Summer Uniforms: Adapting to the Season
As the warmth of summer envelops the country, it is important for Estate Managers to consider the unique clothing needs of household staff during this season.
Kimberly Varney
Kimberly Varney
Kimberly has over 20 years' experience acquiring and operating luxury homes for Sports and Entertainment figures, Fortune 500 Executives, and impact-driven philanthropists. Her experiences cover a broad spectrum of development and management from project planning to property acquisition, construction, and estate management.
Managing a Luxury Car Collection
While it may sound Bond-esque to some to have a collection strewn across the world ready for use wherever one lands, to an EM, it sounds like an asset-management challenge. With a little planning, however, and implementation of systems, a collection of fine autos can be easily maintained and managed.
Kimberly Varney
For Estate Teams, Fashion Week is a Year-Long Project
Access during Fashion Weeks is not granted lightly. It reflects a year of strategic coordination across calendars, logistics, purchases, and brand relationships, as well as a positive in-person experience with a principal’s team. Understanding each brand’s expectations and communication style becomes part of maintaining the relationships that generate a principal’s preferred status year after year. The next invitation, fitting, or front-row seat depends on professional, timely communication sustained long after the final show.
Kimberly Varney
New Year, BETTER You – Education for Estate Managers
Education remains one of the most valuable professional tools available to Estate Managers. Whether entering the field for the first time or taking on increased responsibility across complex households, an Estate Manager benefits from formal training, skill-specific instruction, and strategic development.
Kimberly Varney
Why You Need a Gift Room
As my dining room looks more like Santa’s workshops every day, I find myself envying the gift rooms at the homes of past employers. A gift room takes a little work to set up but it can save you during those moments when you need a birthday gift in 5 minutes, or when you’re handed a 100 hostess gifts as guests arrive. Like everything in estate management, It’s about having a system that works when life gets busy, which is most of the time. Set it up properly once, and you’ll never go back to wrapping gifts at your desk again.
Kimberly Varney
Evaluating Vendor Performance: Before You Renew, Review
Do you conduct a year-end review with your vendors and contractors? It’s one of the most effective ways to assess the strength of your service network and make informed decisions before extending any agreement. A proper review looks at services delivered and the outcome of those services on your operations and budget and provides a non-contentious format to approach renegotiation or scope or cost before entering a new contract.
Kimberly Varney
Making a Home for the Holidays
With some remote planning and a set-up playbook, a temporary residence can provide a familiar and welcoming experience for the family and guests. Take what you need from this guide to make your holiday relocation as stress-free as possible so you all can enjoy the season.
Kimberly Varney
Canva for Estate Managers: The Crash Course
We’ve just updated our Canva Guide! This time, it’s more than a guide; it’s now a mini-course, complete with over 90 minutes of video tutorials. The course will walk you through how Estate Managers can use Canva to create polished, professional documents and make the most of the templates we publish at the Estate Management Network.
Kimberly Varney
The Secret Language of Laundry
In many estates, the laundress is handling some of the most fragile and irreplaceable items in the house. One of one couture gowns and suits made by hand on Savile Row require expert care. The skilled laundress knows not only how to interpret laundry care symbols, but has an extensive repertoire of textile reactions to liquids, heat, steam, chemicals, and common care methods.
Kimberly Varney
Setting Digital Standards: Technology and Internet Use Policies
Estate operations rely on trusted people and trusted systems. Computers, phones, cameras, and smart-home platforms are essential tools for managing large properties. A Technology and Internet Use Policy establishes how those systems are used, protecting both the principal’s privacy and the staff’s professionalism.
Kimberly Varney
Thank you for a Successful Estate Management Conference!
The 2025 Estate Management Conference was an exceptional gathering, and I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who took part. The event reflected the strength of our professional community and the generosity of those willing to share knowledge, insight, and time.
Kimberly Varney
Planning Ahead for 2026
As we look ahead to 2026, the Estate Management Network has started our strategic planning, and we’d like for you to be a part of that. This community was built for Estate Managers, and it should continue to reflect what you want and need from it. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts.
Kimberly Varney
Strategic Planning for Estate Managers
Our strategic planning guide provides a clear framework for estate managers to define priorities, set goals, and structure long-term operational plans. Includes step-by-step guidance and a full sample plan for reference.
Kimberly Varney
Post-Hurricane Property Inspection
As we face increasingly severe hurricanes due to climate change, it becomes critical to have a plan in place for post-storm recovery. We’ve updated our guide to incorporate new technologies and considerations that have emerged to enhance your efforts.
Kimberly Varney
Building Systems That Work Under Pressure
When Estate Managers put structured systems in place, they gain the ability to lead with intention. Staff work with greater confidence, knowing expectations are clear and support is available when adjustments are needed.
Kimberly Varney
Appraising the Value of Art
Knowing the value of a work of art is essential to properly protect and insure a piece for display, storage, loan, donation, or sale. The best way to get an accurate value is to commission an appraisal.
Kimberly Varney
Chain of Command as a Management Tool
A private estate requires coordinated leadership to maintain continuity, uphold standards, and manage a diverse set of responsibilities. An internal chain of command is the system that defines who gives direction, who receives it, and how accountability is maintained across the property.
Kimberly Varney
Standard Operating Procedures
SOPs provide a common set of expectations for all stakeholders by establishing uniformity in task execution. With clear, step-by-step instructions, SOPs minimize variations in performance regardless of who is carrying out the task.
Kimberly Varney
Asset Management as an Essential System in Estate Operations
When developing an asset management system, Estate Managers should consider whether their current program can grow with the estate, adapt to changes in ownership, and support broader planning efforts.
Kimberly Varney
Summer Staffing: Hiring Temporary Support
Prepare for summer staffing in the same way you plan for property readiness, vendor maintenance, or seasonal upgrades. Build the calendar, allocate the budget, confirm the resources, and have documentation ready before the season begins.
Kimberly Varney