Professional Household Manager/Butler
Home Study Certificate Program

Last Updated June 29, 2004

In this program, “World Class Service” is a method by which you are taught to systematically care for a home and family from the ground up. The program teaches you how to adapt this service to different styles of homes and family structures. You will also be able to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses while embarking on a voyage of self-discovery and utilizing your newly acquired abilities to best serve a family. Graduates should be able to create the professional presence appreciated by families worldwide while incorporating the attitudes and lifestyles of affluent individuals and families into the service they provide.

Professional Dynamics: This course will provide you with a better understanding of professional household service and how to succeed in it. Included in this course are the ideals of appearance, conduct, and principles. The course covers the following topics:

Household Service as a Career

What kinds of qualities, skills, and abilities are necessary for success for a career in household service? Are you interested in knowing what kind of individuals and families employ household staff, and what kind of homes they have? What sort of compensation and benefits can you expect from your career? Get the answers to these questions and more.

Employer/Employee Relationships

More so than in most other career fields, the employer/employee relationship may be the most important key to success in any given situation. Learn about the principles and knowledge necessary for a good relationship between homeowner and household staff.

Staff Responsibilities

For what, exactly, is a Household Manager responsible? What’s the difference between a Housekeeper and a Household Manager, or a Housekeeper and an Estate Housekeeper? What exactly does a Gentlemen’s Gentleman or a Lady’s Maid do? Learn about all the titles for household staff, their responsibilities, and the usual salaries provided.

Day in the Life Of…

Now you know the responsibilities of each position, but you may not quite be able to envision what the day-to-day life of many positions is like. Learn what to expect in an average “Day in the Life of…”.

Defining World Class Service

The ability to provide “World Class Service” to distinguished homeowners is what will separate you from the average, untrained housestaff. Learn what “World Class Service” is and how to achieve the ability to provide it.

Creating a Proper Presence

What is a “Proper Presence”? It is the ultimate image of professionalism for household staff. It comprises appearance, including dress and grooming habits; attitude; and household protocol, including principles of behavior. Learn how you can create a proper presence in your professional life or for those you may supervise.

Boundaries and Work Ethics

The principles of maintaining professional boundaries between employer and employee, as well as how to maintain good work ethics, are perhaps more important (and more easily confused or lost!) in the household service profession than in any other. Learn about these important principles.

Understanding the Family

The goal of every Household Manager should be fulfilling his/her employer’s wants and needs. Here, we offer a blueprint for understanding those wants and needs (even when an employer is not particularly communicative about them!).

Pampering Skills for Your Employer

By “pampering,” we are referring to exceeding your employers’ expectations and anticipating needs before your employers realize they have them, in such ways as to make them feel as though they are truly in the lap of luxury! We offer a launching point for you to multiply your own pampering skills.

Household Manager’s Reference Book & Household Repair and Maintenance Schedule Manual

These are two CD-ROM files, the contents of which can be printed and kept in their own notebooks, that will help make the high-level manager’s life easier. Find out how these manuals can help keep your work organized.

General Studies: This course provides information beyond cleaning that are nonetheless essential to household management. Topics covered include:

Personal Dynamics

The long hours and hard work of a Household Manager can be stressful. This valuable section provides many tools and pointers for keeping one’s personal life on an even keel.

Grammar

Have you ever said, “I feel badly today” or “Boy, I sure enjoyed myself at that party!” or ordered a “tuna fish” sandwich? If so, this is for you! Conversation creates a very strong “first impression.” Learn how to correct some of the dumb ways we all speak and write.

Manners & Etiquette

Learn how to conduct introductions, proper home-as-workplace etiquette, etiquette for limousines, and otherwise behave professionally in ways that Emily Post would approve.

Guests & Your Responsibilities

How can you extend the “World Class Service” you provide to your employers to their guests? Learn how to help your employers’ guests feel not just “at home,” but “on a retreat from the real world.”

Environmental Issues & the Home

Do you know about radon? Carbon monoxide? The newest in energy conservation? How to rid the house of pests or mold? Make your employer’s house a safe and ecologically sound home with this information.

Pets & Their Care

If you love animals, you will learn much about caring for your employer’s pets here: grooming, discipline, safe outdoors play, emergency care, etc. It will also help you to understand why you shouldn’t accept a position with someone who owns pets if you don’t like animals.

Family and Home Safety & Security

The world of the wealthy can be a dangerous place, and never more so than today. Learn about the many aspects of keeping your employer (and yourself) safe and secure, including preventing identity theft, combating the threat of bio-terrorism, safe rooms, high-tech security systems, and more.

National & International Travel

Wealthy individuals often require high-quality travel accommodations, a minimum (or complete lack, if possible!) of inconvenience, and much more. Learn how to ensure your employers’ wants and needs are provided for, while they are traveling.

