What is A House Manager?

What is a House Manager? A Thorough Guide on Residential House Manager – Skills, Duties and Much More

If you ask people, "what is a house manager?" they will say a house manager is someone who manages the house. In a general context, it is true.

However, that's not what the term means professionally!

Professionally speaking, a house manager is a trained person the owner hires for their property. The property can be barren land, an entire estate, a house, a small company, or a community.

A house manager is responsible for looking after the property and handling all its operations. They should act as a 2nd in command to the owner.

There are several types of house managers. Among which, the most popular ones are as follows:

- Residential House Manager

- Property House Manager

- Theatre House Manager

- Gated Community House Manager

- University Housing House Manager

Residential house managers are the most known and in-demand house managers. They are responsible for managing the entire household, including the residents and housing staff.

Suppose you are looking for a private residential house manager to manage your home or consider becoming a house manager. In that case, this post will prove fruitful for you.

This post will discuss the house manager's skills, duties, responsibilities, career growth, and estimated salary.

Why Do People Hire a House Manager?

Owners can need a house manager due to one of the following reasons:

· To Delegate Homely Tasks:

Amid all the chaos of maintaining a successful business and high social status, owners need a house manager to oversee a house's daily operations and ensure that everything is working well.

· To Spend More Time with Kids:

Families need house managers to take their homely duties off their shoulders so that they can spend quality time with their children.

· To Control Domestic Help:

A huge household requires several trained personnel to work smoothly. Owners need a house manager to control and deal with domestic help. A home manager will essentially be in charge of the personnel.

· To Look After the House in the Absence of the Owner:

Families moving abroad or going on long vacations also require someone to look after their house and maintain it. Hence, they need the services of the house manager

· To Act as a Residential Advisor (RA)

Lastly, owners need a professional person to act as a residential advisor for their tenants in their absence. As a RA house manager is responsible for dealing with the tenants and looking after the maintenance of the house.

Let us shed some light on the house manager's skills, duties, and responsibilities.

What are the Skills Required by the House Manager?

A residential house manager should be a master of many talents. They should be able to multitask and make quick decisions. Besides these, house managers should have the following skills to get hired and prove their worth.

· House Manager Should be Responsible:

Like any other manager, a house manager should be responsible and competent because they are in a position where they are responsible for every domestic problem. They should be able to stay active and manage all the chaos calmly. They should be able to manage a plethora of jobs and responsibilities promptly.

· House Managers Should be Highly Organized:

It is the second most significant factor to consider. They will be in charge of day-to-day operations, such as looking after the house chores and attending to the needs of each house member. Multitasking skills will be required in this situation. They should also have problem-solving skills.

· House Manager Should be able to Communicate Effectively:

Communication is an essential skill in any managerial position. House managers must ensure that contact with residents is polite and straightforward. This ensures that all house owners' wishes and considerations are met fast and efficiently.

· House Manager Should have Strong Leadership qualities:

House managers must have excellent administrative skills. A home manager is in charge of dealing with all of the house's problems. They will also assist the housekeeping staff. As a result, leadership quality is in high demand.

· House Manager Should be able to Respect the Privacy of Residents:

Finally, a house manager must be aware of sensitive personal information, such as medical records or financial information. It is only their job to retain the owners' trust by maintaining the secrecy of personal information.

What are the Responsibilities and Duties of the House Manager?

General Responsibilities:

A House Manager's responsibilities are wide-ranging. It varies a lot depending on the client and their family. However, the House Manager's general tasks are as follows:

ü Overseeing the smooth operation of the house.

ü Guaranteeing proper property and land upkeep and maintenance.

ü In charge of additional members of the household staff.

ü Finally, there's general administration, budget management, and contractor coordination.

A House Manager's responsibilities are often more significant than those of the Butler or Housekeeper. On the other hand, smaller families may combine Butler and House Manager, or Housekeeper and House Manager, into a single position. Depending on the household, employees may advance from one of these jobs to House Management.

Without a doubt, working as a public house manager entails more than merely receiving perks from wealthy families or businesses. Instead, they are responsible for uncountable obligations as a public house manager.

General Duties:

A house manager's duties are not specified. They can range from being a butler, chauffeur, cleaner, bookkeeper, or just a RA for the owner. The owner decides the duties of the house manager.

Note: Keep in mind that the house managers are not supposed to do all the tasks themselves, but they are in charge of these tasks. If the owner has appointed another house help, the manager must supervise them. They must accomplish the task, either by doing it themselves or hiring an expert.

The typical duties of the house manager are:

· Looking after the Property:

Among all the other tasks, the essential duty of a house manager is to make sure that the entire property or house is in good condition. They are in charge of the construction, repairs, renovation, and maintenance of the house.

