reliable and honest domestic help, network through the international community or ask friends and colleagues. Many newcomers hire someone who has previously worked for expats as they have previous experience and training in meeting the demands of a foreign household. You can also check English-language newspapers, expat Internet forums or announcement boards at international schools and embassies. If all else fails, hire a specialised housecleaning company or a domestic help agency to provide you with all the help you need.

Be clear about your needs and expectations before setting up an interview and make sure to discuss the basic job requirements (punctuality, working hours, duties) and of course the salary and benefits package (overtime, sick leave, vacation) with potential candidates. There’s a large number of illegal workers from neighbouring countries like Ukraine and Belarus who do quality work for much lower pay than Poles, but it’s advisable to sign a contract and pay social security and health insurance for a trained, dependable professional. It pays to take your time and explain exactly how you want things to be done, as the person you choose will be in your home taking care of your loved ones and the things that are precious to you.

Going rates in Warsaw for domestic help (either non-resident or resident):

• Housekeeper: PLN400-900 / month or PLN1100-1700 / month
• Handyman: PLN10-17 / hour or PLN1000-1600 / month
• Cook: PLN1000-1800 / month
• Gardener: PLN800-1300 / month
• Butler / valet: PLN1200-2200 / month

Babysitting and child care:

As more and more mothers decide to go back to work after giving birth, childcare institutions and facilities have mushroomed in recent years. Day nurseries (zlobek), for kids aged 4 months to 3 years, are mostly state-funded public nurseries, while kindergartens (przedszkole) are designated for children 3-6 years of age. There are numerous private and international daycare options, including the British School Early Years Centre (www.thebritishschool.pl). Many parents use a combination of daycare and sitters. You can hire an in-home sitter via word-of-mouth or place an ad in newspapers and Internet forums (try www.niania.pl), but you can also go through one of Warsaw’s many agencies. Recommended agencies for English-speaking sitters include Nanny Express (www.nannyexpress. pl), Prowork (www.prowork.com.pl) and Home & Kids (www.homeandkids.pl). Expect to pay PLN10-20 per hour for a private in-house nanny, with most agencies charging upwards of PLN800 a month for experienced sitters. For more information on all things kids in Warsaw, check out www.warsawforchildren.com and the expat mothers and mothers-to-be group Mums & Tots (www.mumsandtots.com).