Don’t lock yourself out! - Don’t leave the keys in the door from the inside.  Keep them with you.  This is a curious but effective French door lock safeguard.  If the keys are left in the lock, there is NO way to open the door from the outside even with another set of keys.  Our property manager would have to call a locksmith to drill out and replace the lock which is very expensive.  There are two extra sets of keys on the window sill by the door in case you should need them.

Electricity  – Remember that France uses 220 Volt electricity so you need to have a converter that not only changes the type of plug but also the electricity.  The basement of the BHV near Hotel de Ville has a large supply of converters.  In no situation should you use an American or other non-220v appliances without proper converters and adaptors. You will damage both your equipment and the electric circuit.   The circuit breaker box is to the right of the front door. If for any reason the electricity goes off (momentary overload, for example), check the circuit breaker first, and try to switch it back on.

Hot water – Hot water is supplied by a central system so you should rarely run out.   Be careful when someone is taking a shower and you use the hot or cold water at the bathroom counter as you might rudely surprise your friend with a rapid change in water temperature.

Linen - On your arrival you will find the bed made up for you with a bottom sheet and duvet cover.  If there are more than two occupants, you will find bed linens for the sofa-bed on the upper shelf of the right hand bedroom closet.  Each person should have an extra-large bath towel, large bath towel and hand towel.  For stays of longer than 10 days, there will be changes of linens and cleaning during your visit every 7 days.  If you would like a more frequent change of linens or extra cleaning during your stay, please let our property manager know and they can organize it at for a charge of about 13 euros/person.  Alternatively, you can use the washer/dryer in the kitchen (see instructions in section II), or drop them off at a dry cleaners.   There are several in the neighborhood.  (A heartfelt plea from the cleaners and owners:   "Please do NOT use bath towels for removing makeup or shining shoes.")

Garbage and Recycling - There is a garbage and recycling area behind the door just to the left of the opposing staircase.

Entering through the main building door - The lock on the front door works by inserting the key in the keyhole below the names to the right of the door, and turning right.  This may require a little jiggling of the key.  You’ll hear a very quiet buzz.  Remove the key and push open the door.  If you have visitors, they can buzz the O’Such/Rühland button (see Intercom later on).  Make sure the door closes firmly.  If somehow you misplace your keys, call our property manager.

Common area lights - The lights in the common areas are turned on by pressing the push button switches.  After a few minutes, they shut themselves off automatically.   In the staircase the light switch is located near the windows facing the courtyard.  If the light goes out en route, just push the nearest glowing button.  For the street door, it is located to the left near the door.

Apartment door - The lock on the apartment door works by inserting the key and turning multiple times in the clockwise direction until the door opens.  There are locking arms that extend at the top, bottom and side of the door as you turn the key, which is why it takes multiple turns.   To lock the door, insert the key and turn the key counter-clockwise until you can’t turn anymore.  You may need to pull the door towards you gently if the key doesn’t turn freely.  If somehow you forget your keys in the apartment, call our property manager.

Opening the building door from the courtyard – When you arrive at the front door from the courtyard, there a little button to the left marked “Porte” which is lit up in the evening with an orange glow.  Push the button and you’ll hear a light buzz.  Pull the handle and open the door.  Voila!

Intercom – If a person presses the button next to the names “O’Such/Rühland”, the intercom near the door will buzz.  The outside speakers are not very good so you may not be able to talk.   You can “buzz” them in by pressing the button in the middle of the console as if you were hanging up on the person (but you won't!).

Appliances – The appliances are very European and use graphics to display functionality.  If you can't figure them out, look at our "Quick Start Guide" in the section II or read the manuals which are located in the organizers in the bookcase near the entrance.

Coffee Maker – Fill up the carafe with the appropriate amount of water and pour it in the water reservoir on the top.   Slide the empty carafe firmly onto the heater plate to push the metal spring upwards. Press the black button on the right to open the coffee basket.  Put in a #4 paper filter and coffee (1 spoon for each cup).  Close basket door and press the on button located at the lower left.

Supplies – We try to maintain a supply of basic items that you might need.  Typically previous renters leave their extra supplies behind which helps to self-maintain the supplies.

