Staging Guide

This guide is for the Stagers at Gaspar’s Luxury Estate. A Stager’s primary focus is on the details that create a 5-star guest experience, including property-placed décor, fully stocked hospitality items, quality checks, and overall ambiance.

Stagers work in partnership with the cleaning team and begin staging once the cleaners have finished, helping ensure the home is fully prepared for guest arrival. They also support the cleaning team by resolving any missing items. In addition, Stagers check inventory levels for anything that may need to be reordered and document the completed setup with timestamped photos. These photos help verify the condition of the home at turnover and provide important records in the event that anything is damaged or goes missing after a booking.

Details Matter

Always pay attention to the finishing touches. Are the labels facing forward? Is something missing that was once here before? Are the bottles spaced evenly? Are the stripes on the ping pong balls aligned in the same direction? While these details may seem minor, they subconsciously communicate care, intention, and quality. They help create the polished, plush, and luxurious atmosphere our guests expect.

Start Time

Guests check out at 10:00 AM, which is typically when the cleaning team begins resetting the home. Depending on the condition of the property and the amount of turnover work needed, cleaning can take anywhere from 6 to 10 hours. Stagers should ideally arrive as soon as cleaning is complete, whether that is later that same evening or the following morning or afternoon.

Start time options:

  • Same Day as Checkout: Immediately after cleaning is complete
  • Next Day: Morning or afternoon, after cleaning is complete
  • Staging Deadline: Must be completed before 1:30 pm the day after cleaning/checkout

Estimated Time Commitment: Contractors accepting a staging shift should be prepared to remain on-site for up to 3 hours if complications arise. The goal is to leave enough time to fully complete the staging scope, including any unexpected issues that may come up. If you are unavailable to stay that long, please notify the host before accepting a shift so another Stager can be scheduled.

Important: Since the property is listed to accommodate same-day bookings, turnover must be completed before the deadline to prevent the host from being fined or removed from the platform. The earlier the staging is completed, the better, so there is time to replace missing items, restock inventory, or make any final corrections before arrival.

Estimated Time Commitment

It usually takes 90 minutes to stage the home; however, contractors accepting a staging shift should be prepared to remain on-site for up to 3 hours if complications arise. The goal is to leave enough time to fully complete the staging scope, including any unexpected issues that may come up. If you are unavailable to stay that long, please notify the host before accepting a shift so another Stager can be scheduled.

Staging Check List

Expand each section below to see images of the areas in that need to be staged and the directions of how to stage them.

Replenish Kitchen Hospitality Items:

  • Refill fragrance-free hand soap
  • Refill fragrance-free dish soap
  • Refill dishwasher pods
  • Replace the black dish sponge if needed
  • Replace the dish scrubber (if needed)
  • Replace paper towel
  • Gold sticker paper towel
  • Leave 2 extra paper towel in pantry
  • Refill and tidy spice drawer
  • Organize pantry/appliances

Coffee & Espresso Bar Items:

  • Refill coffee beans (FIFO)
  • Refill Sugars
  • Refill Paper coffee/espresso cups
  • Refill Rose Gold Metal Straws
  • Refill Gold Paper Straws
  • Refill Swizzle Sticks
  • Refill Cocktail napkins
  • Refill Coffee syrups
  • Refill Coffee sauces
  • Refill Coffee creamers
  • Refill Espresso pods
  • Refill Tea Packets

Bathroom Hospitality Items:

  • Refill hand soap
  • Refill lotion
  • Refill shampoo
  • Refill conditioner
  • Refill bodywash
  • Refill tissues
  • Refill toilet paper
  • Gold sticker toilet paper
  • Leave 3 extra toilet paper rolls
  • Refill mints (if applicable)
  • Reill/replace diffusers
  • Refill/replace room spray
  • Verify black makeup towels
  • Verify bath towels
  • Verify hand towels
  • Verify wash cloths
  • Verify hairdryers in shower bathrooms

Fill Hospitality Laundry Supplies:

  • Refill laundry detergent pods
  • Refill dryer sheets

Fill Hospitality Snacks:

  • Leave 2 chocolates in bedrooms
  • Refill kitchen hospitality snacks
  • Refill Kraken Cove hospitality snacks

Technology Check:

  • Verify TV remotes are accounted for
  • Verify outdoor Fan remotes are accounted for
  • Verify game console remotes and headphones are present
  • Turn on Arcades
  • Turn on Tampa sign in Sirenita's Cavern
  • Turn on/Plug Skee-ball and shuffleboard
  • Check appliance functionality refrigerators, microwave, oven, hot water, A/C, Internet

Outdoor Amenities:

  • Verify firewood is stocked
  • Verify lighters are stocked
  • Chair cushions are out
  • Chair covers are off
  • Ashtrays are on the wet bar shelf

Ambiance:

  • Turn all the lights on
  • Open windows
  • Ensure staging matches all reference photos

Insurance Obligations:

  • Take photos of all staged areas once complete with a time stamp application for insurance purposes.
  • Ensure all doors are locked, including the front door and interior storage doors
  • Report any missing or damaged items to host

Coffee Bar Staging

All hospitality replenishment items are located in the first-floor storage closet called Captain’s Hold.

