Estate Manager Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an estate manager. Feel free to use our Estate Manager job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an estate manager.
Who is an Estate Manager?
Estate management deals with the appraisal, acquisition, development, marketing, or management of a property. Estate management includes a broad category of commercial property such as offices, hotels, and shops, or it can refer to the management of a residential property. A career in estate management offers exciting opportunities for those interested in the property sector. There are long-term job opportunities available to goal-oriented, driven, and passionate individuals.
An estate manager leads the team for a private client. They work directly with the owner to plan and execute the overall management of property and services. The estate manager will be in charge of the staff employed at the properties overseeing hiring, training, and management. He or she will represent their clients in matters regarding the running of the estate and interface with accountants, financial advisors, contractors, and lawyers. Also, the estate manager ensures the property owner’s activities remain private as they desire and creates a plan to ensure the upkeep of the property. They often have significant authority to make decisions for the property including hiring and firing contractors, ordering landscaping, and managing security. The daily duties of an estate manager vary based on the estate; some estates have extensive grounds and require more tending while others have unique buildings, golf courses, vineyards, or even private airports that need supervision.
Additionally, estate managers manage lands for organizations in the public, private, and heritage sectors. They are often concerned with the historical or heritage preservation of a site and their aim is to enable an estate to run as effectively as possible. Through careful management and coordination, estate managers seek to solve and troubleshoot problems and maximize financial returns from an estate. They also work to improve other areas such as health outcomes or improved social integration. However, the nature of the role of an estate manager varies according to the type of employer and estate involved. For instance, an estate manager working for a national organization will have quite different roles from an estate manager working for a healthcare facility. An important part of the work of an estate manager will be to ensure that longer-term issues are planned for. For example, if an estate is looking to increase visitor numbers using a house and gardens, there could be a need for improved access, parking, and toilet facilities, or you may be required to facilitate an additional service within a hospital estate without additional buildings.
The working hours of an estate manager vary depending on the sector or industry they are in, but it is common to work a regular Monday to Friday week. There may be some weekend work if an open event is being held on the estate or if a contractor needs to complete some work on a weekend. Estate managers work both in an office and out on the estate. They often balance numerous and sometimes contradictory issues such as increasing the profitability of the estate without spending any money. Similarly, the work involves planning to meet both short-term and long-term goals; hence, the estate manager needs to be both practically-minded and strategic to see the overall picture of a project.
Furthermore, an estate manager is a top-level executive in a large household or complex of properties that employ a lot of staff. They work directly with the owner to plan management strategies and communicate those plans to the specialized staff. They oversee staff at all levels including performance review and termination if necessary. If multiple properties are involved, travel will be required to supervise all locations. Flexibility is also required as the estate manager must be on call to handle potential emergencies at all locations at any hour. Importantly, an estate manager often has an understanding of the client’s business holdings and represents the image they seek to present. Most estate managers live at the estate and report directly to the property owner. As the number of wealthy property owners continues to increase with booms in new areas of the economy, the need for estate managers is rising.
Estate Manager Job Description
The duties of an estate manager will vary greatly based on the type of estate and the demands of their employer. Nevertheless, they will also include direct supervision of specialized staff at the estate. The estate manager will be responsible for inspecting other employees’ areas of responsibility to ensure satisfactory completion as well as for reporting to the property owner. Additional estate manager duties and responsibilities include the following;
- Performance review: The estate manager will meet with employees usually quarterly to discuss their performance and any room for improvement. They will have the authority to recommend an overperforming employee for promotion or a lackluster employee for termination respectively.
- Staff supervision: Each employee working on the estate will usually report directly to the estate manager. In the case of a large staff, there may be a groundskeeping or kitchen manager who will report to the estate manager instead but the estate manager will generally be the direct conduit between staff and the owner.
- Budget and system management: Estate managers will oversee the many systems that keep a large estate running. This includes the annual budget, the schedules for all employees’ use of estate facilities, and the management of payroll.
- Contract negotiation: Large estates will generally require a supply of outside products. It is the responsibility of the estate manager to meet with vendors and negotiate contracts for food, furnishing, and technical maintenance to ensure a good value for the employer.
- Employer liaison: The estate manager serves as the direct representative of the property owner’s interests. This responsibility may include travel or meeting with representatives of the employer’s business. The estate manager should consider themselves a representative of the employer’s brand.
Qualifications
To be qualified as an estate manager, you should be highly organized and have a keen eye for detail. Ultimately, a top-notch estate manager should be able to efficiently manage multiple projects and ensure that the estate’s business ventures generate profit. Therefore, the qualifications for an estate manager include the following;
- Although some estate managers may be hired with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, property management, or similar, the majority of estate manager’s at large properties will have a master’s degree in a field such as real estate management or hotel and restaurant management.
