Handing someone the keys to your home is a big decision. They'll know your gate code, your children's routines, who visits and when you're away. Yet most people choose a home management service in Dubai on a recommendation and a good first impression.
I've spent more than eight years in luxury hospitality and running a private residence here. I've been on both sides of the table: the person being interviewed and the person who has to make it all work afterwards. These are the questions I'd ask if I were choosing someone like me. Use them with anyone you're considering, including me.
1. Who will I actually be dealing with?
Many services sell you a founder and hand you to a coordinator. Ask directly: who answers my message at 9pm on a Thursday? Is it always the same person? A home runs on context, and context gets lost every time a request is passed along.
2. Will you sign an NDA, and is it standard?
The answer should be yes, without hesitation and without an extra fee. If confidentiality is presented as an upgrade, it tells you how seriously it's taken the rest of the time.
3. Have you ever used a client's home or name to promote yourself?
Look at their Instagram before you ask. If you see clients' interiors, parties or arrivals, imagine your own home appearing there. Ask whether the client gave permission and how your own privacy would be protected.
4. What don't you do?
It's the most useful question on this list. A good home management service has a clear answer. For example, I'm not a visa agent or a real estate broker, I don't employ household staff, and I don't carry out repairs myself. I bring in licensed partners and coordinate their work. Someone who claims to do everything usually does several things poorly.
5. Who are your partners, and are they licensed?
Your AC technician, pool company, cleaners and contractors will be inside your home. Ask whether they're licensed, how they're chosen, and who is responsible if something goes wrong.
6. How do you charge for third-party costs?
This is where hidden margins usually sit. Ask whether supplier invoices are passed on at cost, with receipts, or with a mark-up. Either answer can be fair, but you should know which one it is before you start.
7. What needs my approval, and what doesn't?
Agree on this on day one. Which decisions can they make alone, and above what amount do they need to check with you? Good coordination means fewer messages for you, not surprises on your bill.
8. What happens when you're away or unwell?
Everyone is unavailable sometimes. Ask what happens to agreed tasks, whether any cover is arranged, what that person would know about your home, and how an authorised handover would work. Do not assume cover exists unless it has been agreed.
9. How do you keep me informed?
Some clients want a photo after every visit, and others want one message a month. Neither is wrong. What matters is that they ask how you like to be updated rather than assuming.
10. Can you tell me what you would not recommend for my home?
Their answer shows whether they're there to sell or to advise. Sometimes the honest answer is that you need far less help than you thought, and the right person will tell you.
A few signs to walk away
- They promise same-day results on things nobody can guarantee, like a fully booked restaurant or a government process.
- They're vague about pricing or reluctant to put scope in writing.
- They talk easily about their other clients. If they talk about them, they'll talk about you.
Why I wrote this
People don't come to SETTRA because they can't manage a home themselves. They come because they want one person they trust to take it off their mind. That trust should be tested, not assumed.
If you'd like to ask me these questions yourself, send me a message. I'll answer every one honestly, including whether you need me at all.
— Natig Rashidli