CCat3066 wrote:
I know I'm about 5 years late, but you really should not hire your housecarl as your steward, because then you lose this patrolling guard around your house (your housecarl) and instead they become somebody who just wanders around your homestead doing menial tasks. You should also probably outfit your steward and spouce with armour so they don't die to giant and dragon attacks.
That's not a problem if the housecarl used to protect a home that you don't like/never use. I do that with Valdimar (the one living in Morthal), it's a painful place to live yet it has the only mage housecarl. At least he's useful now in my Heljarchen Manor.
Whatever your stewards were doing before they don't just "wander around your home", they can buy cows and chikens for you, hire a bard, find a personal carriage, sell materials and furnish your home if you're lazy. If you like a lively place, I'd say that is useful.