FAQ
General Questions
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What Does "Estate Management" Mean?
Estate management is comprehensive oversight of your properties—far beyond basic maintenance or repairs. We coordinate household staff, manage vendors, oversee construction projects, maintain vehicles, handle emergencies, and ensure every aspect of your home runs flawlessly. Think of us as your trusted partner who knows your properties intimately and handles complexities so you don't have to.
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How is Estate Keepers different from traditional property management?
Traditional property management typically focuses on maintenance, repairs, and tenant relations for rental properties. Estate Keepers provides estate-level service for luxury homeowners—we oversee construction projects, coordinate household staff, manage interior finishing, maintain vehicle collections, curate home environments, and provide 24/7 white-glove service. We're managing your estate, not just maintaining your property.
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What areas do you serve?
We serve Los Angeles and Orange County, with particular expertise in Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Malibu, Calabasas, Studio City, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach. We also manage seasonal properties throughout Southern California, including Palm Springs, Montecito, and mountain communities.
Services & Pricing
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What are your pricing minimums?
Estate management retainers begin at $8,000 per month. Premium Estate Management (including Estate Curation) starts at $12,000 per month. Construction oversight projects have a minimum construction budget of $150,000. Interior finishing starts at $4,000 per room. Estate transition services range from $15,000-25,000. Seasonal property management ranges from $5,000-8,000 per month.
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Do you offer hourly or on-call services?
No. We provide comprehensive, retainer-based estate management rather than task-based or hourly services. This ensures we know your properties intimately and can provide proactive, not reactive, management.
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What's included in the $8,000/month retainer?
Your dedicated estate manager provides weekly property inspections, staff coordination, vendor management, vehicle maintenance coordination, 24/7 emergency response, monthly reporting, and strategic planning for your property. Specific services are customized based on your needs.
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What's the difference between Standard and Premium Estate Management?
Standard Estate Management ($8,000+/month) includes all core property oversight, staff coordination, vendor management, and vehicle maintenance. Premium Estate Management ($12,000+/month) includes everything in Standard plus Estate Curation: signature scent selection, curated linens and textiles, weekly fresh flowers, refrigerator and pantry styling, personalized arrival rituals, staff service protocols, and seasonal home transitions.
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Do you have contracts?
Yes. Our estate management retainers are 12-month initial terms with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not completely satisfied within the first 30 days, we'll provide a full refund. Construction and one-time services are project-based.
Getting Started
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What's the first step?
Schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation where we'll discuss your properties and needs. If it seems like a good fit, we'll schedule a property assessment ($500, credited toward your first month if hired). Within 48 hours, you'll receive a detailed proposal with transparent pricing.
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What is the property assessment?
This is a comprehensive walkthrough where we evaluate your property, identify current and future needs, and develop a customized management plan. The $500 fee is credited toward your first month if you decide to move forward.
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How quickly can you start?
Most clients are fully onboarded within 2 weeks of signing. For urgent situations (property emergency, immediate construction needs, last-minute arrival preparation), we can often begin within 24-48 hours.
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Do you provide references?
We maintain client confidentiality, so we don't provide client names or contact information. However, we're happy to provide anonymized case studies and connect you with professional references (architects, contractors, real estate agents) we work with regularly.
Working Together
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Will I have a dedicated estate manager?
Yes. You'll have a primary estate manager who knows your properties, preferences, and needs intimately. For larger estates or multiple properties, we may have additional team members, but you'll always have one primary point of contact.
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How do you communicate with clients?
We adapt to your preferences—email, text, phone calls, or in-person meetings. Most clients prefer weekly or bi-weekly email updates with photos, monthly detailed reports, and immediate communication for anything urgent. You'll have 24/7 access to your estate manager for emergencies
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What if I'm unhappy with a vendor you're using?
We'll replace them immediately. Part of our value is curating and managing the best vendors for your properties. If someone isn't meeting our standards (or yours), we'll find someone better.
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Can you work with staff or vendors I already have?
Absolutely. We can coordinate with your existing housekeepers, landscapers, pool service, or any other vendors. We'll evaluate whether they're meeting professional standards and make recommendations, but the final decisions are always yours.
Specialized Services
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How does seasonal property management work?
We provide year-round oversight for vacation homes you use periodically. This includes bi-weekly property checks when you're away, vendor coordination, vehicle maintenance (battery tenders for stored vehicles), emergency response, and full arrival/departure preparation. You arrive to a perfectly prepared home every time.
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Do you manage short-term rentals (Airbnb, VRBO)?
No. We focus on estate management for primary residences and private vacation homes, not rental properties or hospitality management.
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Can you help us find and hire household staff?
Yes. As part of our estate management or estate transition services, we can recruit, vet, and hire housekeepers, estate managers, private chefs, nannies, or other household staff. We handle the entire process from job posting to final selection.
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Do you handle interior design or just decorating?
We provide interior finishing and styling—furniture selection, window treatments, art curation, and decorative coordination. We're not architects or full-service interior designers doing space planning or structural changes. We complete homes beautifully after construction or purchase.
Vehicle Management
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Do you coordinate vehicle maintenance?
Yes. Many of our clients have multiple vehicles—luxury cars, classics, daily drivers, or vehicles that sit unused for extended periods. We coordinate all vehicle maintenance including: •Battery tenders and maintenance for vehicles in storage •Regular start-ups and short drives to maintain battery and engine health •Tire pressure monitoring and adjustments •Scheduled service appointments (oil changes, inspections, smog checks) •Detailing coordination (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) •Registration renewals and DMV paperwork •Transportation to/from service appointments •Coordination with specialty mechanics for classic or collector vehicles For clients with classic or collector vehicles, we work with your preferred specialty shops and ensure proper storage protocols are maintained year-round.
Construction & Renovations
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What size projects do you oversee?
We work on projects with minimum construction budgets of $150,000. This typically includes major kitchen or bathroom renovations, additions, whole-home remodels, or new construction.
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Are you a licensed general contractor?
No. We provide owner's representation and construction oversight—we manage the process, coordinate contractors, ensure quality, and protect your interests. You hire the licensed general contractor; we make sure they deliver excellent work on time and on budget.
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What if the project goes over budget?
Our role is to prevent that. We review bids carefully, track budgets closely, scrutinize change orders, and advise you before approving additional costs. While we can't guarantee a project won't go over budget (construction always has variables), our oversight typically saves clients 15-25% in avoided mistakes and unnecessary expenses.
Privacy & Security
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How do you handle client confidentiality?
We uphold the highest standards of privacy and discretion. We never share client names, addresses, or details. All team members and vendors sign confidentiality agreements. Your privacy is paramount.
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Who has access to my properties?
Only vetted, trusted individuals: your dedicated estate manager, approved team members, and vendors you've authorized. We maintain detailed access logs and can provide keyless entry systems for added security if desired.
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What happens in an emergency?
Your estate manager is available 24/7 for true emergencies (floods, break-ins, fire, major system failures). We have pre-vetted emergency vendors and can be on-site quickly. You'll receive immediate communication and photo updates as we resolve the situation.
