Which positions are similar to a Butler?

Butlers may perform similar tasks as Household and Estate Managers when it comes to running a demanding home or estate. Typically, Butlers are responsible for a variety of duties related to serving employers and guests which fall outside the scope of responsibilities for most Household or Estate Managers. Some Butlers may also be responsible for overseeing the maintenance and cleaning of a household as would an Executive Housekeeper or Housekeeper

Butler

Responsibilities

If your lifestyle has significant demands and complexities, an efficient Butler can oversee the smooth management of your household and also provide formal service for you and your guests. Usually, Butlers have professional or formal training, and they typically work in households with other staff members.
We know how important the safety of your family and your home is. We work hard to screen all of our Butlers and check every reference.  We practice "full disclosure" which means that we share all pertinent information about candidates with our clients so that you can make a fully informed hiring decision. We’ll never withhold information from you just to push a candidate through. We will keep you informed of our progress screening your chosen candidates throughout your search.
It is important to us that you feel confident that the Butler you hire through Town & Country will maintain the safety and security of your home as well as your personal belongings and private information.  Just as important, we work closely with you to understand your household’s unique needs so that we can match you with a Butler who will be a great fit.
The duties of a Butler may include:

• Receiving guests
• Overseeing household management
• Creating budgets
• Managing provisions
• Hiring and overseeing other household staff
• Helping maintain household security
• Scheduling the maintenance for miscellaneous items in the estate (stables, boats, planes, etc.)
• Managing service vendors
• Performing general valet duties
• Running household and personal errands for the employer
• Making travel arrangements for the employer and other household guests
• Assisting with entertaining
• Light cooking
• Serving drinks
• Setting the table
• Maintaining the wine cellars and being knowledgeable about fine wines
• Performing light housekeeping

Compensation

Compensation for a Butler is usually based on two factors: the amount of experience the candidate brings to the position and the duties included in the Butler job description.

Salary
On average, full-time Butlers earn from $50K - $80K annually.

Benefits
Many families also choose to provide additional benefits to a full-time Butler such as:

Paid sick days
Paid vacation
Paid holidays
Medical insurance

What clients and staff are saying

“I wanted to tell you how impressed I was with your process.  You and your team offered a remarkably high caliber group of candidates that were perfectly matched for our homes.  And you managed it in an extremely short time period.” —Dianne, San Francisco
"Town & Country has an excellent pool of experienced Butlers who have worked in the finest homes. If you need a seasoned professional in your home to keep it impeccably maintained and provide exceptional service, I would welcome a conversation to speak about your specific needs." —Nancy McIlvaine, Town & Country Resources

Which positions are similar to a Chef?

Some housekeepers may also be responsible for food preparation and may also be very good cooks. Some Nannies also have some cooking responsibilities and may assist with meal preparation for children or the whole family.

Chef

Responsibilities

Chefs, also called Private Chefs, can provide a variety of meals requested by an employer, from a casual dinner for the family to gourmet meals prepared for formal entertaining. Many chefs have formal training and degrees from well-known culinary schools.
We know how important the safety of your family and your home is. We work hard to screen all of our Chefs and check every reference. We practice "full disclosure" which means that we share all pertinent information about candidates with our clients so that you can make a fully informed hiring decision. We’ll never withhold information from you just to push a candidate through. We will keep you informed of our progress screening your chosen candidates throughout your search.
It is important to us that you feel confident that the Chef you hire through Town & Country will maintain the safety and security of your home as well as your personal belongings and private information. Just as important, we work closely with you to understand your family’s unique needs so that we can match you with a Chef who will be a great fit.
The duties of a Chef may include:

• Managing the operation of the kitchen
• Planning and presenting menus
• Accommodating special dietary needs
• Grocery and market shopping
• Preparing a variety of meals
• Preparing, overseeing or assisting with food for special functions and events
• Serving meals or overseeing other staff members who serve meals
• Keeping your kitchen stocked and organized

Compensation

Compensation for a Chef is usually based on two factors: the amount of experience the candidate brings to the position and the duties included in the Chef job description.
Salary
Full-time Chefs typically earn $30 to $50 per hour.

