Differences Between a Household Manager and an Estate Manager

A lot goes into hiring domestic staff for your household. It’s essential to fill roles that will provide the most value for your elite lifestyle. So, when you start looking for people to manage your home and estate, you may wonder, “what’s the difference between a household manager and an estate manager?”

Although they sound similar, these two roles differ in significant ways.

In this article, we’ll detail what you can expect from someone in each position so you can determine the best hiring route to take for your home and family.

Household Manager vs. Estate Manager

The most apparent difference between these two positions is the specific area they manage. A household manager is responsible for managing one household, while an estate manager is in charge of managing an entire estate, which can include multiple households or more complex arrangements.

But there are more differences between household managers and estate managers than that. Let’s take a closer look at what each position entails to help you decide if you need to hire a household manager or estate manager.

What Does a Household Manager Do?

A household manager is entirely responsible for your household. In some homes, the household manager is the only staff member. In others, the household manager is responsible for managing the rest of the domestic staff.

Precisely what a household manager does on a daily basis will vary from one household to the next. Here are some of the tasks you can expect a household manager to be capable of doing:

• Run small errands
• General housekeeping
• Greet and serve guests
• Train other domestic staff
• Manage contractors and house projects
• Ensure interior and exterior property maintenance
• General household administration, including budgeting
• Chauffeur household members to activities and events

Hire a household manager if you need someone to look after one property instead of managing several different homes within your estate.

What Does an Estate Manager Do?

An estate manager is responsible for managing a family’s entire estate, which usually includes multiple households and their property. In some cases, an estate manager might only be responsible for one home and its property if it sits on several acres of land.

An estate manager’s job is to handle tasks that simplify life for the family that employs them. As with a household manager, the exact day-to-day responsibilities of an estate manager will depend on the family’s needs and circumstances.

Here are some of the tasks and responsibilities you can expect an estate manager to handle:

• Manage the domestic staff working in the family home
• Manage trained staff operating outside the family home
• Oversee preparations for estate events, such as weddings
• Manage the estate budget and track money coming in and going out
• Ensure livestock and other animals on the property are well cared for
• Ensure the estate and the land it sits on are in pristine condition at all times

Hire an estate manager if you have multiple homes and need someone to maintain them at all times. You should also consider hiring an estate manager if your estate is run like a business and you need someone to help with bookkeeping, budgeting, and other administrative tasks.

How to Hire a Household Manager or Estate Manager

Whether you need a household manager or estate manager, At Ease Family Solutions is available to help you find the perfect candidate.

We know how important it is to find a trustworthy candidate who can quickly get to work managing your household or estate. That’s why we like to meet with applicants to better understand their needs and preferred outcomes.

Simply fill out an application form on our website to get started.