  • Ensure no old coffee is left in the coffee pot
  • Ensure no water is left in the tea kettle
  • Make sure all gold spoons are returned to the holder neatly fanned (see reference) and are not stained or tarnished.
  • Make sure the time on the clock is correct
  • Refill both the regular and decaf coffee beans, placing the new beans on the bottom and the older beans on top
  • Refill the creamer pods
  • Refill the sugar packets
  • Refill the sugar-free sweetener packets
  • Refill the natural sugar-free sweetener packets

Coffee Bar Cabinet and Appliances

The cabinet directly above the drip coffee machine contains the additional coffee appliances, drinkware, and tea provided for guest use. This cabinet should include the following:

Appliances

  • Moka pot
  • French press
  • Pour-over brewer
  • Coffee bean grinder

Drinkware

  • Pilsner glasses
  • Double-insulated glass mugs
  • White ceramic coffee mugs with saucers

If any of the items below have been moved or placed incorrectly, please return them to their proper locations according to the reference guide below.

Tea Collection Staging

Ensure the box is fully stocked only with Estate-approved Harney & Sons teas in the following flavors:

  • Hot Cinnamon Spice
  • Lemon Herbal
  • Decaffeinated Black Tea
  • Organic Citron Green

Teas should be color-blocked, with all packets straight, neatly aligned, and well presented. Ensure at least 4 packets of each tea flavor are available for guests.

If guests leave behind any tea of their own, store it in the supply closet for emergency backup only if it is sealed and unopened. Only Estate-approved Harney & Sons teas should be displayed in the guest-facing tea box.

Collection Location for Guests

The tea collection is kept in a small wooden treasure box stored in the cabinet above the black tea kettle. If the collection is low, you can restock from the boxes stored on the black rolling carts in the Captain's Hold maintenance closet on the first floor.

Espresso Bar Presentation

The espresso bar should be fully stocked, clean, and staged to match the reference photos. This includes the espresso machine, espresso pods, cups and lids, syrups, sauces, and the items stored in the cabinet above.

  • Refill all to-go coffee cups, lids, espresso cups, and espresso lids
  • Refill syrup bottles as needed.
  • Make sure tamper-resistant tabs are placed back on the syrup bottles after refilling to help protect guest safety.
  • Wipe down any stickyness from bottles (if needed)
  • Ensure bottle labels, and pumps are facing directly forward
  • Ensure even staggered spacing between bottles and rows
  • Check all sauces and replace any that are low or empty
  • Check the espresso machine for cleanliness and make sure no used pods are left inside
  • Ensure the swizzle sitcks and stirrers are filled in the black ceramic cup
  • If needed. wipe down the espresso machine and the surrounding area so the station looks clean and guest-ready

IMPORTANT: Always verify both the bottle and the label before refilling. Only sugar-free syrup should be poured into bottles designated as sugar-free. This is especially important for diabetic guests and others who depend on sugar-free products for health reasons.

Additional syrups are stored in Captain’s Hold, the first-floor maintenance closet. Use the funnels provided to pour syrups cleanly into the display bottles. Whenever a new syrup bottle is opened, label it with the date opened and your initials. If you notice a bottle is running low and has less than enough product for two additional refills, notify the host immediately.

Espresso Pod Tray

Espresso pods should be neatly staged in the pod tray to match the reference photo. Pods should be organized by color/flavor, with rows kept neat, full, and visually consistent. Make sure the pods are facing the correct direction and that the tray presentation looks intentional, orderly, and fully stocked.

Ensure that you always stock at least one row of decaf espresso pods. Extra pods are located in the Captain's Hold maintenance closet. Let the host know when there are fewer than 3 refills of pods left.

Cabinet Above the Espresso Bar

The cabinet above the espresso bar stores the reusable espresso drinkware and supporting coffee items. Make sure all items are returned to their designated places to match the reference photos.

This cabinet should include:

  • White ceramic espresso cups with saucers
  • Double-wall glass espresso cups
  • Milk frother

If any of these items are found out of place, please return them to their designated locations as outlined in the reference guide. If you notice any damage or missing items, contact the host to have them replaced.

Kitchen Sink Presentation

The kitchen sink area should be fully stocked, clean, and styled to match the reference photo. This presentation includes the glass jar of dishwasher pods, the labeled dish soap and hand soap bottles, and the black sponge in the sink holder.

