Welcome to Highbanks Haus! 

We’re beyond excited to have you stay, relax and share the joy of this unique retreat. This place is very special to us. Believe it or not, it was our first home when we moved in together in Ohio just after we were married.

In the past few years, we’ve really enjoyed renting it out to travelers like yourself. It’s a great spot to land as you explore Columbus whether you’re back to visit, or here for the first time. We have so many great memories attached to this place, and the neighborhood too - from big life milestones to memories of the wildlife and nature outside our window, and we hope that you can find a little bit of the magic that makes this space special. 

In this manual, you’ll find useful information that we’ve compiled to help our guests make the most of their stay. From instructions on how to use the appliances to recommendations for nearby restaurants and shopping areas, we’ve got it all covered.

We hope that you enjoy this immersive river experience as much as we do. 

Have a great stay!

Sincerely,

McKenzie + Vishal

CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT TIMES

You can Check-in to the home at 4:00 pm on your first day, and check-out is at 11:00 am. These times are critical to honor so tha we can be sure that the home is clean and ready for you and for the guest that may be coming after you.

If you’d like to request a late check-out, please contact us through Airbnb - but know that this does not mean we will definitely be able to accommodate your request since we are often booked back to back. 

PARKING INSTRUCTIONS
There is plenty of private parking for 3 vehicles in the driveway, and one covered spot under the carport.

WIFI DETAILS
The wifi network is Maohaus, and the password is “riverbluffs”. We both worked from home on this internet for years, so we hope that it will accommodate any needs you have while you’re staying with us. 

HOUSE RULES
We kindly ask you to read our house rules carefully and keep them in mind during your stay. If we receive complaints, we will reach out to ensure these rules are followed.

1. No parties or events
2. No smoking inside, or within 20 feet of the doors.
($400 fine for any smoke damage or lingering smoke smells inside)
3. No pets allowed
4. No unregistered guests allowed after 9pm.
5. Take care of the furniture, and avoid stains on the couch - we have taken care to ensure the house is well appointed - do not rearrange please!
6. Quiet hours are from 9pm to 8am - we love our neighbors!
7. No underage drinking or illicit drugs use allowed on the premises
8. No trash or litter in the river - this is a protected scenic waterway!
9. We hope it goes without saying, but please respect the property boundaries and avoid trespassing or disrupting our neighbors - Our property ends at the edge of the garage to the south, and the alley Drive down the hill to the north.

CLOSING UP AS YOU LEAVE
We’d appreciate your help with these few things as you leave:
-Place all dishes in the dish washer and start it
- Place all trash in the trash room across the driveway under the carport.
-Leave the thermostat at 75 in the summer, and 65 in the winter.
-Lock all doors including the French Doors in the Master, Kitchen sliding door, Laundry room, and Main Entry door.

HOW TO USE APPLIANCES
The Lights
The light switches are labeled for your convenience - some are connected to google and can be voice activated by saying
“ Hey Google, Turn on/off all of the lights”

Air conditioning:
You can adjust the temperature using the thermostat on the living room wall. However, please try to keep it between 70 and 78 degrees, and don’t leave the A/C running at a lower temperature when you leave the home. 

Washer and dryer:
The washer and dryer are on the lower level at the end of the hall. Please leave the doors open after use to allow the washer to dry out after use, and check the lint trap after use. 

Morning Cofee or Tea:
We have several options for making coffee or tea - we know how important this ritual was for us as we often began our days with a hot cup as we looked out over the river.  We have french press, standard drip, and Keurig coffee options, along with several types of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and tea options in the cupboard under the coffee makers in the Kitchen.  

Dishwasher:
You’ll find the dishwasher detergent below the sink. You can add this to the provided compartment in the dishwasher and shut the door, and press start.  (pro tip: check that the top drawer is pushed in completely, this can keep the door from shutting fully, and can make the start button non-responsive) 

Hot Tub:
Unfortunately this hasn’t been well respected by past tenants, and so it is now closed for use by our guests.

Pull Out Couch:
The couch in the master bedroom folds into a third queen bed - just lift the tab on the base of the couch to pull the bed up and forward, and fold the couch back down - you’ll find extra sheets in a storage compartment below the couch seat.

Futon:
The futon lowers by pushing the back forward until you hear a “click” and then folding the back down flat. It “clicks” back up into a seated position by lifting it once again.

LOCAL TRANSPORT INFORMATION
Highbanks Haus is just a short car ride to many key destinations across Columbus.  You can get to almost anywhere in the surrounding area in 10 mins or less.  We highly recommend checking out the Zip Zone high ropes course or hike around Highbanks Nature Preserve, only a few minutes drive away. The scenic woodlands, and lovely shale embankments extend for miles just on the other side of the river. You also have a grocery store. (the Hills Market), a few local restaurants, and a gas station within just a 2 minute drive. 

SIGHTS TO SEE AND THINGS TO DO
Columbus offers options for everyone - A few of our favorite destinations and activities across the city are:
-Franklin Park Conservatory
-Cosi (The Center of Science and Industry) - Great for Kids, but they have evening events for adults too, called Cosi After Dark that are worth checking out.
-Easton Town Center for Shopping and Restaurants
-The Short North and Franklinton for Breweries, Art, Shopping and Restaurants
-Highbanks Nature Preserve
-German Village - a unique neighborhood with historic homes, great food and cute shops including the German Village Book Loft
-Bridge Park - The newest park and restaurant destination in Dublin
-Scioto Mile - Fountains, and a scenic trail along the Olentangy River
-The Grange Insurance Audubon Center - A quiet community hangout in a lovely natural wetland - with fun community rock climbing and play opportunities. 

FOOD + DRINK
There is a ton of great food across Columbus - Our all time favorites include:
Pistacia Vera in German Village for coffee and a pastry
Fox in the snow is a second amazing option for breakfast
Jeni’s Ice Cream
North Market (we especially love Hot chicken takeover!)
Ampersand for their Tonkotsu Ramen
Mouton for a quiet bar with amazing Cocktails
Citizens Trust for their unmatched atmosphere, cocktails and apps
Milestone 229 for the fountain and river view
Jeff Ruby’s for a great steak
Huli Huli in Powell for a unique Tiki menu
Sycamore in German Village is worth the wait if you can get a table! 

EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Should you encounter any sort of emergency during your stay, please contact the local authorities of Sharon Township immediately.
Emergency telephone number: 911
Sharon Township Police Dept: (614) 525-2125
Columbus Public Health: 614-645-7417
The fire extinguisher is in the broom closet in the Kitchen. 

CONTACT DETAILS
We hope you enjoy your stay!
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with us through Airbnb.