I
The settling
A newly bought, built or relocated home is brought into working order: rooms made usable, services connected, staff and suppliers introduced, and the household's routines written down rather than remembered.
The Service · Pretoria
Household management in Pretoria, held quietly
Aurelian House takes responsibility for the running of a private home in Pretoria and greater Gauteng. Not cleaning, not concierge errands, but the ordering layer above them: what is expected, by whom, and by when. Families come to us when a house has grown beyond informal management and the coordination of it has quietly become a second occupation.
II
The structure
Roles, rosters and standards are set for the people who keep the house, so that quality no longer depends on who happens to be on duty.
III
The keeping
Ongoing oversight: maintenance before it becomes urgent, suppliers held to their word, seasonal and travel arrangements handled, and a single point of contact for the family.
Engagements and fees
Three ways a house is held
Pricing is on application. Households differ in size, staff complement and how much of the running a family wishes to hand over, so we quote in writing after a first private conversation rather than publishing a figure that would fit almost nobody.
The settling
A defined project for a home being moved into, built or brought back into order.
- Full inventory of services, accounts, warranties and suppliers
- Utilities, security, connectivity and estate registrations arranged
- Household staff roles, rosters and written terms established
- The household book: one written record of how the house runs
Quoted as a fixed project fee, on application
The keeping
Ongoing management of a household already in order.
- A single point of contact for the family and for staff
- Supplier and contractor scheduling, oversight and follow-up
- The annual service calendar run on the household's behalf
- Regular walk-throughs and a written monthly account of the house
Monthly retainer, on application
The absence
Care of a home standing empty for travel, season or relocation.
- Agreed house-check schedule while the family is away
- Garden, pool and cleaning services kept running
- Key, code and access control held properly
- First point of contact for armed response and emergencies
By arrangement, on application
The service calendar
A Highveld year, scheduled
Every household we keep runs on a written annual calendar, set against Pretoria's seasons rather than against emergencies. Dates and suppliers are confirmed a month ahead and reported afterwards.
| Period | Work held |
|---|---|
| September to October | Gutters, roof and storm-water cleared. Trees cut back. Air conditioning and pool plant serviced before the heat. |
| November to December | Storm-season drainage checks, surge protection, generator and inverter service. December absence arrangements agreed. |
| January to February | Garden at full growth: reshaping, damp and mould inspection, second gutter check after the heaviest rain. |
| March to April | Pest control before autumn. Heating, underfloor and chimney tested and swept ahead of first use. |
| May to July | Geyser and heating attention, deep clean of curtains, carpets and upholstery, annual supplier and staff review. |
| August | Windows and exterior cleaning, irrigation tested, garden fed for spring, borehole and tank systems checked. |
Who this suits
A small number of households
Families relocating into Pretoria, second and holiday residences that stand empty for stretches, and homes where several staff, contractors and service providers now need one person holding the thread. We take on few households at a time, deliberately.
Where we work
Pretoria and greater Gauteng
- Waterkloof
- Waterkloof Ridge
- Waterkloof Glen
- Brooklyn
- Nieuw Muckleneuk
- Groenkloof
- Lynnwood
- Lynnwood Ridge
- Menlo Park
- Hazelwood
- Faerie Glen
- Silver Lakes
- Woodhill
- Mooikloof
- Montana
- Centurion
- Irene
- Midrand
- Kyalami
- Sandton
- Bryanston
- Waterfall
Questions
Before you write
- What is a private household management service?
- It is the management layer above domestic staff: someone accountable for how the house runs. Standards, routines, suppliers, appointments and the small decisions that otherwise land on the family.
- Do you replace our domestic staff or estate manager?
- No. We give existing staff a clear structure to work within, and step in where a household has no one holding the whole of it.
- Which areas of Pretoria and Gauteng do you cover?
- Pretoria first: Waterkloof, Waterkloof Ridge, Brooklyn, Groenkloof, Lynnwood, Menlo Park, Faerie Glen, Silver Lakes, Woodhill, Mooikloof and Montana, with selected households in Centurion, Irene, Midrand, Kyalami, Sandton, Bryanston and Waterfall.
- What does household management cost in Pretoria?
- Pricing is on application. Every household differs in size, staff complement and how much of the running the family wishes to hand over, so a fee is quoted in writing after a first private conversation, with no obligation.
- How does a household begin with you?
- By introduction where possible, otherwise by written enquiry. A first conversation is private and carries no obligation, and we take on only a small number of households at a time.
- What are your contact hours?
- Enquiries are read and answered Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, from Pretoria, Gauteng.