Property Maintenance
Person, Pets, vehicles, fences, and outbuildings
Part time: Work 20-25 hours per week in exchange for full room, utilities on site in a 1 bedroom barndominium with fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, laundry plus truck usage and stipend. Regular working hours are semi-flexible, you will be expected to provide reliable weekly reports of deliverables. A 1099 will be issued to you at year end for housing compensation and you must provide evidence of personal insurance around self employment.
OVERVIEW
We are looking for a healthy individual to live on an estate in Texas to maintain a 30 acre estate and associated buildings and animals on the property and visit 2 other nearby properties in Texas (McDade and Giddings) at least once monthly.
This is not a role for a nurse aid but is for someone who wishes to make a home on the property and look after the property which will be used long term for wildlife protection.
You will not be expected to complete any personal hygiene duties or clean the main house or the homeowner. You will be expected to be available to drive as needed and check in on the homeowner Saturdays and Sundays via text or a quick visit.
Rental includes use of barn for personal business if desired (with written agreement), provided all trash is removed from site, access is controlled and basic property rules are followed (no smoking, no guns, no dogs without prior approval).
Payment
This is a combined payment in cash and in kind role. You are required to live on site in the apartment provided with utilities and internet provided. We provide a truck for your work use and limited personal usage (holidays and trips are allowed but you need to pay your own fuel), insurance, regular fuel, tx tag, etc we pay for. You can be provided with a prepaid phone. You receive a weekly $50 food allowance and a weekly $250 cash payment. Some weeks you may only need to work 15 hours, others 25 hours. With an average of 22.5 hours a week the value of the package is $25.44 per hour.
Package
Annual Value
furnished apartment (1000 monthly)
12000
personal truck usage (150 monthly)
1800
prepaid phone (30 monthly)
360
food allowance (50 weekly)
2600
stipend (250 weekly)
13000
Total package value
29760
Hourly rate based on 22.5 hours weekly
$25.44
Responsibilities and duties
Record keeping and communications
You will keep clear records of works completed, purchases made
You will submit weekly time records in a format provided
You will submit receipts for any purchases and secure quotes for any desired expenses
You will use whatsapp to communicate with the family and email for weekly brief updates (200 words)
You will expected to provide regular working availability to support planning and boundary setting
Vehicles
Drives homeowner as needed with prior notice when possible (e.g. 24 hours or emergency medical in most cases)
Collect mail and supplies as needed for the estate
Delivers items as needed
Maintains/ checks all vehicles on property and keep them in good condition recording checks of tires, oil, batteries and valeting at least once every 3 months
Chrysler Pacifica (2021)
Toyota Tacoma
Lawn mowers (x2)
Golf cart
Estate
Basic property maintenance
as a handyperson as needed for basic repairs or improvements
Mowing or gardening
Removing bulk trash and collecting trash from main house prior to collections Tuesday mornings as needed
Fixing fences or repairs and/or finding a professional for repairs if unable to do perform them safely
Visiting other local Texas properties once a month to check condition, walk fences, etc
Monthly “big” goals that are part of long term management plan (listed below)
Feeding and watering animals as needed and requested
Dog
Cats
Chickens
heifers
Occasionally
House sitting of estate in owners absence (e.g. feeding and watering pets)
Acting as contact for professionals on property to help with access or repair plan (e.g. electricians, septic, orchard planners, beekeepers, solar, etc)
Keeping up outbuildings on the property:
large barn, small pole barn, small well shed, chicken coop, pool room, tool room, and lawn mower shed
physically visiting outbuildings at least once every month and making sure they are clean and in good condition
maintaining access by mowing around entryways as needed and driving on roads to maintain them
checking electrics, lights, air conditioners, water, etc
keeping property buildings in good usable condition
Sweeping or cleaning outbuildings once a quarter
Checking that wells or sprinklers on the property are still working
Essential Skills
Good work ethic
Clean driving record/ up to date license
Heavy lifting may be required
Patience
Fluent in English
Ability to legally work in the USA.
Desired Qualities
Direct experience with older adults
Experience with Google Drive
Knowledge of vehicle and building upkeep and maintenance.
Record keeping regarding estate management
Weekly tasks
Contact Vickie on weekends to check on her by text or visit as soon as you wake up
Take trash out Monday evening to curbside
Example monthly tasks in current plan
November
Plant wildflowers
Visit other properties
Plant orchard on pond
Winterize well
December
Mow around buildings
Visit other properties
Plant sorghum
January - March
Mow around buildings
Visit other properties
Inseminate heifers
Plow grass to kill grasshoppers