Benefits
For Full-Time Chefs, some families provide benefits that may include:

Paid sick days
Paid vacation
Paid holidays
Medical insurance

What clients and staff are saying

"Walter is amazing! Guests are raving about him. Our last menu was unique, carefully thought out and just delicious. We are foodies so have high standards yet the dinner was among the very best I've ever had.” —Jocelyn, San Francisco
“A Chef from Town & Country will make your life better! Whether it's healthy food when you need it or indulgent food when you want it, we can find you a Chef who is expert in whatever kinds of cuisines you prefer. You can have food just the way you want it for family meals, formal dinners or large parties. Let's discuss who will be right for you." —Nancy McIlvaine, Town & Country Resources

Which positions are similar to a Housekeeper?

Housekeepers are responsible for cleaning a home. Executive Housekeepers are also responsible for keeping a home clean, but an Executive Housekeeper typically oversees  other staff who may be responsible for heavy cleaning. Executive Housekeepers may also be responsible for managing other household staff and administrative duties such as scheduling and supervising trades people and repairs, purchasing household supplies, keeping household budgets and paying bills. Depending on your specific needs, you may also wish to consider a Butler or Domestic couple as alternatives to a housekeeper in caring for your home.

Do you offer temporary Housekeepers for short-term needs?

Yes. Town & County has a qualified pool of temporary Housekeepers who can provide housekeeping services for the amount of time you need – whether it’s for a one-time event or for a longer period of time such as when your regular housekeeper is away.  You can learn more here or contact us for more information.

Which positions are similar to a Family Assistant?

A Nanny is most similar to a Family Assistant. Nannies focus primarily on childcare while Family Assistants help run the home as well as caring for children. Some Housekeepers and Executive Housekeepers may be able to assist families with running and maintaining their home as well as keeping it clean. Some Housekeepers may also be able to assist with childcare. We can help you choose household professional who will be the right fit for your family.

Housekeepers

Responsibilities

A Housekeeper’s primary responsibility is to keep your home clean. Most Housekeepers are responsible for heavy cleaning as well as the daily or weekly tasks required to keep a home presentable. Housekeepers work in a variety of home environments ranging from full-time Housekeepers who work as part of a multi-staff home to a Housekeeper who maintains a home once or twice per week.
We know how important the safety of your family and your home is. We work hard to screen all of our Housekeepers and check every reference.
We practice "full disclosure" which means that we share all pertinent information about candidates with our clients so that you can make a fully informed hiring decision. We’ll never withhold information from you just to push a candidate through. We will keep you informed of our progress screening your chosen candidates throughout your search.
Just as important as keeping your home safe, we work closely with you to understand your family’s unique needs so that we can match you with a Housekeeper who will be a great fit.
The duties of a Housekeeper may include:

• Cleaning
• Upkeep of the interior of the home and the immediate areas
• Polishing furniture, vacuuming washing floors, cleaning kitchen and baths
• Laundering clothes and household items
• Changing sheets and maintaining household linens
• Polishing the silver
• Upkeep of outside patios, porches and walks

• Cooking
• Assisting with the cooking and serving for special events

• Possible Additional duties
• Ironing
• Managing household supplies
• Occasional or backup childcare
• Preparing and serving simple meals
• Caring for household pets
• Running Errands, such as grocery shopping
• Mending clothes

Compensation

Compensation for a Housekeeper is usually based on two factors: the amount of experience the candidate brings to the position and the duties included in the Housekeeper job description.
Salary
Housekeepers typically earn between $20 and $25 per hour.

