The thought of managing a home can be daunting, especially for busy professionals or families residing on larger estates or properties. That’s why you will see a House Manager come into play as a great resource. So, what is a House Manager? At their most basic level, a House Manager is a professional responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a home. This can consist of managing a staff, maintenance of the home, planning events, and so on; however, the duties of a House Manager can vary depending on what you need.
Whether you’re considering hiring a House Manager for your estate or already have one in place, you are likely wondering what their role entails. Knowing the duties of a House Manager will help you make informed decisions.
In this short overview, we will review House Manager responsibilities, what House Managers do, and why they are essential in luxury residences.
Understanding the Role of a Residential House Manager
Acting as a House Manager is more than simple management or oversight; it is envisioning a lifestyle for residents. Unlike a traditional housekeeper or nanny, a House Manager works in conjunction with the homeowner, developing appropriate processes and managing the people involved. House Managers are often employed in high-net-worth households where the requirements of the house are significant. Whether you have a sprawling suburban home, a House Manager ensures that everyday activities are smooth, seamless, and discreet.
Administrative elements are significant components of the household manager’s job description. The household manager may budget and track household expenses, manage bills, and inventory household supplies, grocery items, and even more glamorous items like fine art. He will also serve as a liaison between the owner and vendors, contractors, and service providers. Most people have had a situation where they needed a plumber in a hurry, or their grass needed a seasonal cut. The House Manager arranges these details for you, allowing you to focus on the things you are really engaged in.
As implied, in elite spaces for managers of luxury residences, the House Manager role offers an elevated experience. The luxury home management roles may oversee wine cellars, attend to art collections, and collaborate with personal chefs to ensure everyone’s dietary restrictions are managed. The House Manager’s expertise provides you and your family with a residence that functions well and reflects the owner’s lifestyle of sophisticated tastes.
Daily Tasks of a Home Manager
To gain a better understanding of the daily tasks of a House Manager,, let’s look at the tasks they might typically do each day. Mornings may consist of reviewing the family’s calendar for the day, preparing for those appointments, and preparing breakfast if a chef will be in the home. The afternoon may involve staffing cleanings, managing errands, dry cleaning, and groceries, handling issues as they arise, such as a broken dishwasher, and ensuring the house is running smoothly.
Afternoon tasks may include arranging deliveries, pet care, and oversight of children’s activities. The evening may involve organizing dinners, overseeing security, and setting up the home for guests or other families. When thinking about the House Manager role in this manner, you can see that the House Manager is anticipating needs before they’ve even occurred and dramatically engaging in preventative problem-solving.
Technology is also an essential aspect of this job. Many House Managers use apps and software to manage calendars and schedules, watch over smart home systems, and communicate with family members. It is vastly helpful to use technology-based systems that allow for the efficiency of a home.
What Does a Private House Manager Do?
You might now be thinking, What is a private House Manager that is different from a normal position? In private homes, it is all about personalisation and confidentiality. Often, private House Managers work in high-end estates, and privacy is a priority. Their responsibilities can also include personal services, such as booking travel, appointments, managing correspondence, or providing wardrobe consultation for high-profile individuals.
A House Manager in someone’s private home may also communicate with other household staff to ensure their standards stay high, and for them to fully grasp the multi-tasking world in which they operate – balancing everyday chores with one-off events, sometimes from pool maintenance to extravagant parties. This is where private House Managers have been afforded high value in wealthy circles.
What is the Difference Between House Manager and Estate Manager
It’s vital to understand the difference between a House Manager and Estate Manager, as these roles are often used interchangeably but are not the same. A House Manager is typically responsible for overseeing the daily household affairs of one home and its staff in the interior operations.
An Estate Manager may manage one estate with multiple properties or multiple estates, which typically entails an outdoor aspect of managing grounds, farms, outdoor guest houses, and the broader scope of property management, legal issues, etc. This could involve looking to the future and long-term development of the estate; for example, the House Manager could be responsible for arranging interior repairs, while the Estate Manager could be entering into land contracts or managing agricultural pursuits.
House Manager Responsibilities in Depth
The duties of a House Manager include overseeing staff, among other significant aspects. Hiring, training, and scheduling domestic help, including maids and chauffeurs, requires managing them to ensure everyone operates at full capacity. House Managers are also responsible for ensuring compliance with house rules, which can range from security rules to greenhouse rules that require adherence to the owner’s ideals.
Event planning and execution is another significant part of the role of a House Manager. House Managers generally organize a range of events, including breakfast, dinner, cocktail parties, and more extravagant events. Again, they are challenged with coordinating all the pieces of an event, including invitations, food, formal requirements, event staff, and cleanup at the end of the event. In luxury situations, House Managers may find themselves working alongside a venue or event planner, especially when coordinating parties or significant holiday events.
Maintenance and upkeep are other significant responsibilities of House Managers. They are responsible for conducting daily safety and performance checks, organizing maintenance and repairs, and ensuring compliance with all building, fire, and health and safety codes. In sustainable homes, House Managers may coordinate efforts to update and repair all aspects of the home to achieve sustainability, i.e., energy-efficient systems, safe environments, etc.
Final Thoughts
A House Manager’s responsibilities encompass a wide range of activities that help keep a home operating like a well-oiled machine. From the daily duties of a home manager to the unique luxury home management activities, their work positively impacts the quality of life. If you’re wondering what a House Manager is and searching for a household manager job description, remember that they provide organization, efficiency, and peace of mind.
We at Casa Bella Residential Staffing are experts at placing discerning clients with superior House Managers customized to you. If you are looking for someone to manage your smaller home or an estate, let us help.