Household operations
How to Staff Multiple Residences
Keep each property ready while giving the family—and the team—a consistent point of coordination.
Separate property care from family service
A residence needs care even when it is empty. Identify the local support required for maintenance, grounds, inspections and arrival preparation. Separately, consider which professionals should accompany the family for continuity, such as a nanny or chef. A combination of local and traveling staff can work well, but each home’s use, location and complexity should guide the arrangement.
Create one clear coordinating role
Choose who manages the shared calendar, approves purchases and communicates arrival dates. This may be an estate manager, a house manager or another designated lead. Give local teams enough notice to prepare and a clear way to raise issues. Define travel schedules, expenses, accommodation and time off before asking staff to move between homes; international travel may also require specialist advice on work authorization.
Document what makes a home feel familiar
Record household preferences, supplier contacts, inventories, equipment instructions and maintenance schedules. Share only the information each person needs and keep access secure. Use arrival and departure checklists, then review what worked after each stay. Consistency comes from good handovers—not from expecting every property or team to be identical.