Wondering how to find the best household staff for a luxury home? About how many household staff members are needed for a properly-functioning mansion or estate? Need to know the best domestic staffing agencies? What about the other expert tips to know before you embark on finding your household staff? Our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has all the answers.
elite households still maintain a household staff, just like back in the day
long hours are the new normal
Despite the trope of the “lazy American,” we are actually working harder and longer hours than previous generations. According to our friends at Gallup, people who work full time are putting in an average of 47 hours per week- that’s nearly 6 days a week in case anyone’s counting.
In our circle of friends and acquaintances who work in the C-suite, or who are running start-ups, or who are entrepreneurs, 47 hours actually sounds like it’s on the low end. When you factor in travel, answering emails on the weekend, after-work events, and other socializing commitments, the numbers creep up to 60-80 hours a week.
high achievers tend to hire their way to happiness
But don’t feel sorry for them. High achievers thrive on working hard. And besides, high net-worth individuals have a strategy: they hire their way to happiness.
Doing it all is a myth. Shown time and again in scientific surveys as well as anecdotal evidence from our peers, it’s easy to see that people who spend money on time-saving services, rather than material purchases, report greater life satisfaction.
For elite households and the Forbes 400 set, there’s not just one home to take care of, but multiple residences. An army of people is needed to keep their gracious homes running smoothly and efficiently. But how do they find and hire an experienced butler, housekeeper, gardener, or even a laundress? Perhaps you may be thinking of hiring some help for your household, too. We don’t blame you.
assembling a good staff is a delicate matter
Typically, when we want advice or referrals, we ask neighbors and friends. But hiring household staff is like hiring a nanny – it’s a deeply personal decision, and you don’t want to be accused of poaching staff from others.
So we’ve done some of the legwork and compiled a Dandelion Chandelier-approved list of the best domestic staffing agencies around. And in case you’re not sure who does what – despite binge-watching Downton Abbey – no worries. We’re starting off with a handy reference list of the professionals you might need. And the typical salary requirements for each. And finally, we have some tips to help you find the perfect fit for your family.
how many household staff members are needed?
The first question to answer, before we address how to find the best household staff for a luxury home, is how many staff members are needed, and what roles each should play. So before you embark on your search for your Bates, Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes, here’s the vocabulary and best practices you need to know.
According to Hampton Domestics, one of the best domestic staffing agencies, the general rule for staff size is one housekeeper for every 3,000 square feet. But that’s not all. Often, the homeowner (referred to as the “principal”) has needs beyond just a clean house. Here is a rundown of the various positions that you might not have known you needed:
Estate / Household Manager
Description: Primarily a chief administrator that acts as the GM of a luxury hotel. They manage and supervise staff and oversee areas such as the other smaller vacation homes, vineyard, stable, yacht and private jet. They are also responsible for budgets and household accounts. Annual Salary Range: $75,000 to $250,000+
Butler
Description: The butler is usually the most formal member of the domestic staff. Many desirable candidates will have attended a specialized school for butler training and have a certificate in wine specialization. A butler is well versed in etiquette, caring for silver, china and crystal and overseeing dinner parties and other events. They are also responsible for supervising other members of the household staff. Annual Salary Range: $75,000 to $175,000+
Private Chef
Description: A private chef prepares detailed menus and food for an individual or family and their social events. They are responsible for anything food or kitchen-related, including organization, clean up, shopping for all food-related supplies and menu planning. Typically a private chef will hold a degree from a reputable culinary school and some have specializations in specific diets- vegan and gluten-free, as well as specific cuisines – French, Asian, etc. Annual Salary Range: $52,000 to $225,000+
Personal Assistant
Description: A personal assistant is responsible for keeping up with the social and professional demands of the principal. Duties vary from managing the family calendar, personal shopping, event planning, and handling bills, investments and bookkeeping. Above all, the personal assistant should be highly discreet and understand the “around the clock” nature of the position. Annual Salary Range: $60,000 to $110,000+
Domestic Couple
Description: Typically a married couple, usually one person is responsible for the inside of the home: cleaning, cooking, shopping, menu planning, laundry, serving and overseeing the daily activities of the house. The other person is responsible for the outside grounds, gardening, light maintenance, repair and maintenance of machinery and automobile care. Together a domestic couple can run one large home successfully and can often save the employer from needing to hire multiple staff. Housing is usually provided. Annual Salary Range: $120,000 to $200,000+
Caretaker/Gardener
Description: Has full charge of the outside and inside maintenance of the home, including salt and fresh water pools and guest houses. Caretakers will have a wide and deep practical knowledge of property and grounds maintenance and often requires sound handyman/maintenance skills: plumbing, carpentry and painting. A Caretaker also oversees the care and repair of the automobiles and other maintenance equipment (lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc.).
