Insider Tips for Affluent Families Hiring Domestic Staff

By Peter O’Donovan, Founder of International Domestic Consulting (IDC)

There’s a quiet precision that defines every truly well-run home. The linens are crisp, the flowers are fresh, the table is perfectly set—and yet, no one ever seems to be rushing. Behind that ease lies an invisible architecture of people and process: a team chosen not just for their skill, but for their fit.

At International Domestic Consulting (IDC), we’ve spent decades perfecting the art of building that architecture. Working with UHNW families across the country—from the estates of <link-block _nghost-ng-c4127797377="" class="ng-star-inserted"><a class="ng-star-inserted" href="/locations/palmbeach/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjIwKCn4JySAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQogU">Palm Beach</link-block></response-element> to the high-profile residences of <link-block _nghost-ng-c4127797377="" class="ng-star-inserted"><a class="ng-star-inserted" href="/locations/dallas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjIwKCn4JySAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQowU">Dallas</link-block></response-element>—we’ve learned that hiring domestic staff isn’t merely about filling a position. It’s about aligning character, capability, and culture.

Define Your Household Culture

Every household has a personality. Some thrive on quiet formality, others on relaxed sophistication. Before hiring even begins, the most successful families take time to define what their household feels like.

How do you want staff to move through the home? A candidate who excelled in a structured estate may struggle in a household that prizes warmth and informality. At IDC, we start there: understanding the rhythm of your home before introducing anyone into it.

Hire for Character, Train for Skill

Once the culture is clear, the next principle is simple: hire for character, train for skill. Technique can be taught, but genuine discretion and loyalty cannot.

The best private service professionals share a quiet intuition—they anticipate needs before they’re voiced. For families looking to bridge the gap between a "good" hire and a "5-star" hire, we often recommend specialized <link-block _nghost-ng-c4127797377="" class="ng-star-inserted"><a class="ng-star-inserted" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=https://internationaldomesticconsulting.com/jobs/employment-blog/raising-the-standard-5-star-service-training-for-modern-private-households/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjIwKCn4JySAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQpAU">service training</link-block></response-element> to align the team with the principal's specific standards.

The Importance of Clarity

In the private service world, misunderstandings arise when expectations aren’t articulated. Every role, from an <link-block _nghost-ng-c4127797377="" class="ng-star-inserted"><a class="ng-star-inserted" href="/jobs/job-estate-managers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjIwKCn4JySAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQpQU">Estate Manager</link-block></response-element> to an <link-block _nghost-ng-c4127797377="" class="ng-star-inserted"><a class="ng-star-inserted" href="/types-of-household-staff/housekeepers-maid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjIwKCn4JySAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQpgU">Executive Housekeeper</link-block></response-element>, should be supported by a written structure.

IDC’s placement process emphasizes the creation of <link-block _nghost-ng-c4127797377="" class="ng-star-inserted"><a class="ng-star-inserted" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=https://internationaldomesticconsulting.com/jobs/employment-blog/why-every-luxury-home-needs-standard-operating-procedures-and-a-house-manual/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjIwKCn4JySAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQpwU">Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)</link-block></response-element> not only to protect families but to empower staff to perform at their best. When a <link-block _nghost-ng-c4127797377="" class="ng-star-inserted"><a class="ng-star-inserted" href="/jobs/private-chefs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjIwKCn4JySAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQqAU">Private Chef</link-block></response-element> or <link-block _nghost-ng-c4127797377="" class="ng-star-inserted"><a class="ng-star-inserted" href="/types-of-household-staff/nanny/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjIwKCn4JySAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQqQU">nanny</link-block></response-element> has a clear playbook, they can execute their duties with total confidence and consistency.

Investing in Excellence

Fair compensation and professional respect follow naturally. Exceptional candidates know their worth—and when they are treated as the professionals they are, loyalty is the result. The truth is, highly skilled domestic staff don’t just maintain a home; they preserve a lifestyle.

Onboarding: The Foundation of Trust

The process doesn’t end with the hire. Onboarding is where a household’s culture truly takes root. A thoughtful introduction to routines, preferences, and existing staff dynamics ensures a smooth transition. At IDC, we encourage families to view onboarding as the moment where trust begins to form.

In the end, great staffing is invisible. The home simply works. There is calm, consistency, and confidence—the unmistakable mark of a household run by professionals who care deeply about what they do.

Skip the Trial and Error If you’d prefer to skip the trial and error and let a trusted expert take the guesswork out of sourcing the ideal candidate, <link-block _nghost-ng-c4127797377="" class="ng-star-inserted"><a class="ng-star-inserted" href="/clients/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-hveid="0" data-ved="0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjIwKCn4JySAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQqgU">IDC is here to help</link-block></response-element>. Our private placement process is as discreet as it is effective, designed to deliver only the most capable, trustworthy, and service-minded professionals to your home.