- Also, estate managers will need to undergo independent human resources courses or attain certification in household management to be employable.
- It is common for estate managers to have several years of experience in management or hospitality positions before taking on a high-level position. You can undertake work experience in several ways such as general summer work, through an internship, or job shadowing.
Essential Skills
Estate managers require a wide range of skills typical of a high-level manager. They require strong people skills to interact with people both above and below them as well as a keen attention to detail. They must be flexible to switch focus at a moment’s notice. They must be comfortable with financing, scheduling, and other technical management skills. Above all, they must be dedicated to their job and their employer. They will also require a series of more specific skills such as;
Communication skills: As an estate manager, you must have strong written and oral communication skills. You will be in charge of liaising between the owners and staff, tenants, and contractors. Instances of miscommunication can cause losses in revenue and productivity. It would help if you learned how to clearly and articulately communicate with others to understand what is expected of them properly.
Interpersonal skills: As an estate manager, you need to be able to work with other people. This can be through negotiation such as dealing with unscrupulous tenants or mediation by formulating a contract that suits both sides. Having good interpersonal skills builds trust and can lead to long-lasting relationships.
Organization skills: Your job as an estate manager requires you to have the necessary organizational skills. As an estate manager, you will take part in multiple projects. These could be leasing one unit, renewing leases to another, renovating another, and managing eviction proceedings for yet another. To stay on top of all these details, you must have exceptional organizational skills.
Problem-solving skills: Estate managers are often put in charge of properties by absent clients. This means that estate managers will have to make decisions on their own. They will have to find economical and creative ways to manage issues and solve problems that will be acceptable to their client.
Adaptability skills: A good estate manager should learn how to evolve with the market. You should be able to adapt to ever-changing trends and demands to perform your duties effectively.
Leadership skills: To operate effectively and bring value to your client or employer, you will need to work with a team to manage the properties optimally. You will also need leadership qualities to know how to manage people and relationships. That way, you can achieve a common goal.
Marketing and sales skills: An estate manager may often play the role of a real estate agent. You must know where to list the vacant property or unit, you must know how to craft a marketing copy to attract tenants, and you must be able to close the deal. This requires marketing and sales skills.
Management skills: The key part of an estate manager’s position is ensuring that all parts of the estate are running smoothly. This will require them to be able to accurately assess both the quality of the estate’s upkeep and the performance of individual employees.
Research and knowledge: Every estate is different and as such, every estate manager will have different responsibilities. Thus, an estate manager must be well-versed in the details of their estate and property owner. This includes knowledge of antiques or other valuable items that will require special care.
Technical skills: An estate manager will need extensive knowledge of spreadsheets and calculation software to keep track of payroll, schedules, and space management. Avoiding conflicts and keeping staff running smoothly requires both effective utilization of software and technical skills.
How to Become an Estate Manager
If you are organized and enjoy leading others, consider a career as an estate manager. You can help people manage their properties, make renters happy, and make sure that investments grow over time. To become an estate manager, follow these steps;
- Get a degree in a real estate-related field: Most estate managers have at least a bachelor’s degree in finance, real estate, risk management, property management, or business administration. Studying for more than one major or getting a master’s degree such as an MBA can help put you ahead of the competition.
- Gain experience: Estate managers have at least a few years of experience as estate agents in other industries or investors. It is also good to learn more about how to maintain buildings and properties, local building codes, and laws about renting property.
- Develop your skills: Estate managers should improve their skills to make themselves more appealing to employers. To excel in this position, you will need strong leadership, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
- Obtain certification: Certification is another great way to showcase your experience and skills. Earning certification as an estate manager can involve completing coursework and passing a comprehensive examination.
- Get a real estate license: While having a real estate license isn’t mandatory to become an estate manager, it can help companies avoid hiring a separate agent. Real estate continuing education courses can help you learn about any changes in your local estate management industry as well.
- Apply for jobs: Finally, update your resume to include your qualifications, experience, skills, and certification, and apply for estate manager’s jobs.
Where to Work as an Estate Manager
Estate management roles are available all over the world. The type of estate will influence the location of a rural or built-up environment. Employment opportunities in the public sector are found in local councils, government hospitals, and housing associations. There are also opportunities in the charity sector and other non-governmental organizations. Private sector organizations also recruit estate managers; for instance, rural or farm management companies, property investment companies, and surveyors practices.
Estate Manager Salary Scale
According to research, the average salary of an estate manager is in the $120,000 per year range. This will vary based on the size of the estate and range of responsibilities as well as the personal wealth of the client. The low end of salaries is roughly $80,000 while the high end can approach $150,000. Certain large estates especially those with holdings in multiple states or countries can approach $250,000 in some cases. In addition, many estate managers will receive perks such as personal use of the estate and its amenities.