EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL WORK

Due to the confidential nature and absolute discretion required, I cannot share case studies or testimonials here of past clients, but I am able to share some examples of the work undertaken. You will see that there really is a wide breadth of activities and no two days or clients have the same needs.

REFURBISHMENT OF £5M MAYFAIR HOME FOR SALE OR RENT

Problem: The home needed updating for the market and increase current value.
Project Entailed:

Kitchen and bathrooms were re-designed and modernised within budget
Worked with the contractors on site with the overall design, paints and finishes.
Weekly site visits and reporting back to the Principal on progress.
The property was then staged for the market.
Successfully rented out at market rate.

RIGHT-HAND / DESIGNER TO HIGHLY RESPECTED DEVELOPER IN NORTHUMBERLAND

For many years Lizzie has worked on projects with a highly respected property developer in Northumberland. The developer only builds luxury or bespoke properties. Wonderfully encompassing projects, quenching Lizzie’s thirst for property and design!

Lizzie has worked for this developer on various projects for over ten years. The developer’s speciality is land buying and getting planning, particularly on difficult plots, which has given Lizzie a really valuable insight into the workings of a developer and the intricacies of land deals. There have been occasions when the car will suddenly be pulled over and Lizzie finds herself leaping over a gate with the developer to go and check a derelict barn or trying to persuade a farmer to sell his yard and outbuildings!

Duties Undertaken:

Create schemes for each property which includes working with the kitchen-makers (always hand-made kitchens) on the layout, design and finishes.
Selecting the bathroom furniture and tiling.
Full paint schemes, flooring, woodwork and fireplace selections throughout the properties.
Lizzie is always asked to look over floor plans and electrical plans in the early stages of design to give her perspective on layouts and practicalities.
If it is a small luxury development each house has to be different.
Staging lined up and ready should any sales not go through prior to house building completion (has not yet happened all houses sell off plan or during construction).

GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE RENTED OUT

Duties Undertaken:

Keeping on top of insurance policies.
Checking prices at renewal or dealing with claims.
The same with utility companies ensuring the property is on the best tariffs.
Visiting properties to check on their condition.
Working with agents on re-letting or putting on the market for sale.

FAMILY HOUSE MANAGEMENT

When a family have a few properties and is perhaps London and countryside-based, it is important to have a lead person for coordination.

This ensures that staff in both houses know what is happening, arrival times, meals required, any house guests, and any items (including dogs or children) that need moving between properties.
This, for example, can include asking the housekeeper to check over and pack the Black Tie for London (not forgetting the shoes) as there is an event in London that week and the Black Tie was used at the weekend for a hunt ball.

Under the Private PA remit using the above example, there may not be household staff it might simply be that:

The family diary needs coordination so that each member knows what is happening. Reminders can also be popped in the diary.
Using the example above, Elizabeth would set a reminder in her boss’s diary at 9.00am (the time he would get dressed) on the Sunday morning so he would be in the correct area of the house to put his Black Tie out and then again at 3.00pm when he is starting to think about driving back to London.

GENERAL RUNNING OF A HOUSEHOLD

This typically would include:

Weekly and weekend shopping to be delivered, ensuring stock levels are well maintained. Catering for guests over a weekend.
The housekeeper is informed if there are house guests and which bedroom they will be using and any specific requests or whether it is half-term so the family will be down for longer.
Liaising with groundsmen, gardeners, grooms, security companies, vets, electricians and so forth when required.
Managing the insurance, bills, car insurance and services.
Being familiar with the household systems and house quirks is vital.

PRIVATE PA

Classic Example of work undertaken for one client:

Diary Management – ensuring all diaries are aligned with family members.
Looking after the family medical insurance policies and organising doctor appointments and any other specialist appointments or research that needs undertaking.
Managing home and car insurance
Holiday research and booking
Party Planning
Social Event applications
Club memberships
School Applications
Recruiting nannies / household team members / drivers
Buying art or old books at auction on the purchaser’s behalf. Completing all the relevant forms with the auction house and so forth. Then organising onward transport, insurance and catalogue update.
Researching for a new home, helping with purchase, move and all associated administration.
Security if / when required.

Shoot Scenario:
Scenario: The boss was going shooting but needed the car and gun brought home at the end of the shoot as he was heading onwards elsewhere to a different event. Solution: This meant thinking ahead and looking in the LBB to select a driver who had a gun license and then adding him to the car insurance for the day.