Winter operations
The season that tests every Tahoe home.
- Snow removal and roof-raking contracts
- Ice dam and heat tape checks
- Freeze protection and outage response
- Generator testing and propane deliveries
What we are, and what we are not
Home watch tells you something broke. We make sure you never have to hear about it.
Lake Tahoe has many companies that check on houses and many that rent them out. Very few run a private home for the owner who does not rent it. That is the only thing we do.
| Home watch | Vacation rental manager | Tahoe Basin Estate Management | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it serves | Empty second homes | Guests and booking revenue | You, your family, and the estate itself |
| When a pipe bursts | Reports it to you | Fixes it between bookings | Stops the water, calls the right trade, oversees the repair, sends the record |
| Vendors | A list of names | Their own crews | Vetted specialists we schedule, supervise and hold to account |
| Winter | A drive-by after storms | Snow cleared for check-in | Roof loads, ice dams, freeze protection, generator and propane, all season |
| Your role | Project manager | Landlord | Owner. Nothing more is asked of you. |
The foundation of every engagement
The Basin Standard
Every estate we accept begins with the same discipline. A documented round of the whole property, on a fixed schedule, by the same manager each time.
The same eyes notice what changed. A new stain on a ceiling. A deck board lifting. A tree leaning toward the roof after a wind event. Small things, caught early, stay small.
- InteriorRoom-by-room walkthrough. Ceilings, windows, floors, appliances, water heaters, leak sensors and main shutoffs.
- ClimateHeat, humidity and freeze checks. Thermostats, boilers, radiant floors, and wine and art rooms held to your settings.
- ExteriorRoof and snow load, gutters and heat tape, decks, drainage, bear boxes, and the defensible space around the house.
- SystemsAlarm, cameras, smart home, generator, propane level, well and septic where present.
- ReportingA photo report to your inbox the same day. Issues are flagged with a plan, not a question.
- ResponseStorms, power outages and alarm events trigger an immediate visit, not a call to you.
Services
Everything a Tahoe estate needs. One point of contact.
Mountain homes at 6,000 feet ask more of their owners than homes anywhere else. Snow, fire, water and permits all follow their own rules here. We know them, so you don't have to.
Wildfire readiness
Protect the home and the insurance on it.
- Defensible space work, managed each season
- Fire district inspection coordination
- Gutter, roof and vent upkeep
- Records your insurer will ask for
Shoreline & watercraft
For lakefront and lake-access homes.
- Pier, buoy and boat lift seasonal care
- Boat launch, storage and winterization
- Watercraft inspection scheduling
- Shoreline permit work through licensed pros
Estate rounds & reporting
The Basin Standard, on your schedule.
- Weekly or bi-weekly documented rounds
- Same-day photo reports
- Estate book of shutoffs, codes and vendors
Arrivals & departures
Walk in to a home that is ready.
- Heat, spa and fireplace ready on arrival
- Groceries, flowers and linens
- Guest and family visits hosted
- Full closeout when you leave
Vendor & staff oversight
The people who keep the estate running.
- Vetted trades for every system
- Housekeepers, caretakers and chefs scheduled
- Work inspected before it is paid
Projects & renovations
Your representative on site.
- Bids gathered and compared
- County and TRPA permit coordination
- Weekly site visits and progress reports
Bills, budgets & records
A clear view of what the estate costs.
- Property bills and vendor invoices handled
- Monthly estate statement
- Inventory of art, wine and vehicles for insurance
Security & keys
Access controlled by one accountable person.
- Alarm and camera response
- Keys and codes held under custody log
- Vendor access granted and revoked
Engagements
Three levels of care. Each one built around how you use the house.
Every engagement includes the Basin Standard. The difference is how much of the estate we carry for you.
Engagement I
Steward
For the home that sits quiet most of the year, and must be perfect when it doesn't.
Includes
- The Basin Standard rounds and reports
- Storm, outage and alarm response
- Vendor scheduling for routine service
- Winter and fire-season checklists
- Arrival preparation on request
Engagement II
Residence
For the home your family uses every season, with guests, boats and a full calendar.
Everything in Steward, plus
- Full vendor management and inspection
- Housekeeping and caretaker oversight
- Property bills and monthly statement
- Seasonal openings and closeouts
- Shoreline and watercraft care
- Every arrival and departure handled
Engagement III
Principal
For the estate that needs a chief of staff. One manager who runs it all, answers to you alone.
Everything in Residence, plus
- A dedicated estate manager
- Private around-the-clock line for principals
- Household staff hiring and management
- Estate budgets and capital planning
- Owner's representative on renovations
- Coordination across multiple residences
Engagement fees depend on the estate, its systems and how often it is used. They are shared privately after a walkthrough of the property.
The basin
One manager. Both states. Every shore.
Tahoe estates sit in two states and five counties, each with its own rules. Most local firms work one side of the lake. We serve the whole basin, from Crystal Bay to Meyers and Glenbrook to Homewood.
