by Edina Stone

Expertaupair.com is offering host parents a discount of $500 if they prematch through another au pair company.  One of these matching companies is Great Au Pair.  This is the blurb from Expert Au Pair below:

Prematch discount If you have chosen an au pair elsewhere, for example at greataupair.com, a $500 discount is available on the match fee. To qualify for this discount, you must complete our Prematch Family Service Agreement rather than the regular Family Service Agreement.

Expert Au Pair was highly rated by our website! They cover all of Florida but they are also gaining exposure in other states, so you need to check this before you apply.  Give them a call to see if they service your area.

Great Au Pair is a matching company where you can register and view applications online - their au pair selection is quite extensive - the caveat is once you choose an au pair, you will need to direct her to one of the 12 Dept. of State approved agencies in the USA so she can get a legal visa and come through one of these au pair agencies.  This may take a bit longer, but you do have more choices to view in their data bank.  Au pairs from over 140 countries register at Great Au Pair.

Registering at Great Au Pair is free, but once you find an au pair, there is a small fee.  Here is their blurb on how to become a Member:

When you find au pairs that you are interested in, it would be to your advantage to pay to become a Member in order to obtain the contact information for all 17688 aupairs and nannies on the site. Being a Member allows you to quickly and easily take control of finding the right au pair for your family within your timeframe. The membership fee for 90 days is US$120 and the membership fee for 30 days is US$60. The 90-day membership is actually more economical in the long run.

Some of the advantages for using this kind of service is that the au pairs are screened once by Great Au Pair and then again by the au pair agency you choose to have her get her visa and come into the country with.  Double screening is not a bad idea!  Also, you can post your Family Profile where au pairs can view it - you can publish your key information and photos and au pairs who are interested in working for your family can contact you.   If you go through one of the 12 agencies, au pairs cannot view your family application until after you match with her, so she does not get a chance to research your family and your childcare needs (all she hears is what you tell her and what you send her).   This cuts down time searching for the right match for both you and the au pair.

You can search Find Au Pair and see their profiles, photos, etc., and contact them by email or phone even before you spend any money!  They even offer an Au Pair Premier category where au pairs already have their J1 visa (the required documentation all au pairs need to fly into the USA in the cultural exchange program). 

 You can view their website at www.greataupair.com.