The Importance of Having a House Manager: Ensuring a Well-Managed, Stress-Free Home
A home needs to be taken care of with proper chores and maintenance for the good of all living in it. Introducing the “House Manager”. A house unmanaged could be daunting, especially when you consider all the moving parts involved in keeping everything running smoothly. From daily chores to meal planning, managing finances, maintenance, and schedules, the responsibilities can quickly become overwhelming. This is where the role of a house manager becomes invaluable. A house manager ensures that everything in the home is taken care of efficiently and effectively, allowing the household to run like a well-oiled machine.
I can hear you.. “What is she talking about.. a house manager??? This isn’t Downton Abbey!” (But wouldn’t that be awesome? Yes, yes it would!) Or you’re thinking, “how do I get one of those??”. That’s the thing, someone in the household NEEDS to take on this role, or find someone to do it. I’m not saying it has to be you, dear reader, and it doesn’t have to be just one person, it can be a “House Team” but it needs to be handled. A household needs to be managed, especially to live life how you want to instead of constantly being bogged down by chores and responsibilities.
There are a lot of households where people are completely overwhelmed just by house duties because there’s no structure or organization, forever causing stress because nobody really knows what they’re supposed to do until it’s something that has to be done which will probably lead to it not getting done properly or in a timely manner. A lot of people don’t actually accept the “role” or take the lead because they don’t realize that it’s actually something that’s very important and needs to be done. They’re just there in a house with things constantly needing to be done causing stress.
Now that I’m aware of it and have accepted it, I am an awesome House Manager and actually want to kick ass at it. Once I got my system down and figured out how to quickly and efficiently get it all done, it freed up so much time and mind space. I could actually delegate a lot more of the responsibilities but I just feel I can get it done better and quicker myself- but that’s just me and my lovely personal issues with control. If you’re reading this thinking, “No way! Not me! I’m already doing everything around here!” Hear me out and let’s get you out of that rut and into spending time doing things you want to do!
So What Does a House Manager Do?
A house manager is responsible for the overall management of a household. It doesn’t need to be just one person taking on everything and if it is one person they need to delegate tasks to the household. As you read these, think of how great it would be if these things were always taken care of in your home. Duties can vary depending on the size of the home and the specific needs of the family, but typically include:
- Daily Operations: From ensuring that cleaning and maintenance tasks are completed to managing laundry and grocery shopping, a house manager handles the day-to-day operations of the home.
- Handling Finances: This can include managing the household budget, paying bills, and keeping track of expenses. A house manager ensures that the household stays within its budget and that all financial matters are handled promptly.
- Scheduling and Planning: Keeping track of the family’s schedule, organizing appointments, events, and travel arrangements. Ensuring that everyone knows where they need to be and when.
- Managing Maintenance and Repairs: Scheduling regular maintenance and handling any repairs that are needed, ensuring that the home remains in good condition.
- Grocery Management: From refrigerator and pantry supplies to household essentials, the house manager keeps track of inventory and meal planning, ensuring that the home is well-stocked and nothing runs out unexpectedly, and meals are planned.
The Benefits of Having a House Manager
Having a house manager provides numerous benefits, making life easier and more enjoyable for everyone in the household.
1. Efficiency and Organization
A house manager brings a level of efficiency and organization to the home that is hard to achieve without dedicated oversight. With the house being managed, you can rest assured that everything is being handled in a timely and organized manner. This reduces the likelihood of missed appointments, forgotten chores, or last-minute scrambles.
2. Reduced Stress
Daily life can be stressful, especially when balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. Having a house manager that makes sure household duties are handled creates less stress so you can focus on hobbies, and spending quality time with loved ones instead of piled up household chores. Knowing that the day-to-day operations of your home are handled can significantly reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.
3. Consistency
A house manager can ensure that tasks are completed consistently and properly. Having a dedicated manager ensures that everything is done correctly and consistently. This level of consistency creates a stable and comfortable environment in the home. An organized, clean home is a happy, healthy home.
4. Time Management
With a house manager making sure the household is taken care of, you’ll find that you and your family have more time to focus on the things that matter most to you. Whether it’s pursuing a hobby, spending time with family, or simply relaxing, having a managed house helps you reclaim valuable time that might otherwise be spent on household tasks.
5. Peace of Mind
One of the most significant benefits of having a house manager is the peace of mind it provides. Knowing that your home is being well-managed and that all responsibilities are being taken care of allows you to relax and enjoy your life more fully. You won’t have to worry about whether bills are paid on time, if the house is clean, or if repairs are needed— it’s all under control.
Keeping It Simple: How a House Manager Streamlines Household Management
Once the importance of the role of the House Manager is realized, the manager will want to simplify the entire process by establishing routines, implementing systems, and creating a well-organized environment that makes everything run more smoothly.
