Why Understaffed Estates Quietly Drain Your Wealth
Edited by Becca Berkenstadt
The Illusion of “Simple” Homes
On the surface, your home may appear pristine with polished floors, fresh linens, and a smiling staff. But behind the scenes, many luxury estates are quietly running on empty. The result? Overworked staff, rising turnover, missed maintenance, wasted money, and a slow but steady drain on your wealth.
This week on Dear Billionaire, I unpack why so many homes fall into this trap and how a simple system, the 12-month maintenance calendar, is the safeguard principals and estate managers can’t afford to skip.
Watch the full episode here:
The Drumroll Moment: 5 Staff, 12 Jobs
One of the first steps in my consulting process is building a 12-month maintenance calendar. Every task — from HVAC filter changes to silver polishing — is mapped out by frequency and time required.
And then comes the drumroll moment: assigning responsibility.
More often than not, the math doesn’t add up. A home with five staff actually needs twelve to meet the principal’s expectations. Without clarity, this imbalance leads to exactly what principals and estate managers fear most:
Staff burnout and constant turnover
Hidden maintenance lapses that erode property value
Wasted money on inefficiencies
Social embarrassment when service standards slip
The Myth of the “Simple House”
The biggest misconception I hear is: “We’re not that high-maintenance. The house isn’t that complex.”
But even one event — say, a Sunday football gathering — can derail daily routines. Multiply that by dozens of annual occasions and it’s no wonder staff are stretched too thin.
A luxury estate isn’t “simple.” It’s a complex operation that requires structure, systems, and realistic staffing levels.
Smarter Adjustments Without Adding Staff
The good news? Many estates don’t need to double their staff to fix the problem. Smart adjustments can ease the pressure while maintaining standards. Such as:
Adjust cleaning frequency (not every bathroom every day)
Zone the home (prioritize high-traffic areas daily; service guest rooms less often)
Shift to subcontractors (laundry services, grocery delivery, or event staff)
The key is knowing where adjustments are safe — and where they create costly risk. That’s where outside expertise makes all the difference.
Why an Outside Consultant Matters
Estate managers are often too deep in the day-to-day to see the big picture. As an outside consultant, my role is to bring objectivity, proven systems, and strategic planning so principals and managers can align expectations, budgets, and service levels.
Without this alignment, homes overspend, staff burn out, and the estate underperforms. With it, estates run at peak performance, staff feel supported, and principals finally get the service they’re paying for.
Closing the Service Gaps Before They Cost You
Your home is your sanctuary. But without the right systems, it can quickly become your greatest source of stress — and unnecessary expense.
By addressing staffing gaps and implementing the 12-month maintenance calendar, you safeguard your wealth, protect your staff, and elevate your lifestyle.
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🎥 Here’s a quick video on why this milestone matters:
Special Offer: Save 25% on 1:1 Coaching
Need tailored guidance for your own household? For a limited time, I’m offering the Private Estate Strategy Package:
3 x 50-minute coaching sessions
Special rate: $668 (25% off the regular $891 value)
Focused time to solve your estate’s biggest challenges: staffing gaps, broken systems, or hidden risks that quietly drain wealth