Understanding Homes & Families of Wealth

Sure, you may read People magazine voraciously and watch “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” on TV, but do you really understand the wealthy lifestyle? How much do you know about “Smart Houses” and home automation, vacations for the wealthy, and specialized home regions such as home theaters, home salons, cabanas, old-fashioned soda parlors, and so on? We will help you begin to learn about the wealthy and discover how to continue your knowledge throughout your career.

Interviews, Resumes & Employment Agreements

Attaining a household position is completely different from securing employment in a corporate position. What do individuals and families look for from someone who is applying to work inside their homes? Learn how to conduct yourself on an interview. What questions shouldn’t you ask? Knowing this and more will give you a great advantage over others who attempt to get jobs in private households in the usual ways.

Employment Issues

You won’t find information on handling thorny issues with your household employer in books! Experienced household professionals with “field experience” will help you prepare to face any challenge..

Home Care: This course provides information on a multitude of topics relating to the cleaning and care of a wealthy home, whether you are cleaning or supervising other cleaners. We will discuss how different homes of wealth are organized, cleaned, and maintained. Topics covered include:

The Ultimate Care in Maintaining a Home of Quality

The expectations of home care of a wealthy individual or family are far higher than the average person’s. The way you will clean your employer’s home will necessarily be different from the way you clean your own. You will begin learning about raising your standards, using all your senses, and taking the ever-important “first look” to determine daily priorities. You will be provided with the ultimate knowledge in caring for a home of wealth, from doing the work yourself to training or supervising others.

PDI System for Household Cleaning

The PDI System has been developed and proven effective by years of experience in household management. It will give you the ultimate prioritizing and time management tool for success in caring for a home.

Selecting and Using Proper Cleaning Tools and Products

Throughout this course, you will be provided with information on different cleaning supplies, tools and products for maximum effectiveness. You will learn what tools and products will actually damage certain items.

Proper Care of Marble, Granite, and Other Natural Materials

Many natural materials are quite hardy, but they can also disintegrate or otherwise become damaged if they are used or cleaned improperly. Receive instruction on what can products can etch into marble and granite, whether wood should be oiled, waxed, polished, or none of the above, and more.

Home Organization & Maintaining Beautiful Rooms

An organized home always looks cleaner than a disorganized home. We present principles and methods of organizing kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and other areas of the house. We also present secrets on keeping the home beautiful.

American & European Luxury Bed Making

The way most of our mothers taught us how to make a bed is probably not the way most wealthy individuals enjoy having their beds made! In addition, Americans and Europeans appreciate different styles of bed making. Receive instruction on all the intricacies of making a luxury bed and selecting quality linens.

Swimming Pool Care

Knowing the basics of swimming pool maintenance is valuable even if your employer uses a professional; if problems arise, you will be better able to pinpoint the cause and know when to call the pool maintenance specialist to handle the problem (or do it yourself, in case of emergency).

Conservation of Fine Arts & Furnishings

Many wealthy individuals fill their homes with rare and costly possessions that are intended to be bequeathed to future generations. Learn valuable information on the care and preservations of such priceless items, including antiques, artwork, furnishings, textiles, ceramics and glass, photographs, videotapes, clocks, and more.

Libraries & Books

Wealthy individuals may also be bibliophiles whose homes are filled with rare and old books. You will learn how to inventory an extensive personal library, ensure the proper storage of books, care and cleaning of books, and more.

Clothing Care

Do you know when and how you can forego dry cleaning? Or how to organize or design a laundry room? Can you use a rotary iron? Are you aware of how to remove a variety of stains from a multitude of fabrics? Do you know how to hand-iron sheets? Maintain a wealthy wardrobe?

Valet Services and Packing for Travel

Valets are individuals who ensure that their employers always look their best. Learn about their duties, including pressing, brushing, and storing clothing, as well as packing employers’ clothing for travel and providing personal services.

Home Entertaining: This course will give the student hands-on preparation for formal serving, preparing place settings, dining etiquette, and caring for fine dining accessories. It will also show the student how to design a beautiful table and how to serve formal teas. Topics include:

The Art of Fine Dining

Do you know the different types of formal dining service? How to arrange place settings? The proper way to carry plates and platters? How to use charger or service plates? What kind of table linens to use for different kind of meals and functions? Receive hands-on instruction on the intricacies of serving dinner in a wealthy household.

Dining Manners & Protocol

You will learn everything from the infamous “Which fork do I use?” question to the proper procedures for dining, such as how to place utensils to show you are finished eating and what to do if you drop a piece of silverware.

Fine Dining Accessories & Quality Care for Fine Dining Accessories

Provides information on the many kinds of accessories a Household Manager may see in his/her employer’s home, including silver (and recognizing hallmarks), china, crystal, glass, special napkin rings, and salt cellars. Then, find out how to care for these beautiful accessories so they’ll be preserved for use for future generations.