From Hiring Jets to Dog Walker, She’s No Ordinary Housekeeper
By Gina Dostler
Estate managers are more than butlers with a fancy title. They sport master degrees and their clients are ambassadors and billionaires. The new brand of domestics are called on to orchestrate dinner parties and manage private staffs. Alexis Page’s Fine Home Management developed a niche she calls fractional estate management, contracting out her services, instead of focusing on a single family. She completed estate management training in 2003 following a career as an entrepreneur and airline executive. The USC graduate has lived in the county since 1965.
Q: What is a fractional estate manager?
A: Many huge estates have a “chief of staff” to run the household, employing the staff and handling the finances of the home. Fine Home Management was founded to provide a limited number of highly affluent families the many benefits of an estate manager, but on a contractual or “fractional” basis along with a retainer. Maybe they need help finding an exceptional nanny or procuring a private jet or handling the household budget. Whatever the need, I can manage it for them.
Q: This includes financial management?
A: I believe large homes should be operated much like a business to insure quality and cost control as well as prudent staff management. Maintaining million dollar checking accounts and handling household budgets is no easy task and requires organizational skills and a corporate mind-set.
Q: Who are the clients of estate managers?
A: Successful, high net-worth individuals with busy schedules, a business to run, family and social commitments. Estate managers are more familiar in Great Britain and along the eastern seaboard serving what many term old money families or landed gentry. In the West, they fulfill many vital functions for the well-to-do- including personal chief of staff, household and personal business manager as well as private secretary. Most of these clients lack abundant free time to enjoy the rewards that should accompany hard work, long hours and sacrifice. By offering a host of services specifically tailored around their life, an estate manager can give the precious commodity of time to these individuals.
Q: Other important reasons for acquiring an estate manager?
A: Safety and security is first and foremost on the list of responsibilities. Conducting interviews and screening vendors offsite provide anonymity for the client and keeps the family safe from unwanted exposure. They want to keep their private lives just that, private.
Q: You mentioned jets?
A: Estate managers are skilled in all things techie from security to travel. Possessing an extensive background in aviation has allowed me to effectively manage private aircraft of all types including heavy jets. One great experience was back in 1995 when I helped an international businessman set up his own airline business in Asia similar to a Southwest airline, procuring planes and parts for him.
Q: So, what makes for a good estate manager?
A: Estate mangers and chiefs of staff are at the top of the domestic pyramid and oversee properties with over 10,000 square feet or multiple properties, which can include a yacht and jet. So a good estate manager will always meet and exceed expectations, keep things running smoothly, on time and within budget. Must be meticulous and very detail-oriented, and most often are equipped with a graduate degree or years of experience working in business. Sporting a skill set to mimic the systems and structures of the corporate world so they can manage and disperse money for investments, foundations and philanthropies, they are also very well versed in the domestic arts, hiring skilled chefs, nannies and maids, stocking wine cellars and even walking the family dog.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Alexis Page
Fine Home Management
3723 Birch Street, Suite 19
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949-752-1070
page@finehomemanager.com
www.finehomemanager.com
