The Butler Did It

For some, the search begins with a classified ad. A recent job listing in The New York Times sought a live-in butler/valet with wine knowledge and fine dining experience to work in Palm Beach, Fla.; a posting on Craigslist seeks butler candidates who are, among other things, "capable at working as a team to organize closets seasonally in multiple locations and maintaining continuity and perfect order therein."

But heads of wealthy households needn't go through the hassle of screening clients themselves. There are agencies to do that work for them.

Robert Wynne Parry is president and CEO of RWP Solutions in Manhattan, an executive search firm specializing in lifestyle management. RWP's client base includes movie industry insiders, the Park Avenue set, financiers and leaders from the luxury and fashion worlds.

"Serving as a butler-valet is like working in a five-star hotel with one resident in a suite. You have all the departments -- the chef, housekeepers, gardeners -- but within a home, the attention to detail is far greater," explains Parry, whose background includes training in hotel management in the U.K. as well as management and ownership of restaurants in Asia and New York.

His company receives resumes from all over the world, many from men with a service background (such as in hotels) who are stepping into the private sector. A polished appearance, good communication skills, experience working in fine homes and longevity in prior positions are all factors that work in candidates' favor.

Good references are required, and applicants must submit to background checks and a review of their credit history.

Wherever he's placed, a butler-valet should be prepared to face just about any situation. "You're not just pressing suits. This role is much more managerial. You deal with vendors and construction workers and liaise with architects and interior designers. You manage security, antiques and art," explains Parry.

Parry's associate, 25-year-old David Youdovin, joined the agency earlier this year. Having worked first on a trading desk, then as the manager of an 87-acre estate, he understands what it takes to serve wealthy clients.

"I went from getting yelled at by a bunch of millionaires to getting yelled at by one billionaire," says Youdovin.

	Can't Somebody Else Do It?
	Photo: RWP Solutions

As estate manager, he put in 100-hour weeks, with duties that ranged from arranging dinner for 45 guests to setting up an in-home wireless network. His experience reflects the broad set of expectations commonly held by wealthy employers: He once was asked to repair the cable box when the cable went out, and he was responsible for installing an 800-gigabyte music storage system (it took 3½ weeks to download all of the tunes his employer wanted).

As for comportment, some stereotypes are true. "It's like the adage about children being seen and not heard ... that's what people expect from service staff," Youdovin says. "Everything must be perfect all the time, or at least appear that way."

It is a high-pressure role, but a butler-valet can be well compensated with salary, health benefits and a 401(k). "This is a career. The natural progression is to go from butler to house manager to estate manager, with a salary ranging from $75,000 to start and up to $280,000 a year for a major-domo," says Parry. "But this is a 24/7 job, and you are managing homes that are investment properties. People pay ... whatever it takes to have things taken care of."

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