NAVIGATION - The Summertime is permanently moored at the dock. In the case that it must be moved, a licensed captain has to be hired. There are two kayaks available to use for exploration of the bayou. These are included in the reservation. PARKING - There is space for 2 cars on the gravel area by the road. Please don't park in front of other boats/properties and don't drive up on the grass. It can become soft and muddy when it rains and car tires leave ruts in our lawn. HOUSEKEEPING: Your cleaning fee goes directly to the support of small, local businesses that we employ to thoroughly clean and disinfect our home between each stay as well as to a local company that maintains the cleanliness and chlorine levels of the hot tub. The cleaning team spends 4-5 hours preparing the house for your stay between each guest. They take before and after pictures to document the cleanliness and condition of the houseboat. This is for your safety and ours. If any issues are noted upon arrival, the property manager will be happy to assist resolve any/all issues. The Summertime: The houseboat is like a tiny home on the water with some fun amenities. Definitely a bucket list experience! Please understand that it is more difficult to service due to its more remote location and unique set up. We work diligently to upkeep it. We hope you enjoy the adventure! SOUNDS: While staying at The Summertime, you’ll hear bird calls, an occasional dog barking, boats going by and our septic system and HVAC systems which turn on and off throughout the day and night. White noise machines are in each bedroom and available to use if desired. ELECTRICITY: During extreme weather or electrical overload, the houseboat’s power can be affected. If the houseboat’s power trips during your stay, please contact us for help to reset the controls prior to attempting to use the breaker panel so we can avoid any mistakes leading to blown fuses. TOILETS: Our septic system is more delicate than a standard house’s and requires weekly maintenance. It is imperative that nothing other than toilet paper is flushed down the toilet and it would be incredibly helpful if even toilet paper could also be thrown away rather than flushed whenever possible. This will help prevent any back ups to our septic system. HOT TUB: Please leave the top on the hot tub when not in use to maintain its heat. It is available March through November and is checked and maintained for cleanliness between each stay. Guests are permitted to adjust the temperature to their liking, but not to change any other settings or turn it off because it can take several hours to correct. **IMPORTANT** Tampering with the hot tub settings can disable it from being able to be used during your stay. Please reach out if you need help working it. We want you to enjoy this amenity! YARD: Our friendly neighbors help maintain our front yard. PETS: We love pets. 🙂 Please pick up after your pet! Please do not leave your pet in our home while away unless you’re able to crate your pet. Please keep your pet on a leash when in the front yard. PESTS: There are a lot of bugs in Louisiana and bug season is year around! Frequently storms blow through and the exterior of the boat will get covered in washed up bugs and debris. If this happens during your stay, please understand that our housekeeping team is constantly working on removing this debris, but it keeps coming back! Bugs do inadvertently come in through open doors and blow into the hot tub on occasion when the top is off. Please keep food put away and doors closed. The house is thoroughly checked for pests between stays, but experiencing wildlife, including in the form of bugs, is to be expected on the bayou. CELLPHONE RECEPTION/WIFI: We provide wifi for your stay, but please bear in mind that during your stay, you might experience low cell phone reception and occasional slow Wi-Fi due to the remote location. That's sometimes the trade-off for escaping the hustle and bustle and immersing in nature's beauty in our remote location. Kitchen: We stocked the kitchen with utensils and cookware. Please enjoy. KAYAKS/LIFE JACKETS: While we didn't purchase our kayaks or life jackets specifically for guest use and cannot guarantee their condition, we are happy to share them! Please use at your own risk. The owners and management team are not liable for accidents or injury associated with their use. Life jackets are available on the upper deck of The Summertime and come in various sizes and conditions. For the best fit, bringing your own is encouraged. Please return the kayaks to their stand after use. In the event that they are left out, we do charge $25 which is the fee our handyman charges to come out and put them back. QUIET HOURS: Please be respectful of our neighbors, specially due to their close proximity. Please observe quiet hours between 8 PM and 8 AM. SECURITY SYSTEM/CAMERAS: Per our listing, we have two cameras onboard the houseboat. One is on the upper deck facing the bayou. The other is on the upper deck facing down to the yard and front door. These are for our safety and yours and to allow us the ability to watch for the arrival of packages, housekeeping and maintenance and to make sure our necessary systems are functioning. Intentionally tampering with or disabling the cameras could result in extra fees necessary for our handyman to come restorate connection and/or cancellation of your reservation without refund.