01
Understand what is already in place
We begin with the documents you already have, the people who know the operation, and the areas where information is difficult to find. Together, we agree on the scope and what you are comfortable sharing.
For estate managers and private-service professionals
Customized Household Operating Manuals
I work with you to gather household routines, property information, and essential instructions into a Customized Household Operating Manual that reflects how your household actually runs.
A closer look
A practical reference for the people looking after the household
A useful manual should make it easier to find the information people need during the day: how a recurring task is carried out, where a system’s instructions are kept, or what needs attention before an arrival.
Illustrative sample · Contents
Organized around daily use
- Household routines and service preferences
- Property systems and maintenance information
- Staff responsibilities and recurring tasks
- Supporting instructions and reference documents
Illustrative sample · Arrival preparation
Before an arrival
Purpose
Prepare the agreed rooms and shared spaces in line with the household’s preferences.
What the manual records
The sequence of tasks, the person responsible, the preferences to confirm, and where supporting instructions are kept.
Illustrative sample. Each Customized Household Operating Manual is developed around the household it serves. The final contents depend on the agreed scope.
When the information exists, but is difficult to find
The maintenance history may be in an email. A familiar routine may live in a staff member’s memory. Instructions for a visiting team may sit in a binder that hasn’t been updated.
From my work in private households, I know that recognizing the need for documentation doesn’t always make room for it in the day. I work with you to understand what is already in place and turn approved information into a practical digital and printable manual.
The process
Developed with the household
02
Develop and review the manual
I organize the material, help identify gaps, and work through the draft with you so the instructions reflect the household’s preferences and working routines.
03
Prepare it for use
We review the content together and prepare the agreed digital and printable versions for the people who will use them.
Your point of contact
James Prieto
My work in private households has taught me how much useful knowledge can sit with the person who knows a property best. Putting it into a manual takes time, careful questions, and an understanding of how the household works.
I bring that experience to the work of gathering, organizing, and reviewing the information with you.
Questions before we begin
We already have documents and binders. Can you work with those?
Yes. We begin by reviewing what is already useful, then identify what needs organizing, updating, or adding. The scope will depend on what you have and what you need the manual to do.
How much time will you need from our team?
We would discuss who needs to contribute and how to fit that work around the household’s responsibilities. The initial conversation helps establish what is practical before we agree on the scope.
How will private household information be handled?
Before sharing operational information, we agree on what is needed, who will have access, and how the material will be handled. The inquiry form asks only for your own contact details.
What does the work cost, and how long does it take?
That depends on the material already available and the scope of the Customized Household Operating Manual. We would discuss both before work begins.
Let us talk about what you need
Tell me how to reach you, and I will follow up personally to learn about your documentation needs and whether this would be a useful fit.
Please share only your own contact information here. Household names, addresses, and operational details can wait until we have discussed how to handle them.