The SoCo Penthouse is easy to get to, but things will be smoother if you review the following details before you arrive.

Top Reminders:

Arrival Info

The address is 1600-C Nickerson Street, Austin, Texas 78704. Here is a Google Maps link.

We are located in the South Congress neighborhood in the heart of Austin, Texas. We are one block off of South Congress, next to the South Congress Hotel and across the street from The Church On Congress Avenue. While our address is on Nickerson St., the gate to the front door and the driveway are actually on E. Monroe St. (see map below). If I were flying into town for a long weekend, I would take an Uber or Lyft from the airport.

Note: The front door faces Monroe Street, not Nickerson Street. The gate to the driveway is also on Monroe Street.

SoCo Penthouse Location

Parking

If you bring a car, we have a parking spot reserved for you behind the automatic gate in our driveway. You will find the gate opener inside on the kitchen counter.

If you are driving here, we recommend pulling up in front of our driveway in front of the gate and putting on your hazard lights while you go inside and get the remote upstairs on the counter. Press the button once to open and once to close. The gate is very big and heavy so it moves a little slowly. Please be patient. Also, if someone or something walks through the gate opening while it is opening or closing, the safety mechanism will stop the motor. If you have any problems with the gate, please let us know, and we can help.

Our driveway is long enough to fit a normal vehicle, but we can't accommodate extra long trucks or campers. Also, be SUPER careful when backing out of the driveway as there is a lot of foot traffic on the sidewalk in front of the gate, especially a lot of babies in strollers.

Parking rules and spots are always changing in Austin. Our best advice for street parking is to pay attention to the signs, and if you are in doubt, don't park there. We can't help out if you get a parking ticket. If you do need more than one parking spot, there is a public parking garage right next door at the South Congress Hotel that charges by the hour or day. Please DO NOT PARK in our neighbors’ driveway on the side of the building in front of the 2 garage doors. That is not our space.

Please remember to leave behind the gate opener when you check out!

Front View

Front Door Lock

Front Door Lock Front Door Lock

The front door has an August Smart Lock deadbolt that will be pre-programmed with your code (it will be sent to you before arrival).

You will enter your code into the keypad followed by the red logo button at the bottom. Then wait until you hear the faint chime that signals the door has unlocked before you try to open the door. If you attempt to open before the lock has had a chance to process your code and unlock, you will have to wait a few moments for it to reset and then try your code again. You will not need to push hard or force it. If it doesn’t open easily, just take a deep breath and count to 10 and then try again.

To lock the door from the inside, manually turn the large round deadbolt lock to the left.

When you leave the property, please remember to lock the door from the outside. To do this, press the red logo at the bottom of the keypad and listen for the chime. You do not need to enter any code. It’s always a good idea to test the door to make sure it indeed is locked.

If you have an emergency and find yourself locked out, text, email or call (512-674-5207 or 521-674-5206) so we can give you instructions on how to access the backup emergency keys. If you booked with Airbnb, their support team also has the emergency key instructions.

Important! Do NOT lock the bottom door handle from the inside and then shut the door. You will lock yourself out of the house. We only use the August deadbolt to lock the door when we leave.

Internet

Network: SoCo Penthouse
Password: penthouse

We have Google Fiber at the SoCo Penthouse and it should be fast. There are three Google WiFi mesh hubs: one in the living room next to the sofa, one in the second bedroom, and one in the primary bedroom. The main Google Fiber connection is in the drawer of the table next to the sofa. If you have any problems, we usually get a good response from Google Fiber Support at (866) 777-7550 (24/7). Of course you can call us too, but if the internet is down for some reason, it might be quicker to call them directly.

Note: The hubs (round white devices) are providing a WiFi mesh so that the internet will work in the bedrooms. They are not listening to you and they are not "smart devices." You are welcome to unplug them if you wish, but the internet will be slow or not work in the bedrooms or on the decks if you do.

TVs & Audio

Living Room
We have a 75” Samsung Smart TV with a Sonos home audio system in the living room. To control the TV, use the white remote. You will be able to access Apple TV, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. Each service should allow you to enter your own credentials, but if you find that a previous guest forgot to log out, please log them out and then log in with your account. Please remember to log out of your account when you check out. The audio coming through the Sonos system will automatically work with the TV and the same remote will control the volume.

Note: We do not have a traditional cable TV service, so you won’t be able to watch traditional cable TV.

To play music via Sonos in the living room or in the master bedroom from your device, find the Sonos device named “Living Room” or “Master Bedroom” via Airplay or play directly from your Spotify app. The volume will be controlled by your phone, tablet, or app. For this to work, you must be on the “SoCo Penthouse” WiFi. If you have any issues trying to connect with Sonos, you can read their support documentation for: iPhone/Apple, Android, or apps like Spotify.

Level 2 Bedroom
The second bedroom adjacent to the Living Room also has a TV. You will find the remote on the furniture under the TV. You may enter your personal streaming service credentials to enjoy movies and content from services like Netflix. Don’t forget to log out when you check out, and if you find a previous guest forgot to log out, please log out for them and use your credentials to watch. We don’t have traditional cable here and there is no antenna.

