The Estate Management Systems Blog

The EMS team is here to help you navigate the ins and outs of managing luxury properties and lifestyles — from anywhere

Kelly Fore Dixon Kelly Fore Dixon

What Is a Master Maintenance Task List and How Does It Benefit Your Luxury Home?

Once built, this Excel spreadsheet is a powerful tool. The rows of information in this database can be sorted by Who completes the task (the appliance repair technician), the frequency of the task (Annual service), or the Item category (Dishwasher, Dryer, Exhaust Fan, etc.). Then all information can be added to your calendar.

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Kelly Fore Dixon Kelly Fore Dixon

Hybrid Roles Serve No One

Recent job descriptions of estate managers have become a laughable list of unrealistic expectations and impossible deliverables. As with any job, an employee should have reasonable agility to adapt to ever-changing work environments. While the growing trend of homeowners wanting fewer staff in their homes is understandable, it shouldn’t be seen as an opportunity for unethical behavior.

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Kelly Fore Dixon Kelly Fore Dixon

Top 10 Ways to Improve Household Staff Retention

Whether you are firing the staff or leaving on their own accord, let’s dive deep into some areas that might help improve your staff’s longevity. Retaining top talent is a game. Are you a rookie or a seasoned pro?

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When Staff Become Family, Here's How To Set Healthy Boundaries

It is possible to care for someone AND maintain professional boundaries and expectations. In fact, it is the most respectful way to protect and respect a relationship. Here are six suggestions for successful boundaries, outlining performance expectations, and tracking accountability with household staff.

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Estate Management, Household Procedures Kelly Fore Dixon Estate Management, Household Procedures Kelly Fore Dixon

Top 7 Tips for Hiring a Household Manager: Seasoned Pro vs. Newbie Hire

In private service, experience matters. In addition to saving a life, understanding HR practices, and having the skills required for high-tech homes, private service differs from almost any other industry due to the broad range of experience needed and the personal nature of working inside someone’s home. Here are 7 factors critical to an employee's success and longevity.

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Kelly Fore Dixon Kelly Fore Dixon

Onboard Your Low-Tech Household Staff on Trello

When developing your online household management system, on Trello or otherwise, some finesse is needed to get tech-adverse human beings on board. Expect some resistance and use a large dose of patience so that everyone on your team feels comfortable with the new information.

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10 Critical Factors To Lowering Homeowner’s Risk

For 29 years, I have worked for no money-, new money-, faux money-, and old money clients. I can’t always tell which is which, no matter the brand of cars parked in the driveway, the size of the home, or how they dress. But one thing is crystal clear, I know which ones have learned lessons from the past and learned to protect their assets and their wealth…

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