Practical guides
How to hire a local helper in China
A useful first message describes an outcome, not just a city. Whether you need a shop visit, a purchase or someone to check a property, the same small checklist helps us assess the task.
Give the helper a clear brief
Explain what needs to happen, the exact city and your preferred date. For a purchase, include product links, quantities and acceptable alternatives. For a visit, explain who can provide access and what you want checked. Start with general details; share sensitive addresses or documents only when the arrangements and recipient are confirmed.
Separate the service fee from expenses
Ask what time and tasks the service fee covers. Purchases, shipping, travel, admission and other third-party costs should be listed separately. A friend in the same city and a helper travelling from Hunan will need different arrangements. Confirm any advance expenses and what happens if access is unavailable or the task changes. ChinaMate quotes local tasks individually.
Agree the evidence and handover
Choose useful updates before work begins: a permitted photo checklist, a short video call, price notes or available receipts. Confirm where the handover will be sent and when an update is expected. A visit can document what was observed; it cannot guarantee a supplier's future performance or an outcome controlled by another organisation.
Your first-message checklist
- Goal, city, preferred date and time zone.
- Task list, product details or access contact.
- Budget, agreed expenses and acceptable alternatives.
- Required photos, notes, receipts and update schedule.