There is a traditional alarm clock next to the bed.

Level 3 Bedroom
The primary bedroom on the third level has a TV with a Sonos sound bar. You may enter your personal streaming service credentials to enjoy movies and content from services like Netflix. You will find the remote on the furniture next to the TV. Don’t forget to log out when you check out, and if you find a previous guest forgot to log out, please log out for them and use your credentials to watch. We don’t have traditional cable here and there is no antenna.

There is also a traditional alarm clock next to the bed and some charging cables for your use.

Kitchen

There is a Google Home Hub in the kitchen that can be used as an alarm clock, timer, radio, YouTube for recipes, etc.

If you are unfamiliar with Google Home commands, you can find a guide by clicking here.

Trash

The city trash bins are located outside, behind the house. To access them, exit the front gate, turn left and turn left into the alleyway. You will see the bins on your left to the right of the neighbors’ garage doors. The GRAY bin is for landfill trash, the BLUE bin is for recycling, and the small GREEN bin is for compost.

Trash and compost are picked up every Tuesday. Recycling is picked up every other Tuesday. We recommend putting the bins out Monday evening. It is important to wheel the bins out to the street on Monroe (along the curb, not ON the curb). If cars are parked in front of the bins, they will not get picked up. If you have a problem getting the trash picked up, you can call 311 to contact the City of Austin and request a pickup. You can view the latest calendar online and get more info about Austin’s Resource Recovery services.

Trash Bins Trash Bins

Temperature Control

There is a Nest thermostat in the living room that controls the central heat and air conditioning for the entire house. You are welcome to adjust the temperature up and down for your comfort. Tap the right side of the device to adjust. You do not touch the face of the thermostat. Please do not factory re-set the thermostat. If you have trouble with the temperature control, please let us know.

There is a ceiling fan in the living room that can be turned on and off at the wall. There is also a remote control in the drawer of the table next to the sofa to control the fan.

There is a ceiling fan in the Level 3 Bedroom. It can be controlled at the wall and there is a remote control in the night stand drawer next to the bed side that is closest to the entrance.

Bike & Bag Storage

There is a small shed in the front yard. It can be used to store your bike or luggage if you are leaving late on your check-out day. The code to the lock on the storage shed is “word3”.

Kitchen Supplies

Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee Machine
For single-serve coffee, the Nespresso VertuoPlus is easy and convenient. The VertuoPlus reads a barcode on each pod to automatically adjust brewing parameters for optimal results.

Note: We recommend using the larger, BLUE coffee mugs so that you don't overflow your cup, unless you are using a smaller espresso pod (we provide the larger coffee ones).

Instructions for use:

Vertuo Coffee Pods

We provide some pods for your stay in a drawer to the right of the fridge, but if you are a longer-term guest, or enjoy special flavors, you may want to purchase your own. Just make sure you get the round dome-shaped pods that are compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo machine. They are available at the following places:

Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Drip Coffee Maker
If you want to brew more than one cup at a time, there is a traditional coffee maker located in the cabinet above the refrigerator. In the second drawer to the left of the sink, you will find large coffee sachets which are easy to use and don’t require a separate filter since the sachet acts as the filter. Each sachet is good for 4 cups.

More Kitchen Items:

Miscellaneous Supplies

We have two bathrooms. The primary bathroom is on the third level next to the primary bedroom and it features a walk-in shower with a rain shower head and a handheld shower wand. The second bathroom is on the second level next to the second bedroom and it has a bathtub/shower combo.

The following items are provided for your convenience:

Emergency Info

We do not have a landline at the house. You will need to provide your own phone. In an emergency, please dial 911.

Fire Extinguisher
There is a fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink should you need it.

First Aid
There is a first aid kit in the guest bathroom cabinet under the sink next to the kitchen.

Fire Escape Ladder
There is a fire escape ladder in the built-in dresser drawers in the primary bedroom under the TV.

Hospital & Medical Clinic
If needed, the hospital we would recommend is:
Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas
Phone: +1 512-324-7000
Address: 1500 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

For minor emergency medical care, we would recommend:
CareNow Urgent Care - Barton Springs
Phone: +1 512-861-8055
Address: 517 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Emergency Utility Shutoff
Our circuit breaker is in the laundry room downstairs.

If there is a water emergency, the main water shut-off is around the corner next to Unit 1600-A, which is the house facing Nickerson St. If you are facing their front door, the shut-off is at the ground in their side yard to the left of their house.

Please contact us ASAP if you experience any emergencies, after you call 911, if necessary. 512-674-5207

Check-Out Procedures

We hope you had a lovely stay! The following tasks would be appreciated upon your departure:

Owner Info
Meredith & H.O. Maycotte
📱 512‑674‑5207 (Meredith’s mobile)
📱 512‑674‑5206 (H.O.’s mobile)
Personal Email: SoCoPenthouse@gmail.com
Airbnb Link: SoCo Penthouse on Airbnb
VRBO Link: SoCo Penthouse on VRBO