Top of the line Gardeners often have a degree in horticulture and care for the estate’s formal gardens, landscaping and greenhouses. They will also supervise outside vendors and order supplies and equipment. Annual Salary Range: $52,000 to $100,000+
Housekeeper
Description: A Housekeeper is in charge of running the home, which may include overseeing other employees, cleaning, doing the laundry, ironing, dusting, silver polishing, vacuuming and running errands. Housekeeper duties may also include some meal preparation and/or child care duties. A trained housekeeper will bring their knowledge base of formal serving, table setting, organizing, and high-quality care for furniture and artwork. Housekeepers can live-in or out. Annual Salary Range: $45,000 to $80,000+
Laundress
Description: A Laundress washes, irons and steams clothing, table linens and sheets, as well as organizes the closets and dressers. They will often be able to mend clothing and have a knowledge of caring for luxurious fabrics and trims. They may also be required to care for the polishing of shoes. Annual Salary Range: $40,000 to $65,000+
Maid
Description: Some homes require lady’s maids, chamber maids, kitchen maids, parlor maids and/or upstairs maids. More common in larger homes, these positions are usually responsible for cleaning and maintaining one particular area of the home. Lady’s maids or personal maids, may be required to do an employer’s hair, help her dress and undress, pack for trips, and keep her clothes in order. Annual Salary Range: $40,000 to $65,000+
how to find the best household staff for a luxury home
If you’re ready to staff up, you should work with one of the top domestic staffing agencies. Here are the top agencies to find experienced and professional domestic staff. We’ve done the research, asked our friends in the know, and these are the most reputable agencies who have been trusted by some of the most prominent American families.
1. The Lindquist Group
One of the nation’s oldest and best domestic staffing agencies, The Lindquist Group has personal notes of thanks and commendations from the likes of Roosevelt, Carnegie, Rockefeller and Ford. From 1890 onward, these illustrious men and women—giants of industry, great patrons of the arts, the doyennes of culture and society—trusted the founding partners for all their domestic staffing needs. They have offices in Greenwich, New York City, Palm Beach and Miami. In addition to having extensive experience and an unrivaled number of staffing specialties, their selection process is among the most exclusive.
2. Hampton Domestics
Owner Vincent Minuto, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has worked in the domestic field for over 30 years as a chef and estate manager. So he brings true insider expertise to his agency. And is a great resource in determining how many and what type of household staff members are needed. Hampton Domestics places staff not only in New York, Palm Beach and The Hamptons, but also nationwide and abroad. Minuto is particularly notable for long term placements. He also follows up with clients even after initial placements, to advise on employee-employer relationships, salary negotiations, and any other concerns.
3. British American Household Staffing
With offices in New York, Hollywood, San Francisco, London and Palm Beach, British American Household Staffing (BAHS) serves high-net worth principals and their families with a team of 23 highly educated and sophisticated recruiters. They are a preferred vendor for Morgan Stanley. They also maintain strong ties within the yachting world, staffing major yachting events, including the Monaco Yacht Show. One standout feature of this agency is their training program and short-term workshops to update the skills of domestic staff candidates.
4. Pavillion Agency
A nationally recognized leader in the field of personal service since 1962, Pavillion Agency has grown to be the largest household staffing agency in the U.S., with offices throughout major cities. They can definitely solve the riddle of how to find household staff members, and how many household staff roles are needed. Their expertise is regularly sought in stories about the wealthy and their domestic staff in publications like The New York Times, Business Insider, Town and Country and Bloomberg Businessweek. The agency can also provide one source payroll processing and comprehensive HR services dedicated to the household staffing industry, alleviating the common burdens of hiring staff in the first place.
5. Household Staffing
For over 20 years, woman-owned agency Household Staffing has placed hundreds of high-caliber staff into positions in the homes of celebrities, politicians and other affluent families. They are a preferred provider to Berkshire Hathaway clients and a trusted partner to Keller William clients as well. With offices in Pennsylvania and New York City, they specialize in nationwide placements. From their extensive databases, Household Staffing is able to present 5+ potential candidates from which their clients can choose.
Final Tips on how to find household staff
Though these agencies will be able to provide you with most of the guidance you need for determining how many household staff are needed and narrowing down qualified candidates according to your lifestyle, nothing can replicate your own “gut feeling.”
Here are some final tips so that you can find that perfect fit and enjoy a healthy, long-term employer-employee relationship in the years to come.
Make a detailed job description and don’t be afraid to add in all the nuances and quirks of your lifestyle.
Don’t worry- these staffing agencies have seen it all. From principals who hire housekeepers with their same size shoe so that they can break in their new Louboutins to clients who will not hire anyone taller than them. It’s best to be on the same page from the get-go and to establish open communication.
Conduct multiple interviews.
Ask a friend or family member to join you, as multiple people whom you trust can help interpret the candidate’s background. And different approaches to interview will help glean different information.
Start with a trial.
When you have picked a potential staff member, start with a 30-day trial. Having this period will allow you both to get to know each other and the expectations of the job. At the end of 30 days, you will be able to clarify any tasks that need to be changed, modify hours, and solidify the agreement going forward.
It’s easy to blur lines between employer and employee when the space is in the intimate confines of your home. Don’t get too chummy too fast. Keep it professional and have safe boundaries.
But this doesn’t mean you need to be cold and formal.
Be a good employer. Treat them like a valued member of the team. Remember important events in their lives. Pay them fairly and ethically. And yes, pay the taxes you know you should.
Now that you know how many household staff are needed, and how to find the best household staff, go and enjoy your newfound free time!
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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, fitness and even investigating police misconduct. Julie lives in NYC where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women, kickboxing and spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.
Join our community
For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier newsletter. And see luxury in a new light.