  • Fill the small glass jar with Cascade Platinum Plus Dishwasher Detergent pods
  • Fill the dish soap bottle with Dawn Free & Clear EZ-Squeeze Dish Soap
  • Fill the hand soap bottle with Ginger Lily Farms Botanicals All-Purpose Liquid Hand Soap Refill, Coco Mango
  • Place the black sponge in the sponge holder inside the sink
  • Replace the black sponge only when needed, based on wear and condition, as some guests may not use it during their stay

Please note that the blue Dawn dish soap is for cleaning team use only. The guest-facing soap dispenser should be filled only with clear, fragrance-free dish soap, since blue soap shows through the glass and does not provide the same clean, polished appearance.

Extra sponges are kept under the sink so guests have access to a fresh sponge if needed. We also keep a small supply of basic cleaning products, such as Windex and Purell Surface Cleaner, under the sink in case guests need to clean up after children or handle an accidental spill during their stay.

Extra dishwasher pods, hand soap, and fragrance-free dish soap for guest use are stored in Captain’s Hold, the downstairs maintenance closet.

Pirate Mugs Staging

The pirate mugs are located on the right side of the kitchen sink, beneath the cabinet. They should be staged on the rustic wood board, with the Kraken salt and pepper shakers placed neatly in front to match the reference photo.

Important Care Instructions

  • Hand wash only
  • Do not place in the dishwasher
  • Do not leave soaking in the sink

Neighboring Décor

The pirate barrel holding the cooking utensils is positioned to the left of the sink. The paper towel holder and knife block are placed to the left of the pirate mug display.

Paper Towel Technique

When staging the paper towels, fold one or both corners for presentation and secure them with one gold G medallion. Leave 2 to 3 additional paper towel rolls in the pantry closet for larger groups or longer stays.

Refill the wooden bowl with a variety of snack bags, cookies, and chocolates from the Captain's Hold storage closet. Ensure there's a good mix of regular snacks, vegan, and gluten-free options. The bowl should look full and welcoming to guests.

Popular Snacks Include:

  • Pretzels
  • Sun Chips
  • Pirate's Booty
  • Hippeas (GF & Vegan)
  • Granola bars (GF & Regular Options)
  • Cookies (Oreo, Chips Ahoy)

Ensure the Welcome Sign is placed near the bowl so guests can easily see it.

Spice Collection

The spice collection is kept in the pull-out drawer next to the sink. This drawer should be checked during every staging visit to ensure it remains clean, orderly, and visually well maintained.

  • Make sure there is no loose spice residue or powder in the drawer
  • Wipe down the drawer as needed so the presentation stays neat and polished
  • Only Estate-provided spices should be kept in this drawer
  • Any spices purchased and left behind by guests may be discarded
  • If any spice is half full or less, notify the host so a replacement can be purchased

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Powder Bath Backup Supply Styling

Since the powder room serves as the main shared guest bathroom, it is intentionally stocked with more visible backup supplies than the other bathrooms.

For this space, maintain the following presentation:

  • 5 toilet paper rolls styled on the top shelf
  • 3 rolled hand towels placed vertically in the metal basket on the bottom shelf

Toilet paper should be staged neatly, with the leading edge folded into a triangle and sealed with a gold “G” emblem sticker. This is part of our standard presentation and helps the backup supplies feel intentional rather than purely utilitarian.

Towel Placement Standard

For bathroom trays, always style the towels in our signature arrangement:

  • 2 rolled towels on the bottom, placed parallel
  • 1 rolled towel on top, placed at a slight diagonal

This layered arrangement adds visual interest and is part of our branded staging style. Do not line up all three towels evenly in a straight row.

Signature Tissue Styling

For bathroom trays, use one gently pulled tissue only. Allow it to open into a soft organic fan or natural bloom shape. The goal is a clean, elegant look that adds height and softness to the tray without feeling overly styled.

Avoid elaborate tissue designs such as roses or other novelty shapes. Our standard is intentionally simple to reduce waste and maintain visual balance across all bathrooms.

Text goes here

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Powder Bath Backup Supply Styling

Since the powder room serves as the main shared guest bathroom, it is intentionally stocked with more visible backup supplies than the other bathrooms.

For this space, maintain the following presentation:

  • 5 toilet paper rolls styled on the top shelf
  • 3 rolled hand towels placed vertically in the metal basket on the bottom shelf

Toilet paper should be staged neatly, with the leading edge folded into a triangle and sealed with a gold “G” emblem sticker. This is part of our standard presentation and helps the backup supplies feel intentional rather than purely utilitarian.

Towel Placement Standard

For bathroom trays, always style the towels in our signature arrangement:

  • 2 rolled towels on the bottom, placed parallel
  • 1 rolled towel on top, placed at a slight diagonal

This layered arrangement adds visual interest and is part of our branded staging style. Do not line up all three towels evenly in a straight row.

Signature Tissue Styling

For bathroom trays, use one gently pulled tissue only. Allow it to open into a soft organic fan or natural bloom shape. The goal is a clean, elegant look that adds height and softness to the tray without feeling overly styled.

Avoid elaborate tissue designs such as roses or other novelty shapes. Our standard is intentionally simple to reduce waste and maintain visual balance across all bathrooms.