Property setup and styling
Setup is where owners most often spend money they never get back. The aim is a property that photographs well, survives a hundred stays a year, and does not need anything bought twice.
Who this is for
- Owners furnishing a property for short-stay for the first time.
- Owners moving a property from a long-term lease into short-stay letting.
- Owners whose listing photographs are the reason their calendar is soft.
Buy for durability first, looks second
A short-stay property takes more wear in one year than a long-term rental takes in five. Sofa fabric, mattress protection, dining chairs, the kettle and the shower screen seal decide whether year three is profitable or a refurbishment. Choosing these for looks alone is the most common and most expensive setup mistake.
Photographs matter a great deal, but a good photograph comes from light, layout, a made bed and a clear surface, not from expensive objects.
What guests actually book for
Blackout blinds in every bedroom. Enough hot water and towels for the maximum number of guests the listing allows. Somewhere to put a suitcase. Power points beside the bed. Internet that has been speed-tested. A kitchen with the few things people actually cook with. For corporate or mid-term guests, a desk and a proper chair.
What rarely earns its cost: large numbers of decorative cushions, fragile styling pieces, and anything a guest can break in the first fortnight.
Before the first guest
Smoke alarms compliant and tested. An electrical safety check where the property needs one. A fire and emergency information notice displayed, as the NSW STRA Code of Conduct requires. Registration on the NSW STRA register, with the registration number ready for your listings. And the right insurance: a standard landlord policy is generally not written for short-stay letting, and a rejected claim is the wrong way to find that out.
We work through this list with you rather than assuming any of it has been done.
Inclusions
What is included
- Room-by-room setup list specific to the property and its target guest
- Furnishing and inventory guidance built around durability
- Professional photography and listing copy
- Safety and compliance items checked before the first booking
- NSW STRA registration support
- Handover of an inventory the cleaning team works from
Questions
Common questions
Does MetaWise charge for setup?
Onboarding starts at AUD 1,000 + GST. We quote it for your specific property in writing before you sign anything, so you see the number before you commit. Furnishings and appliances are yours, and you pay for them.
Can I use my own furniture?
Often, yes, especially in a property coming off a long-term lease. We will tell you which items will not survive short-stay use, and why.
How long does setup take?
It depends more on trades, deliveries and strata approvals than on the styling. A furnished property in good order can be listed quickly. An empty one usually takes a few weeks.
Find out what your property should earn
A range, with the assumptions written down — including when the honest answer is that this is not the right service for your property.