Benefits
For full-time Housekeepers, some families provide benefits that may include:

Paid sick days
Paid vacation
Paid holidays
Medical insurance

What clients and staff are saying

“I am committed to making lasting matches.  Many of our housekeepers have worked with the same clients for many years. By taking the time upfront to fully understand clients’ needs and personalities – visiting their homes when possible – I get an excellent sense of how to find the housekeeper who will be the best fit.” —Kristine Lange, Town & Country Resources

What is the difference between a Family Assistant and an au pair?

An au pair is treated as a member of the family, not an employee like a Nanny, and comes from a foreign country as a part of a cultural exchange program administered by the U.S. Department of State working with approved agencies placing candidates under a so-called “J-1” visa. Au pairs have limited duties that encompass care of children but most may not perform household tasks like laundry or managing the household in the parents' absence. Unlike Nannies, au pairs are limited to a 45-hour work week and are limited to a one to two-year stay in the United States. Also, while Nannies vary in age, au pairs must be aged 18 to 26 years old. There are additional requirements imposed by the terms of the au pair’s visa, including that the au pair has been hired through a special agency approved by the U.S. Department of State.

What agency fees can I expect?

There is a one-time $150 registration fee that will allow you lifetime access to our qualified candidate pool. This registration fee is processed upon receipt of your Referral Agreement. In addition to the registration fee, there is a referral fee equal to 25 percent of the anticipated total compensation to be paid to your Baby Nurse for the entire assignment. The referral fee is due when a Baby Nurse is confirmed for the assignment. Fees are paid based on the anticipated total gross compensation for the entire period of employment. Supplemental fees will be due if the assignment is extended.

What is the typical work schedule for a Baby Nurse?

Baby Nurses usually work eight- to twelve-hour shifts, most commonly at night. We also have Baby Nurses who work 24-hour shifts with a scheduled break.

When should I begin a Baby Nurse search?

To ensure time to find the Baby Nurse who will be just the right fit for you and your baby, allow up to six months prior to your anticipated delivery date to begin the selection process. However, don't hesitate to call us if you have an immediate need. We have worked with many families on short notice to find a great Baby Nurse.

How does Town & Country Resources screen Baby Nurses?

We know that the safety of your family and home is your top priority, so we take security very seriously. Each Baby Nurse completes a rigorous screening and application process with our trained Placement Counselors, then we conduct background checks.  We have extensive conversations with each reference to confirm work experience and qualifications. Qualified Baby Nurses often work with us for years, and we follow-up after each completed assignment to get our client’s feedback to add to our Baby Nurse’s reference file.

Which positions are similar to a Baby Nurse?

A Baby Nurse is a unique candidate. While they do not usually have a nursing background, they are newborn experts with extensive skills and experience caring for babies from just a few days old to about four months of age. Baby Nurses know all about the unique issues relevant to newborns and can also provide guidance to new Moms and Dads on feeding, sleeping and breastfeeding. A Baby Nurse may sometimes be called a Night Nanny, Post-partum Doula or Newborn Specialist.

Do you offer temporary Nannies for short-term needs?

Yes. Town & County has a qualified pool of temporary Nannies who can care for your children for the amount of time you need – whether it’s an evening, a vacation or several months.  You can learn more here or contact us for more information.

Which positions are similar to a Nanny?

A Family Assistant is most similar to a Nanny. Family Assistants take care of children while also helping to run the home. We often place highly qualified candidates who work as a combined Nanny & Family Assistant. Housekeepers primarily focus on keeping a home clean, but some Housekeepers might be able to help with childcare as well, typically on a back-up basis. Baby Nurses are similar to Nannies; the major difference is the age of the child being cared for. Some Nannies have experience caring for newborns and very young babies, while other Nannies have more experience caring for older children. Baby Nurses focus only on newborns, and typically only during the nighttime hours. Baby Nurses can also provide guidance to new Moms and Dads on feeding, sleeping and breastfeeding. We can help you choose household professional who will be the right fit for your family.