Manuals
A practical reference for how a property is run.
A household manual records how a property works and is run, bringing together the practical information, routines, procedures and standards that guide daily life. For household staff, it provides a shared reference so tasks are carried out consistently and important knowledge is not passed on solely by word of mouth. Each manual is written for the particular property and household, with contents and structure shaped around the way it operates, and can be produced in print, digitally or both.
Types of manual
Any manual can be produced in print, digitally or both, and a digital manual can sit alongside the household’s other systems. We also write manuals for yachts, villas and households with more than one property.
Household Manuals
The reference for the property as a whole: how the house works, who is responsible for what, and the standards it is kept to.
Staff Manuals
Written for the household team: the routines, standards and procedures of each role, so they are carried out the same way by everyone.
Guest Manuals
For guests staying in the property: practical information about the house, its rooms and how things work during a stay.
Household Procedures
Standalone guides to recurring tasks such as cleaning, service, and arrivals and departures. They can also form chapters within a staff manual.
What a manual might cover
The contents are chosen from the areas below and tailored to the property, and can also cover anything particular to the home, such as guest arrivals, grounds, animals, pools or spas. Where a household has several properties, one consistent structure helps staff find what they need wherever they are working.
The Property and How It Works
Household and property information, from equipment and appliances to utilities, records and maintenance, so anyone in the house can find out how something works and who looks after it.
People
Names, roles, responsibilities and contact details for the family, the household team, contractors and suppliers, so it is always clear who to ask and who is responsible.
Running the House
Routines and schedules, household rules and working guidelines, set out so the day-to-day running of the house is consistent whoever is on duty.
Standards and Presentation
Room-by-room standards, service and dining, linen, tableware and garment care, organisational systems and labelling, and seasonal protocols, with photographs of the finished result where useful.
What Is Kept and Where
Item and location directories and inventories, recording what the household owns, where each thing is kept and what needs replacing.
Safety and Emergencies
Emergency procedures and contacts, allergies and dietary requirements, and security arrangements, kept where they can be found quickly.
When a manual is particularly useful
Onboarding New Staff
A clear reference for someone joining the household, so routines, standards and responsibilities are learned from one source rather than explained from scratch each time.
Several Properties, Villas or Yachts
Where a household runs more than one home, a villa or a yacht, manuals built on the same structure keep routines consistent for staff who rotate between properties or join for a season.
A New or Newly Refurbished Home
After a move or a refurbishment, a manual records how the house should now run, from how its systems work to where things are kept, while new routines are being established.
Example pages
These pages are from an illustrative staff manual. A household manual, guest manual or set of procedures draws on different contents.
Contents
Cleaning Guide
Arrivals & Departures Procedures
Who to Ask
Room-by-Room Housekeeping Procedures
Tableware Inventory
Dining & Service Standards
Accommodation Standards
Please note: Aldercombe House is a fictional household; all names, details and quantities are illustrative. Organisation photography from our own projects.
Next steps
Each commission is scoped individually, depending on what needs to be covered and how much information is already recorded.