If you have worked hard and made good, you might want to add an extra layer of comfort to your new life, or even find that you need to take on someone to help you manage your luxury estate. Before you turn to a high-end hospitality recruiter, such as Cora Partners, to find your next housekeeper or household manager, you will have to choose between live-in and live-out staff, both of which have their own benefits. Let’s take a look.
A Constant Presence
If you opt for live-in staff, one advantage is that there is always someone in the house, to receive packages, sign for important post, and reassure you simply by being there. However, for some, the fact of someone being there all the time is actually a disadvantage. Those who prefer their own company and who are hyperaware of whether they are truly alone or if there is a (even the remotest) possibility that they might be disturbed at any moment can make it hard for them to relax. This is something you will have to decide for yourself: will you be comforted to know that someone is within easy calling distance, or do you like to know you are completely alone?
Will You Lose All Your Privacy?
For some, the idea of someone living in – even for having someone in their home all day, even if they then leave at the end of the day – can be something of a trial. But it is easy enough to establish some ground rules for your household staff so that you can always enjoy your privacy when you need it. This can include things like having set times when your bedroom, the dining room, or the living room or office should not be entered. This will allow you to dress, eat, entertain friends or get some work done without interruption, and will also give the staff a good guideline for their own working day too. You can make over a part of the house to live-in staff, as their own quarters, or perhaps even give me the use of a cottage on the grounds. If both parties respect the privacy of the others, there is no reason why staff, no matter whether live-in or live-out, should be problematic. But do discuss it with your staff members so you are all on the same page.
Will They Be On Time?
Live-in staff will always be on time for work, while live-out staff may be subjected to the whims of the weather, traffic issues and personal crises. If it is absolutely vital to you to have staff at work early, getting things ready for you, live-in might be the best way to go.
Work-Life Balance
Just as you need a work-life balance, so too do your staff. Whichever option you decide to go for, make sure you consider the needs of your staff members to have time off and down-time. This can be harder to manage with live-in staff: work and home time can begin to blend with the staff member working after finishing time, or perhaps stopping work too soon one day because they worked late the previous day. Working hours and expectations should be clearly defined, with each instance of irregular working acknowledged and paid back in one form or another (cash or replacement time off).
Live-in or live-out, when it comes to staffing your luxury estate, unobtrusive excellence is the order of the day, and it really shouldn’t make too much difference where they rest their heads as you will hardly be aware they are there, except for the fact that your home life is suddenly impeccably run!