Estate managers are top executives in the household management hierarchy. They usually manage larger households, and manage complex properties that have many employees.
Estate managers are generally in direct communication with the owners of any such properties. They ensure accurate planning and execution of the general design for management of the property and other staff. After making plans, they disseminate the information to the specialized domestic staffing teams.
Estate managers also play a significant role in the recruitment of staff, and sometimes are even involved in termination procedures too.
It is a common mistake for people to confuse an estate manager with a house manager. However, the two play distinctive roles that set each of them apart. Below is a detailed analysis of the roles of an estate manager.
Estate Managers: Head of the Domestic Staff Team
An estate manager is an administrative services professional who managers your households or properties. Such professionals have diverse and direct knowledge of domestic household management systems, and the ways that they can run most efficiently.
Estate managers have the capacity to work within the luxury marketplace and manage multiple homes or even grand hotels. It is important for estate managers to possess the basic skills of human resource management. This is because they interact with many people on a daily basis.
Estate managers also must possess informed perspectives on transportation and home security best practices because of the constant coming and going of domestic staffers working within the estate. Estate managers should also demonstrate refined and dynamic business etiquette as they not only work in an office environment. They often interact directly with family heads of household too.
There are various types of estate managers. They include:
- Heritage Estates (such as those owned by the National Trust)
- Agricultural/Rural/Forestry Estates
- Private Estates
- Property management – commercial and residential
- NHS facilities/hospitals
Estate manager positions are not all made equal, so be sure you are hiring one with the right background to fit your need!
Roles of Estate Managers
Estate managers carry out various management responsibilities within the property in which they work. For one, they are in charge of staff supervision. All the employees that work on the estate report into the estate manager. In the largest properties, each domestic staffing function can have a leader, and those leaders will normally report directly to the estate manager.
Estate managers also take care of the performance review role domestic staffers. On a quarterly basis, they will meet with individual domestic staffing members to discuss their performance, discuss pay bumps and even deliver bonuses for good work.
Estate managers are also essential to the contract negotiation process. In larger properties, residents may require services from various vendors. Estate managers meet with vendors to discuss food contracts, technical maintenance contracts, and furnishing contracts too.
Estate managers may also be responsible for the annual estate budget. To ensure the estate runs smoothly, the estate manager has to take care of the payroll and schedule each employee.
Finally, the estate manager acts as the direct representative of the employer. They serve the best interest of the property owner and their brand as well. They ensure that everything within the business and the estate runs smoothly.
Differences between Estate Managers and House Managers
It is possible to confuse an estate manager and a house manager because they sometimes play similar roles. They may have some shared duties, but these positions’ responsibilities are not identical.
A house manager takes care of the daily operations within a home. Their duties are more hands-on within the domicile itself.
Below is a list of some of the regular tasks performed by a house manager:
- Manages bills and accounts of the home
- Sets appointments for home repairs and maintenance.
- Provides housesitting and pet-sitting duties
- Supervises any household staff
- Makes sure the house stays neat and organized
- Keeps an inventory of the house and restocking things as needed
- Runs household errands
Compared to the responsibilities performed by a house manager, an estate manager carries out more supervisory duties for the entirety of the estate. Their focuses can extend beyond the goings on of the estate itself and also include aspects of operations outside of the estate that may effect its smooth running.
The responsibilities of a house manager are strictly within the home. They normally do not manage an array of properties or staff. The staff that the house manager controls is normally much smaller than that controlled by an estate manager. Their duties may be hands-on, but they do not normally get involved in contract negotiations, reviews or other human resource functions.
How much does it cost to hire an estate manager in Los Angeles?
According to PayScale, estate managers make between $61K-150K per year. Median pay for estate managers in Los Angeles is $92,000.
In Beverly Hills, LA, estate managers can make up to $300K dollars annually. Those that have demonstrated effective management of estates in the past can command such high pay because of their reputation and their relative scarcity to other domestic staffing functions
What is the best way to find estate managers?
You have come to the right place! We’ll help you to develop a list of requirements to assist in your estate manager search and ensure the right fit within your estate. Seaside Staffing will conduct the search for you, prepare interviews, assist in contract negotiations and more.
Ready to get started? Contact us here to hire an estate manager.
