September 2007: Page 19 Contents
estate professionals staffing your estate p CHAUFFEURS 19www.SANDIEGOPREMIER.net GROUNDS KEEPERS p WY Your estate's first impression is made as soon as a guest steps onto its grounds. Hiring a knowledgeable grounds keeper to maintain flawless foliage around your estate is therefore money well spent. Ryan notes that many trained horticulturists can be hired as full-time grounds keepers for around $50,000/year. "Why not hire someone who is not only interested but is also highly trained in the field?" she asks. Hiring a horticulturist will also let you get the most for your money--this person's training and passion will lushly bloom in your gardens and greenhouse. When choosing between staffing a live-in gardener or a groundskeeping company, think about the necessity to have someone oncall. Live-in grounds keeping staff is wonderful for any last-minute additions of flowers and blooms, especially if your estate is often hosting company. However, a gardener is a full-time employee and will require housing and benefits as such. Many grounds-keeping companies are highly skilled and artistic, but they do require appointments for scheduled maintenance and yard improvements. When choosing to hire a professional crew to maintain your grounds, look for California certified and bonded companies. Also look for a company who is willing to provide not only routine landscape maintenance, but who can also suggest improvements to your current outdoor environment. Hiring a company with specific expertise in your type of landscape is always a plus, especially if you are fond of growing plants not native to San Diego soil. Since trees are generally the most valuable plants on your property, and the longest lasting, also choose a company that employs experienced arborists. This is incredibly important because choosing the right tree is much more than aesthetics. Understanding a tree's root growth and longevity can save a homeowner thousands of dollars down the road. Tree roots can break sidewalks, crack foundations, lift fences and invade neighbor's yards. Experienced arborists can help prevent these headaches and ensure healthy trees that will give shade and beauty to your property for many years to come. Wouldn't it be nice to sit back and relax, catching up on the day's news or return some business calls in the backseat, while your own personal driver took the wheel? Especially in Southern California, inner-city traffic and freeway congestion bring out the worst in all of us. But Private Driver of Huntington Beach is just one of the companies offering to give San Diegans a smooth ride whenever they are on the road. A chauffeur company like Private Driver offers qualified drivers with vast knowledge of the area. Drivers with flexible schedules are available for full-time, part-time or by-the-hour services. When hiring Private Driver, your chauffeur will arrive at your home or business with a fresh set of white gloves (if you desire), ready to drive you in your own car, limousine, rental or even luxury exotic. They offer after-hour pick up, business and leisure travel assistance, city tours, elderly and handicapped driving, and can even provide driving for your weekly errands. If you're not using a chauffeur and instead choose to hire a private driver, go for a test drive with him or her to solidify a quality hire. Red flags should rise if your driver constantly uses the horn or shows aggression on the road toward other drivers. You want your driver to be cool and calm behind the wheel, even under the most harrowing c i r c u m s t a n c e s . Whenever possible, obtain driving records for your new employee, available through his/her insurance company. A current copy of coverage as well as a background check, when feasible, will give you peace of mind. Always obtain the social security number, driver's license number, and full name and address of anyone who drives you, even for temporary hires. Payment for private drivers will vary by company and location. $10/hour plus the price of gas can be a small price to pay for a luxuriously stress-free ride. Tipping is always appreciated and has become routinely commonplace for temporary hires. Full-time staff, however, should be treated as full-time employees, thereby receiving salary and bonuses in accordance to their work.
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