CHRISTINA DELA CRUZ

ESTATE MANAGER  |  PROPERTY MANAGER

Professional Profile

Estate Manager with 13 years supporting families and high-profile principals, with a particular depth in construction and renovation oversight — managing projects from permitting through final walkthrough. Runs the full daily operation of a household — property systems, staff, vendors, and the hundred small things that keep a family's life moving — with a concierge mindset and a licensed real estate background. Known for building loyal domestic teams, delivering renovation projects on budget and on spec, and keeping absolute confidentiality at all times.

Core Competencies
  • Construction & Renovation Project Management: Owns projects end to end, from contractor selection and permitting through quality control and final walkthrough.
  • Comprehensive Home Management: Oversees all residential operations, property systems, and household workflows, building a household that runs smoothly with minimal principal involvement.
  • Executive & Personal Support: Right-hand support for busy principals, ensuring seamless day-to-day operations.
  • Technical Maintenance & Preventative Repairs: Deep working knowledge of home systems; catches issues before they become costly problems and holds contractors to a high bar of workmanship.
  • Trusted Vendor Network: A vetted “rolodex” of high-end vendors, architects, and contractors built over a decade, chosen as much for honesty and reliability as for craft.
  • Staff & Household Leadership: Hand-picks and trains domestic teams, manages payroll, and builds simple, effective household SOPs.
  • Financial Oversight: Hands-on budget management, contract negotiation, luxury travel coordination, and support on high-value personal acquisitions.
Renovation & Construction Highlights
  • Managed full-cycle renovation and construction projects across three principal households.
  • Led the architectural conversion of a driveway into a custom outdoor sauna and wellness area for the Ovitz family.
  • Directed multiple home renovation projects over a ten-year tenure with the Thorne family (Santa Monica, CA), coordinating contractors through completion.
  • Currently serves as the primary point of contact for home improvement projects for a confidential West LA family, managing contractor schedules, budgets, and quality control.
Professional Experience
Estate Manager and EA Jan 2025 – Present
Confidential Family — West Los Angeles, CA
  • Personal & Executive Support: Serves as the family's right hand, ensuring seamless coordination across the household's daily operations.
  • Operational Continuity: Built a household management system covering mechanical, technical, and service systems to keep the home running reliably day to day.
  • Preventative Maintenance: Put a proactive maintenance schedule in place across HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and smart-home systems, catching small issues before they turned into costly repairs.
  • Team Leadership: Recruited and trained domestic staff, setting a standard of accountability and professionalism across the household.
  • Construction & Renovation Oversight: Primary point of contact for home improvement projects, managing contractor schedules, budgets, and quality control against architectural plans from permitting through final walkthrough.
  • Vendor Vetting: Sources and vets contractors and service providers on trust, workmanship, and reliability before bringing them into the home.
  • Contract Negotiation: Negotiates vendor contracts and large-scale procurement terms, leaning on established industry relationships to secure consistent pricing and priority service.
Estate Manager Feb 2024 – Nov 2024
Ovitz Family — Venice, CA
  • Estate Preservation: Directed preventative maintenance and construction projects to protect the architectural integrity and aesthetic standards of a coastal property.
  • Construction & Renovation Management: Led the architectural conversion of a driveway into a custom outdoor sauna and wellness area, managing contractors, budget, and timeline from design through completion.
  • Vendor Vetting & Contract Negotiation: Vetted and negotiated contracts with architects, contractors, and specialty tradespeople, securing quality workmanship at favorable terms.
  • Asset Acquisition: Negotiated luxury vehicle purchases and rental property leases, securing favorable terms and on-time delivery.
  • Staff Coordination: Supervised a diverse household team, setting clear communication and performance standards.
  • Calendar Management: Ran a busy family calendar covering travel logistics and event coordination.
Estate Manager / House Manager Nov 2013 – Oct 2023
Thorne Family — Santa Monica, CA
  • Estate Administration: Sole manager for a private family for ten years, overseeing household administration, staff, and property maintenance.
  • Construction & Renovation Oversight: Managed multiple home renovation projects over ten years, coordinating architects, contractors, and city permitting from planning through completion.
  • Preventative Maintenance & Repair: Ran an ongoing preventative maintenance program across mechanical, electrical, and structural systems to minimize breakdowns and extend the life of major systems.
  • Vendor Vetting & Contract Negotiation: Recruited, vetted, and negotiated contracts with domestic staff and outside vendors, balancing reliable service with cost efficiency.
  • Technical Systems Oversight: Managed and troubleshot home automation and security networks (Lutron/Control4), coordinating specialists for repairs.
  • Specialized Procurement: Sourced high-value items and vetted professional services, including medical specialists and veterinarians.
  • Event Production: Planned private gatherings and family events for up to 100 guests, managing catering, floral design, and logistics.
Education, Licensure & Technical Skills
  • Licensure & Education: California Real Estate License (active since 2020) | Associate Degree in Business Administration, Heald College, San Francisco
  • Systems: Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, QuickBooks, Asana, Slack, MS Teams
  • Smart Home Technology: Lutron, Crestron, Control4, Apple iOS, PC Architecture
  • Tech Aptitude: Extremely tech-savvy with strong home network support skills and hands-on proficiency with AI tools for research, scheduling, and household administration.