Nevada · California
North Shore
- Incline Village 89451
- Crystal Bay 89402
- Kings Beach 96143
- Tahoe Vista 96148
- Carnelian Bay 96140
- Tahoe City 96145
Nevada
East Shore
- Glenbrook 89413
- Cave Rock 89448
- Zephyr Cove 89448
- Marla Bay 89448
- Stateline 89449
California
South Shore
- South Lake Tahoe 96150
- Tahoe Keys 96150
- Meyers 96150
- Fallen Leaf Lake 96150
California
West Shore
- Homewood 96141
- Tahoma 96142
- Meeks Bay 96142
- Rubicon Bay 96142
- Sunnyside 96145
Counties served: Washoe, Douglas and Carson City in Nevada. Placer and El Dorado in California. Select estates in Truckee, Martis Valley and Olympic Valley are considered on request.
A year at the lake
Tahoe runs on four seasons. So does your estate.
December – March
Winter
Snow removal on contract. Roof loads watched after every storm. Ice dams cleared, pipes protected, the generator tested and propane kept full. Outages answered in person.
April – May
Thaw
Damage review after the snow line drops. Drainage and decks checked. Spring service for heat, water and septic. Pier, lift and boat readied for launch.
June – August
Summer
The house at its fullest. Guests hosted, boats running, lawns and irrigation tuned. Defensible space kept current through fire season.
September – November
Closeout
Boats winterized and stored. Lifts raised, docks secured. Gutters cleaned, heat tape tested, snow contracts confirmed before the first storm.
How an estate is accepted
We take on few estates, so each one is taken on with care.
Request
Send a confidential written request using the form below. We read every request personally. No sales team, no third parties.
Conversation
A private call to learn how you use the house and what worries you about it.
Walkthrough
A full review of the property and its systems, with or without you present.
Estate book
Every shutoff, code, vendor and warranty documented in one place.
First season
Rounds begin. You receive your first report, and your first quiet winter.
Discretion
The best estate managers are never seen.
Many of the homes we care for belong to people who value privacy above everything else. Our practices are built for them.
No names
We keep no public client list. We never share client names, addresses or photographs. Not in marketing, not in conversation.
No signage
Unmarked vehicles. No yard signs. Nothing that says the owner is away.
Signed confidentiality
Every team member and every vendor signs a confidentiality agreement before entering an estate.
Logged access
Keys and codes are held under a custody log. You can see who entered, when, and why.
Private channels
Requests are confidential and answered by email. Meetings are by appointment. Clients are given a direct line once engaged.
A limited roster
We cap the number of estates we manage, so attention is never spread thin.
Questions
Lake Tahoe estate management, answered.
What is estate management at Lake Tahoe?
Estate management is the full care of a private home on behalf of its owner. At Tahoe that means regular documented rounds, vendor and staff oversight, winter operations, wildfire readiness, shoreline care, bills and records, and someone accountable when anything goes wrong. It is built for owners who live elsewhere for most of the year.
How is this different from home watch?
Home watch visits an empty house and reports what it finds. Estate management takes ownership of the outcome. We find the problem, bring in the right specialist, supervise the work, and close it out. You receive a record, not a to-do list.
Do you cover both the Nevada and California sides of the lake?
Yes. We serve the North, East, South and West shores, including Incline Village, Crystal Bay, Glenbrook, Zephyr Cove, Stateline, South Lake Tahoe, Meyers, Homewood, Tahoma, Tahoe City, Carnelian Bay, Tahoe Vista and Kings Beach. That covers Washoe, Douglas and Carson City counties in Nevada and Placer and El Dorado counties in California.
Do you manage vacation rentals?
No. We serve private homes that are kept for the owner, their family and their guests. If you rent your home, a vacation rental manager is a better fit.
What happens during a winter storm or a power outage?
We watch the forecast and the property together. When a major storm, an outage or an alarm event occurs, your manager visits the home, confirms heat and power, checks roof loads and access, and sends you a report. Snow removal and roof work are arranged in advance on contract, so crews are booked before the season starts.
Can you handle TRPA, shoreline or county permits?
We coordinate permit work for projects, piers, buoys and defensible space through licensed architects, contractors and consultants who specialize in the basin. We manage the process and the timeline. The licensed professionals file the work.
How are engagements priced?
Fees depend on the size of the estate, its systems, its shoreline, and how often it is used. After a walkthrough we propose a fixed monthly engagement. Vendor and project costs are billed at cost and shown on your monthly statement.
Why is there no phone number on this site?
We are a discreet, private service, and estates are accepted by consideration only. Please use the confidential request form below. We read every request personally and reply by email to arrange a private conversation. Clients receive a direct line once engaged.
Is this a directory or referral service?
No. Tahoe Basin Estate Management is our own private, owner-operated service. We do not list providers, sell requests or pass them to other firms. Your request is read by us, answered by us, and stays with us.
By consideration only
Request Consideration
We accept a limited number of Lake Tahoe estates each season. Tell us a little about the property and how you use it.
Your request is confidential. We review each one personally and, if the estate is a fit, reply by email to arrange a private conversation. This form is the only way to begin an engagement.
What you share stays with us. It is never sold, shared, passed to another firm or added to a mailing list.