Telephone – The international phone number is +33 (country code) 1 42 78 61 55 or locally 01 42 78 61 55.  You can call any number in France.   Your rental includes two hours of free local calls per week, which is typically sufficient.   Remember even local calls are billed by France Telecom as there is no French equivalent to unlimited local calls.   You can use your calling card on the phone to make international calls.  The toll-free AT&T numbers are 0800 99 10 11 or 0800 99 11 11 or 0800 99 12 11 or 0800-99-0011.  Sprint’s toll-free number is 0800 90 67 91.

Heat – Heat is supplied to the whole building starting in October and ending in May.   You can regulate the temperature by adjusting the knobs on the individual radiators.   We find that we need to turn them down (or off) even in winter so please turn them up if you are chilly.  In the bathroom below the heating rack, there is a little control box to turn the supplemental electric bathroom heater on.  Ensure the little light is illuminated and the thermostat is set to 25 or so.  If heat is needed outside the normal heating season, our property manager can supply a space heater.

No shoes in bathroom – The Blue Labrador granite floor in the bathroom can be scratched easily if one wears shoes in the bathroom and the shoes have pieces of dirt on the bottom.

French plumbing - French plumbing is fragile and needs to be treated with respect.  With the sole exception of tampons and toilet paper, nothing at all should be put down the toilet.  Similarly, things like tea leaves and coffee grounds should not be put down the sink.  If plumbing problems should arise from misuse by the tenant(s), the cost of repairs will be deducted from your damage deposit.  Plumbers are like gold, and when you find them, they charge accordingly so please be careful!

Gently turn on water – Because we have new plumbing, we have fairly good pressure.   Be careful when turning on the water in the bathroom and the kitchen as it is easy to splash water all around.  Doucement!  Please wipe up especially on the bathroom counter.

Convertible couch – The couch can also be used as a bed.   Carefully move the glass coffee table by the base (not the top).  Then pull out the bottom part of the couch and fold down the cushions.  Sheets will be left by the cleaners.  Please use both the mattress protector flannel sheet as well as the fitted sheet.  If there are not any, please call our property manager.

"Bed in a Bag" (futon floor mattress) – If you have two children who don't want to share a bed, there is a small futon mattress.   It is rolled up in a green bag on the top shelf of the right bedroom closet.   You will also find an accompanying fitted sheet, small duvet (Houndstooth cover) and pillowcase in the small red bag beside it.

Changing Duvet thickness – The four-season duvet has two quilted layers.  On hot days, you might not want to have the duvet inserted while on colder days, you might want to have one or both of the duvets in the duvet cover.  The two layers snap together, which prevent them from moving around.

Keeping the Windows Open – Sometimes it is nice to have the windows wide-open to create a cross breeze.  Unfortunately even with a little breeze, the windows can violently bang shut.   On the bedroom and some of the living room windows, we added some devices to keep the windows open.   For the courtyard side, open the window leaving the left side open and re-close the right side.   Hook the bar on the post (see below).  For the street side, open the inside window fully.   Open the outside window and similar re-close the right side and hook the bar onto the left side (see below).  Always close the windows when leaving the apartment.

Bathroom Fan – Yes, the bathroom fan is on ALL the time.  The little string in the WC lets you regulate the flow between the WC and the shower/bath room.

Adding Your Own Restaurant, Sightseeing Tips – If you bring along some good hints, etc. on Paris or the Marais, one of the binders on the desk has extra pages in it for you to insert any additional information that you’d like to leave for future clients.

Noise and our Neighbors – Sometimes with the time difference, you may be up late at night.  We've received some complaints from other residents about TV/stereo noise late at night so please be considerate of our neighbors, particularly between 10 pm and 8 am.

Moving the Living Room Coffee Table – The top of the Noguchi table is not secured to the base. So to move it when using the sofa bed, please slide it by pushing the base or pulling the carpet.  We’ve noticed it has been scratched a few times from the glass falling off, and we fear that one day the glass will break.

Bedroom Curtain Tie Backs – When closing the curtains in the bedroom, unhook the tie backs rather than untying them as it is rather complicated to retie a French knot.