Unlocking the Secret Benefits of an Empowered House Manager: Why Homeowners Can't Afford to Ignore Them
From the very first day I stepped into my role as an estate manager, I had an idea of how I thought it should be.
I had worked on luxury properties for more than 20 years, but not in them. I felt like I had hit the jackpot when I was hired for this very demanding role – one that I felt I was 110% suited for.
I thought that by being employed by a high-tech giant that I would walk into a world of professionalism and sophistication that I hadn’t experienced in the landscape construction world. Even though I worked with the best contractors available, I was so wrong!
While I did work with some brilliant people on this new estate, everyone seemed to be struggling to survive.
The traveling team had been on the road for more than 30 days, with very little sleep.
The housekeeping staff was fighting over whose responsibility it was to vacuum the outdoor furniture, while the interior housekeeper hadn’t taken a day off in over 2.5-years.
Everyone was working independently, collaborating only as required.
No one was happy.
Over the next couple of months, I noticed some concerns: Missed housekeeping tasks, an imbalance of overworked staff, while others left at 4 p.m. And most concerning, no one wanted to help each other. The sentiment was, “Why do I need to do my job AND help them do theirs?”
The contractors also were also unhappy – with delayed payment, some beyond 60 days. I soon found out why. In my new office was a bookcase full of loose papers. Some of those papers contained work orders and invoices that hadn’t been approved or submitted for payment.
I wonder if anyone else shares this dream of an ideal day-in-the-life of an Estate Manager?
Where everyone on your team meets in the morning (in-person, group text or virtual chat), to discuss how yesterday went. Did the Koi fish pond get cleaned? Are they cleaning the filter today?
And then you discuss the tasks where two-is-better-than-one (up on a ladder with a hose, moving a heavy piece of furniture, inventorying the pantry), and everyone on your team pulls together to complete the work.
A day where the contractors protect the property and clean up after their work so they don’t create more work for your housekeeping staff. Even better, where they use only one restroom that needs to be sanitized after they leave. Where they don’t drip oil on the flagstone driveway. And where you knew that each of your contractors had an active insurance and worker’s compensation policy in effect.
Then everyone goes home at a respectable hour and has a lovely evening with their families.
The day also begins where principal service expectations are clearly defined and ALL requests flow direct to you.
Where you use a predetermined budget and well-vetted resources to make magic happen behind-the-scenes.
No AC units fail because – even in the heat of the summer – you’ve proactively maintained all mechanical equipment.
You’re saving money by purchasing often-used items in bulk, and as a result, you never run out of printer ink or paper, and the snacks in the pool house pantry are never stale.
Imagine tracking the purchase of your much anticipated new Apple order and knowing exactly who received it at your security gate, with a photo of the contents, and the notification pops up on your phone that it was delivered to your office.
Oh yeah, and you haven’t worked 60 hours that week!
One can dream.
While I am no longer an estate manager, I have created my own ideal day-in-the-life of a former estate manager, where I get to help you manifest a more perfect day. My lofty dreams are coming to fruition Monday!
Estate Management System introduces:
The How To Manage A Mansion™ system
This is the system I wish I’d had when I was an estate manager.
HTMM™ gives you all the tools, templates, training and resources to manage your luxury home and domestic staff to be successful — right from your phone or laptop.
So what does that mean for EMS products?
Our House Manual Templates — over 80! — are also available.
Please watch your email for more launch information.
Together, let’s keep dreaming!
Kelly