· Becoming a Multitasker:

The house manager is supposed to manage entire happenings and operations. They should know how to multitask and finish their jobs on time. The house manager must manage everything the owner asks, from cleaning, cooking, chauffeuring, accounts, and organizing work trips or vacations.

· Dealing with The Recruitment Process of New Employees:

Most house managers are hired to supervise the household staff. They have to deal with the whole recruitment process, such as posting the ads for vacancies, interviewing, selecting, training, and supervising the new employees.

· Bookkeeping:

Oh, yes! The house manager is often asked to manage the entire finances of the house. They have to handle all the bookkeeping and keep it up to date. From groceries and utility bills to salaries of household staff, they have to manage and keep an account of everything.

· Keeping an Eye on Households' Finances:

The house manager is not only responsible for bookkeeping, but they also have to keep track of house expenses. They have to inform and update the owner about all the household finances daily or monthly.

· Maintaining Paperwork:

The house manager has to keep all the official and legal documents of the house organized and up-to-date at all times. Not only that, they are expected to keep documents and licenses of entire residents maintained and protected.

· Handling Official Matters:

Often house managers are also hired to work as owner's assistants besides being their house managers. They are responsible for looking into the official matters of their owner outside the office, such as scheduling a private meeting with the prospective clients, arranging business trips, and providing legal advice. However, this house manager must have high business management or finance qualifications.

· Providing Warm Hospitability:

The house manager has to prepare, receive, settle, and entertain guests. They must give guests a warm welcome and make their stay comfortable and peaceful. In most houses, managers are supposed to look after their guests' every need and demand, such as shopping for them or arranging conveyance.

· Ensuring Health and Safety Regulations:

The house manager has to manage the house and look after the entire family's well-being. They must ensure that the entire staff follows all safety regulations to prevent diseases like Covid-19 infection. They also keep records of vaccinations of the entire household.

· Organizing and Managing Social Gatherings:

Parties and functions are a big deal for the cooperates and government officials. The house manager has to plan, initiate, and supervise the entire event. Creating a guest list, sending invites, making sitting arrangements, etc., is part of their job description. Even if the owner hires an event planner, the house manager has to keep an eye on the planners as well.

· Resolving Issues and Making Smart Decisions:

The house manager is supposed to have a problem-solving attitude. They must be capable of solving issues related to the family or house. In addition, they are also responsible for making intelligent decisions for the welfare of the house and its residents.

What Is the Qualification Requirement for the Position of House Manager?

Well, firstly, it depends on the needs and requirements of the owner. But in most situations, a master's degree won't help the house manager get this job unless the owner needs a PA besides a manager.

A home manager's wide variety of relevant talents is more vital than a college degree. An employer may only require high school graduation or a GED. If the manager has demonstrated organization, efficiency, responsibility, discretion, and the capacity to complete whatever employer requests, they are good to go.

The hiring purpose is different for different house managers. For example, one family may choose a home manager to prepare French cuisine. In contrast, another family can demand a home manager to supervise the house help.

What Is the Career Growth Rate of a House Manager?

As most business owners and CEOs of multinational companies are investing in properties, the need for house managers is increasing rapidly. According to estimates, the house manager's career is expected to expand 13% between 2018 and 2028, resulting in about 22,000 employment openings across the United States.

What Is the Estimated Salary of a House Manager?

A house manager's average hourly wage in 2021 has been between $20 and $30. The average yearly pay, however, was roughly $50,000. On the other hand, wages vary by company. They are determined by various factors such as education, applicable skills, and the number of years of job experience you have.

Where Does the House Manager Live?

The living arrangement depends on the owner's job requirements and the type of services the manager intends to provide. Either they work full-time or part-time. Mostly, the full-time managers prefer to live within the owner's property. Alternatively, the part-time managers can leave the premises once their work is done for the day.

Is A House Manager Required to Wear A Uniform?

They would generally wear a uniform in a formal household. An essential pair of black trousers/skirt with a white shirt might suffice in a semi-formal setting. However, the house manager can dress whichever they want in a casual setting, subject to the client's approval.

Final Verdict – What is a House Manager?

House Manager is a trained professional responsible for managing the client's house. Anyone can need a house manager, from top-notch business people to busy start-up owners.

The primary objective of hiring a house manager is to delegate homely tasks and avoid spending time on minimal tasks such as cleaning, cooking, etc., or time-consuming tasks such as bookkeeping and supervising the house help.

The house manager takes full responsibility for the owners' duties and becomes their right hand. As a house manager, preference is given to those with skills rather than high qualifications. But this too depends on the owner's requirements.

Furthermore, the house manager is supposed to be an army of one man as he must look after several tasks simultaneously. Their duties, living arrangement, salary package vary from client to client.

All in all, we can say that a house manager is your go-to option when you are looking for someone to take off your burden.