THE HOUSE MANAGER
The definition of a House Manager: a professional who oversees the day-to-day operations of a private household to ensure smooth and efficient management of the property/estate and other staff. They act as a central point of contact for the homeowner and household staff and coordinate a wide variety of tasks and responsibilities.
This role is the lynchpin for a busy household, juggling many areas of both personal and business needs. It is a role for which demand has increased enormously and experienced, reliable, discreet and trustworthy House Managers are constantly being sought.
The role is ever evolving as the skill-set of a House Manager grows year on year and over time has undergone significant changes. This is in part due to factors such as improvements in technology, but also because our lifestyles, priorities & expectations constantly change too. So, for example the role could include a ‘global outlook’, managing a portfolio of properties, households, staff & logistics in different locations around the world.
Where once a House Manager’s responsibilities & skills would have focused mainly on ‘household management’, they are very likely now expected to bring knowledge and support in areas such as:
- ‘technology integration’which means managing sophisticated & advanced home security devices and systems and understanding digital platforms
- ‘sustainability and energy efficiency’ which means the House Manager will be expected to keep abreast of environmental issues and able to make suggestions regarding implementing better sustainable practices (such as reducing energy consumption),managing recycling and actively sourcing sustainable products
- ‘health and well-being’ this means actively supporting and promoting ‘wellness’ which could include for example hiring and scheduling a personal trainer, finding fitness and well-being practitioners or a nutritionally focused Chef/Cook
- ‘personalised or customised services’ this means the House Manager for example might organise and plan a unique experience, oversee special dietary requirements or manage hobbies & collections
Experience in this sector also points to additional expectations from clients for their House Manager to have certification/professional qualifications in areas such as hospitality, bookkeeping or estate management and other related fields.
Overview of a House Manager’s Responsibilities:
Household Operations:
They will oversee the day to day running & operations of the household by ensuring that everything runs efficiently. It also involves management of any other staff members, organising & co-ordinating schedules, diaries and activities as well as overseeing any general repairs, maintenance and renovations as needed. They will also liaise with contractors/anyone coming to the house for deliveries etc and will greet visitors.
Managing Staff:
House Managers are often responsible for recruitment of staff as well as training & supervising. They will work with their employer to produce up to date job descriptions, will help set performance standards and will organise staff rotas/schedules.
Budgets & Finance:
On the instructions of their employer, the House Manager will undertake management of the household budget, tracking expenses, handling bill payments and running the staff payroll.
Travel & Diary Management:
They will often be asked to deal with their employer’s (and family) travel arrangements: itineraries, flights, accommodation, transport and sometimes passport & visa requirements.
Security & Emergency Procedures:
They will ensure and be responsible for the safety and security of the family and household. This means overseeing alarms/security systems, liaising with private security firms and taking overall responsibility for implementing appropriate and essential safety protocols.
General Tasks:
They can provide support and assistance to household members through handling a variety of tasks such as running errands and organising personal appointments.
Special Events & Projects
These will involve supporting the employer or a member of the family with a specific task such as a renovation project (collaborating with contractors, vendors & service providers as well as handling the budget & logistics), a birthday party or a wedding (booking caterers, vendors, planning menus, hiring temporary staff and entertainment) and so on.
To conclude, the role of a House Manager is diverse and demands a high degree of flexibility to accommodate its’ many and varied responsibilities.
The ‘person specification’ will require a House Manager to be exceptionally well organised with a keen eye for detail, a natural flare for planning, time management and execution of logistics. And just as importantly, a successful House Manager will possess exceptional interpersonal & communication skills in order to build solid & effective relationships.
For further advice and more information on finding a House Manager for your household, please call the Eden Team on 0207 4716000
