Berkeley Parents Network: Nanny Agencies

Berkeley Parents Network

Nanny Agencies

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Services & Businesses > Nanny Agencies

May 2005

Does anyone else have a recent review of Town & Country or any other Nanny Service? Can you comment on the pool of candidates? How about the service offered by the agency staff? Thanks so much in advance. anon.

I have used temporary nannies from Bay Area 2nd Mom (google them) many times and have been very pleased with the people they send. Many of these nannies are doing this on a temp. basis while they look for a permanent position and Bay Area 2nd Mom does act as a nanny agency for both temporary and permanent positions. sabrina

We used Town & Country for for our last search. Overall, I would say that they had the most ''qualified'' candidates and did a reasonably good job of screening. They were also very professional in how they presented information, responded promptly to messages and requests, and had the infrastructure to provide back-up people when our assigned advisor was not in the office. Our expereince with some other agencies was poor (or no) follow-up or with one, once we didn't like two of their ''top'' candidates, they just stopped sending us resumes.

So, would give overall high marks to Town & Country.
Satisfied Town & Country Client

My husband and I recently used Town and Country in order to hire a nanny for our 5 month old son. He is now almost 9 months old and we are very happy with our nanny. We are in San Francisco and candidates from the peninsula, SF and the East Bay were all referred to us. We were also looking for part-time (25-30 hours a week) so they told us that there were fewer candidates available for part-time. It was a very positive experience. I faxed in my application and had a call from a counselor within a few hours. They faxed me resumes the same day and set up interviews for me within two days. The timeliness of this service was distinctly different from Aunt Ann's which took 3 days to contact me after my application. By that time, I already had set up working interviews with top candidates from Town and Country. Every candidate that I met from Town and Country was a great candidate, although not every candidate was a great fit for our family. The application is very helpful because both sides (family and nanny) see what the other is looking for. One of the reasons that I went to the agency was that I was checking references for Craigslist candidates and I found that they were always offered jobs by someone else before I could get a hold of their references. What that told me was that a lot of people were hiring without checking references. Since I just wasn't willing to do this, I thought I might be constantly losing out on candidates. Town and Country checks references and writes up long (2 page length) summaries of the conversations they have had with references. They also know the candidates fairly well. My counselor was Kate in the Peninsula office. I highly recommend Town and Country.
Happy with out Nanny

August 2003

Re: Au Pairs
I have no experience with au pairs, but I do highly recommend The Nanny Network. Sue Stimmel at the Nanny Network is great and offers a wonderful, personalized service--she is professional and cares about getting the right fit for everyone. Her number is 1-888-nannynet/925-256-8575 Best advice I can offer is be clear about your needs, but open-minded as well. know what your priorities are with regards to both skills and responsibilities. Also, think about what your future needs are as well, so that you might find someone to grow with you and your family (you may not need someone who drives now, but you might in the future). and last but not least--make an agreement between you & your caregiver. hope this helps. Leslie

2001

Does anyone have experience with any of the nanny-finder agencies in the area, or heard of others who have had good/bad experiences with them? We are about to start a thorough search thru all means, possibly including a paid nannny agency, for a full-time nanny to start in april or may. Also aside from posting on this network, montclarion, neighborhood parents newsletter, parent's press, and bananas, do people have any other suggestions for posting or resources for finding a great in-home nanny? Akiko

2000

Any recommendations on agencies for finding a nanny? I'm actually looking for someone to share my nanny, and running out of resources. I thought maybe an agency might be able to help me. (I've posted on this list twice, and have had a card in at Bananas for a month now, but am not getting anywhere!) Thanks, Fran

I highly recommend Sue Stimmel at The Nanny Network, 925-256-8575. I tried everything and everyone before Sue and she saved the day, helping me find the wonderful nanny who takes care of my daughter. I too tried Bananas and ran ads in newsapapers--interviewed so many people it hurts to think about it. Sue offered quick, personalized service--she came to my house & met me and brought profiles of people for me to look at. She was great and also reasonable. Good luck! leslie
PS I had other all the other agencies looking, but Sue was the only one who really pulled through.

Some nanny agencies I have consulted: Nanny Network Inc. (925-256-8575); Bay Area 2nd Mom, Inc (510-595-1535); Be in Our Care Agency Inc. (510-339-3380). I would imagine that for a share situation, you (and your nanny) will find the application process to burdensome and potentially costly. If you haven't already, you might consider posting a notice at places like Alta Bates, Habitot, places childrens' classes are held (the Y, Julie Morgan Center, etc.)
Kristina

I've used Lorraine at Moms Away in Berkeley, 559-9195, and Robin at Nanny Connection in Pleasant Hill,(925) 933-5090, for my nannies. (I live in S. Berkeley hills). I never tried looking for a share through the agency.

When I looked this past November, I registered with a whole bunch of agencies and these were the only two that sent me any candidates. I think a lot of it's just luck of the draw as to who has nannies available that fit your needs. However, these two women seemed to take the time to see what I wanted and worked hard at getting me somebody. Bay area 2nd moms told me I couldn't find a nanny for under $15/hour but these other two agencies disagreed. Through them I eventually found someone for $12/hour to take care of my two boys.
Linda

We found Suzanne at Aunt Anne's Agency incredibly helpful and honest. I think the area code is 415. We got our full-time nanny as well as babysitters from them. Stay away from Bay Area 2nd Mom. They took our money , and then sent no applicants.
Sorent

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