The Essential Rancho Moco
or How Things Work.
We are so pleased to have you as guests in our beloved desert home. We think you’ll find everything you need easily, but if you have any questions, feel free to text or call.
HOUSE TIPS/RULES:
We strongly recommend taking your shoes off In the house. It Is inevitable that you will pick up a small cactus needle or two, which can then drop off on the carpets or floor. They are not fun to step on with bare feet.
There is a safety kit (with tweezers) in the master bath, left top drawer. We provide disposable slippers, which you will find by the front door in a copper bucket. The slippers are there for you to use and take with you. The robes hanging in the master bedroom closet are cleaned before each guest and are there for your use while visiting (please put in the laundry basket before you depart!).
CLEANING
We use different cleaning services. If you feel something isn’t 5 star worthy please contact us directly, so we can make it right. Regarding cleaning and chores. We pay our crew more than we charge you, and only ask that you put things back where you found them, take your garbage out, leave your bed unmade, rinse dishes and put them in the dishwasher and run it. Our cleaning crew takes care of the rest, and in a 2 bed 2 bath house, that’s a lot.
SUPPLIES
There are cleaners and cloths under the sink and paper towels in the kitchen to clean the countertop and stove, plus garbage containers and bags, We just ask that you take your garbage out when it’s full, it attracts ants, and clean up spills, normal stuff.
All supplies are there for you to use. Laundry detergent, dryer balls, wood, coffee, shampoo, cooking oil, condiments etc. Trash is picked up every Friday. The containers are supposed to be returned to the house near the master bedroom, we pay extra for that service. If you find them at the front of the driveway, please bring them back to the house, and notify me.
THE CANDLES
If you would like realistic and safe candlelight, we have provided some in the living room and master bath, They are controlled by a small remote. Press the green button while aimed at them, to turn on, then press the “2 hr” button to help us save batteries. If you want to turn them off before that, just hit the red button. Thanks in advance for helping us conserve batteries.
THE AC/HEAT
Turn the AC/Heat units off when you leave. Pointing the remote up close to the unit works best to turn it on and off.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Are for emergency use. Do not use them to put out the fire pit. Use our hose.
FIRE PIT/WOOD STOVE/GAS GRILL
The area can be very windy at times. Please don’t light fires on windy days. Firewood, (you may use any firewood that is there) starter logs, propane refill, and other items can be purchased at the Mesa Market, which is very close. Head north on Indio, take a right on Aberdeen. It will be on the first corner, left side. They also have many other items and there is usually a taco truck parked there as well. Please turn the propane tank for the grill off (right turn) when not in use.
WEATHER
The weather can be extreme at times, not dangerous. If it is windy please do not light a fire out back, and if it rains please close all doors and windows. It tends to rain sideways and will enter any open window and damage the floors.
ALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
You are welcome to move ‘some’ things (candles, books, coasters, chairs, blankets etc), but please put everything back where you found them before you check out. We want to keep our home looking the way it is presented in our listing for the next guests.
WiFi/REMOTES
The WiFi info is sent on checkin. The TV and sound bar remotes are on the shelf underneath the Smart TV, as well as the remote for the candles. Please turn the candles off when you are finished with them.
We have included HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Amazon Music for your stay.
LIGHTING:
We wanted to provide some fun, ambient lighting in the house. The lights in the entryway, violin and Xmas tree night light, all turn on around 7 PM and go off at 10PM. If you don’t want the extra lighting, just shoot us a quick text and we will turn them off for you. If you decide to unplug them, please make sure everything is plugged back in for the next guest.
The shoe cabinet, willow lights, game table light and cafe lights are controlled by a 3 button switch near the back door.
LIV 1, LIV2, PORCH.
TIP: Re: stargazing; turning the house lights off makes a big difference.
The bedside steampunk lamps in the Master Bedroom have two switches. The flame lamp on top turns on/off by rotating the red water valve clockwise. The two Edison bulbs can turn on (and dim) via the copper wheel on the side of the lamp.
The HVAC (AC/Heat) SYSTEM:
The controls are pretty self-explanatory. Point the hand controls right at the wall unit to turn off and on.
THE SHOWERS:
The thresholds can get wet and drip on the wood/laminate floor. Please wipe up any water to keep the floor from getting wet. This will save us an expensive repair down the road.
THE WHIRLPOOL BATHTUB:
Please don’t run a hairdryer at the same time as the whirlpool tub in the master bedroom area. It could flip a circuit breaker, and you’ll have to go outside to turn it back on. Not fun.
Fill the tub first, up to the line in the tub. You don’t want to overfill, as the water really bubbles up. While sitting in the tub, the first 2 buttons from the left turn it on. The jets will turn off on their own after 20 minutes. If you want to get out before 20 minutes it is easier to leave it on, get out, and drain the tub. It will turn off on its own. Don’t use more than a tablespoon or so of bubble bath or body wash, or you will have bubbles reaching the ceiling! Turn on the candles, turn off the ceiling lights, and sit back and enjoy.
After the tub drains, one light will stay on and blink. About 20 minutes later, the jets turn on again to clean them out, which prevents mold. The single light will continue to flash while it is preparing to clean. That is normal. You don’t need to do anything else as everything shuts off after it finishes the self-cleaning.
CAST IRON STOVE/FIRE PIT:
There should be some wood next to the cast iron stove. Load the stove with the wood chips, logs and maybe some newspaper, light your fire, then settle back in the deck chairs to watch the shooting stars (these can be seen better if you turn off the back house lights)
HIKING PRECAUTIONS:
If you plan on hiking the park, here is an article, with recommendations, you might want to start with:
https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
The main thing is to be prepared with water, hat, sunscreen, snack and compass. Unless you really know what you are doing, stick to the marked trails. Even the most practiced hiker can get lost. Always let someone know where you plan to hike, or leave a note in your car.
CHECK OUT DETAILS
Check out time is 11AM
Melonie and I hope you enjoyed our home and the magnificent area. Thank you for picking us. Here is a quick checklist for you.
Please:
Leave your bed unmade, or strip and put linens in the laundry basket. Put used towels, oven mitts, living room blankets, napkins and robes in the hall basket as well. Rinse and put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. My cleaning crew will wash and put them away.
Close (and lock) all windows, doors, blinds, and curtains.
Turn both AC units off
Return items (any chairs, coasters, hammock, books, instruments and candles) to their original locations.
Leave the outside front door switch ‘on’ for next guests. It is automated dusk to dawn.
Sign our guestbook, lock the front door and return keys to the lockbox, leave a public review, and come back to visit us again!
Our crew does the rest. In a 2 bed 2 bath house that maintains a 5 star cleanliness rating.. that is a lot.
Frank & Melonie
Rancho Moco – Your Joshua Tree Getaway