Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Guide Training Training Part 4: Hearthfire
Part 8: Hiring a Steward
Part 8: Home Security Part 1— Hiring a Steward
How to keep your properties properly manned by hiring help.
Are the rigors of adventuring and running one or more houses making you weary? Then it might be time to hire a Steward to manage one of your properties (if you have multiple manors, be sure to pick the one most in need of help). Almost any Follower you can take on your adventures can fill this role. Complete any task or quest they require you to, and then agree to bring them on your travels. Head back to your home and (provided you’ve built the main hall) mention that you’d like them to be your Steward. They agree, and start right away (without payment!). The benefits of having a Steward are as follows:
House Improvements
When speaking with your Steward, you can request that they make the following improvements to your house (which are here the next time you return):
Carriage (500 gold): A horse and carriage are parked at your house. The driver is an amiable fellow and offers to drive you to any settlement in Skyrim, just like a carriage driver in any of the major cities. However, he doesn’t charge you and can trundle to any settlement (village, town, or Hold capital).
Bard (1,500 gold): A musician well versed in singing and playing the drums, lute, and flute can be found inside your home. Ask him or her to play a variety of tunes on any of those instruments, or sing ditties at your pleasure.
Horse (1,000 gold): Provided you’ve built the stables, a horse is waiting for you on your return. This horse belongs to you and will return to your house if you decide to leave it for another steed.
Cow (200 gold) and Chicken (25 gold): Provided you built an animal pen, a cow and (up to) three chickens are waiting on your return. Keep them or slaughter them for food.
Building Materials
You can make a request for building materials. Your Steward then goes off to gather the following based on your choices:
- Lumber (Sawn Wood): 20 for 200 gold
- Stone (Quarried Stone): 20 for 100 gold
- Clay: 20 for 20 gold
These are added to the chest next to the carpenter’s workbench when you return.
House Furnishings
You can also ask your Steward to furnish each room of your abode, instead of you collecting the components and crafting the objects yourself. The rooms are furnished progressively over time, so when you return on subsequent occasions, you’ll witness more trinkets, tables, and other bric-a-brac added. Be patient! The costs are listed below:
| Area of House to Furnish | Cost (Gold) | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Small House | 1,000 | |
| Entryway | 1,000 | |
| Main Hall* | 3,500 | |
| West Wing Addition: Bedrooms | 2,000 | |
| West Wing Addition: Greenhouse | 1,500 | |
| West Wing Addition: Enchanter’s Tower | 2,500 | |
| North Wing Addition: Storage Room | 1,000 | |
| North Wing Addition: Trophy Room | 1,500 | |
| North Wing Addition: Alchemy Laboratory | 2,500 | |
| East Wing Addition: Armory | 2,000 | |
| East Wing Addition: Kitchen | 1,500 | |
| East Wing Addition: Library | 1,500 |
Other Antics
After appointing a Follower as your Steward, you can still ask them to follow you whenever you need their services. Your Steward also has a good idea where to purchase straw and glass (two compounds you need for home improvements that aren’t available through foraging). Listen to the location and head to that vendor, remembering to return later should you run out.