For example:
- Routine Schedules: Create and maintain schedules for cleaning, maintenance, and other regular tasks, ensuring they are completed consistently without needing to think about them.
- Centralized Communication: With the responsibility for coordinating household activities taken care of, there’s no need for multiple family members trying to figure out the different aspects of the home creating chaos or things not getting done. This centralization reduces confusion and streamlines communication.
Here are some quick ways to get started with being The Best House Manager Eva!
Chores-
Make a list of ALL the chores you must do to keep a tidy, clean home. Then take that list and turn it into Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly.
For example:
Dust
Laundry
Vacuum
Mop Floors
Sweeping
Bathrooms
Wash Bedding
Dishes
Trash
Outside Chores
Declutter
Daily–
*10 min Tidy- this may take a little longer than 10 mins but if you do it everyday it gets quicker and stops a big, long clean up from having to happen.
Pick everything up like dirty clothes, put in hamper or take to laundry room
Make beds (always make your bed every morning!)
Spot check bathrooms
Put dishes up
Wipe down kitchen counters
Sweep/vacuum Kitchen
Bi-Weekly (Wed and Sat)
Vacuum
Laundry
Dusting
Weekly
Wash Dog
Bathroom Deep clean (toilets, bathtubs)
Trash
Bedding
Outside Chores
Monthly
Declutter House and Tech
Major Dusting (fans, high up stuff)
Windows
Yearly
Spray house from green stuff
Weeding
Decluttering Garage/Shop
*TIPS!
-Finish your day how you want to start it. Meaning at the end of the day, take some time to quickly straighten up the house how you’d like to start it, tidied and clean. For instance, in the living room, pick up/put away stuff, straighten up pillows, etc. If you have little kids, put toys up (having big baskets or bins to throw them in is a life changer!) so when you wake up in the morning the room is clean and ready for the day. Trust me, it makes a big difference to wake up to a clean home rather than one that’s already screaming to be cleaned up!
-Clean as you go (for example, when cooking dinner, clean up as you’re making the meal, while waiting for water to boil, load up the dishwasher or throw away/put up unused ingredients, etc. I actually make a game of it and see if i can get it done in time) that way after dinner there’s not a huge mess to tend to, just some dishes for someone to put in the dishwasher.
Meal Planning-
This is a Major responsibility in managing the household and helps to stay on budget.
I found it helps tremendously to write out a month’s (or week’s) worth of meals. Have a list of all your favorite meals and then schedule them out on a calendar. Figure out when you’re going to go to the grocery store and spend time creating your list when you’re not in a hurry. I go on Fridays so I spend time on Thursday getting my grocery pick up order planned out. If you do it in a hurry you’ll tend to pick unhealthy, quick options. Doing Grocery Pickup has helped me so much, especially with saving money!
(read more about how I changed our meals to healthy versions and how I easily get my planning done with my grocery planner sheet.)
Finances-
This is where I struggle but I’m getting better and constantly learning! Keeping it simple is definitely the key. Creating and maintaining a budget is a must especially so you don’t overspend and waste the money you want to use for the things you want to do like go out to eat or take that weekend getaway! When creating your budget be sure to add in how much you think you’ll spend on groceries and gas and whatever monthly expenses so it’s already accounted for. I was really bad at figuring out how much money was left over after bills were paid and not including groceries and gas and thinking I had way more money to spend on whatever else. You’ll want to count groceries and gas and whatever expenses (daily coffee run) into your budget as if they are bills.
Scheduling-
Get out the calendars! Keeping track of your household’s schedules, appointments, date nights, birthdays, grocery pickups, etc. is crucial in staying on top of everything that’s going on and where everyone needs to be. Have a weekly/monthly meeting with everyone to figure out everyone’s schedules and get it all on a calendar. All of it! Whether it be a centralized calendar everyone can see in the house or on phones, maybe in a family shared app, it needs to be something that can easily be kept up with. This is a game changer in creating stress free time management and keeping up with everyones stuff.
Maintenance-
Aside from the daily chores and your household’s schedule your home needs to be maintained. Writing down what maintenance it needs and planning/scheduling it out helps you stay on top of it all including budgeting for it and will help make sure it gets done. Some of it may be yearly, seasonally, weekly, etc. Be sure to add it to the calendar, especially doing things that prevent wear and tear which leads to less maintenance.
Conclusion: The Value of a Well-Managed Home
A house manager plays a crucial role in ensuring that a household runs smoothly, efficiently, and without unnecessary stress.They simplify life for all, creating a well-managed and peaceful home environment. By taking on the responsibilities of managing the home, they free up time and mental energy for themselves and their family, allowing there to be focus on what really matters. IAWYMI!