Holiday Closing
Our offices are closed on Monday, September 1st, 2025, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. The section below discusses the recent flooding and lake levels. If you like to go out on the water the holiday is a great time to enjoy Lake Travis currently at about 88% full. There are a lot of things happening over the weekend and we’d like to share a calendar of some of the events.
Central Texas Flooding
As we all know Central Texas received quite a bit of rain in July, which made the national news because of the tragedy that occurred when it came down quickly in the middle of the night. There is a history of flooding in the area because of the geography and there are a few things we want to mention in relation to it outside of the national news.
Lake Levels – this massive influx of water led to a quick recovery of the lakes. Lake Travis was 43% full ahead of the 4th of July flooding and peaked at around 91% after the flooding. You can always see the current level of Lake Travis here and there are some links at the bottom of that page if you want to contribute to the recovery efforts.
Lawn Maintenance – the higher levels in the lake and overall water availability have resulted in a recent decision to ease watering restrictions. This should make it easier for tenant and landlords to take care of the landscaping.
Flood Warning System – the Texas Legislature is in special session and one of the goals is to establish an early warning system for flooding events. There are several proposals that are underway and will hopefully result in effective systems to prevent future tragedies.
Disaster Preparedness
It is currently hurricane season and you can never be under prepared for flooding, fires, or other catastrophic events that could impact you or loved ones. The City of Austin has an upcoming Emergency Preparedness Fair on Friday, September 19, 2025, from 2-6pm at the Austin Community College Eastview Campus. They will provide info on planning, building a kit, and information on how to stay informed.
They also provide a great resource for preparedness at ReadyCentralTexas.org that is definitely worth checking out if you like to proactively protect yourself or share info with friends and family.
Mosquito Bucket of Doom
The rain we’ve had this summer has certainly resulted in a lot more mosquito bites that previous years. We found this great solution to reducing the mosquito population without having to use nasty chemicals or spend a lot of money. All you need are a few items to make a “bucket of doom!” Please note that these may be affiliate links-
Buckets - you can get them really cheap at a local Firehouse Subs shop, a local hardware store, or online at Amazon.
Leaf Litter or Straw – can easily be gathered from the yard or somewhere nearby
Mosquito Dunks – can be purchased at a local hardware store or online Amazon 20-Pack or 6-Pack
We hope you contribute to getting rid of these pests in your area!
Shred Day
We regulary post about scams and want to bring to light another way to protect yourself. If you have sensitive documents shredding them is important when it comes time to dispose of them. There are regularly free events around Austin that accept documents for free shredding. There are two events coming up in Austin that we wanted to share with you, and we’ll update this list as they come up-
United Heritage CU in Southwest Austin on Saturday, October 18, 2025
Balcones Shred sponsored by Austin ARMA on Saturday, November 8, 2025
Pet Insurance
With Austin being one of the most pet-friendly cities in the country, chances are you have a pet living with you. During your tenancy with Stone Oak, we recommend obtaining insurance for your beloved pets in the event there was ever an emergency or tragedy.
Things covered by pet insurance:
Accidents and illnesses
Cuts and bite wounds
X-rays
Ear infections
Digestive problems
Cancer
Check out their informational flyer here and Sample policy here.
Unexpected accidents and illnesses can occur at every stage of life for your pets. Make sure they are covered! More information about pet insurance can be found by contacting Stone Oak’s insurance partner Andor Insurance.
yan at Andor can also help you with your Renter’s, Auto and other types of policies. Use the link to get in touch with him and see what he can do for you!
Thank you for being a resident! Please don't hesitate to contact our staff if we can help with anything.
Routine Maintenance Reminders
- Maintenance Requests: We still receive a lot of maintenance requests that state something vague like "washer" or "AC" without any other info about the actual issue. We cannot act on requests like this and will require that you provide more info, so any request like this will only delay a resolution to the issue. Make sure you provide as much info as possible in your request including pics if possible
- Maintenance Portal: Please make a list of any items you want to submit, and then list all issues together as one request including as much info as possible and attach photos if applicable. We will then evaluate whether they should be split up or not.
- Smoke and CO Alarms: As a reminder don't ever unplug and remove smoke detectors because they are beeping. Change the batteries and if that doesn't work please notify us. We find a lot of tenants unplug them and bury them in a closet or drawer instead of replacing batteries
- A/C Filters: Make sure to check and change every month or as required by the type of filter. If any HVAC systems in your home have a reusable filter you are still required to clean them periodically, so please make sure they are kept clean.
- Toilets: "Flushable" Wipes CANNOT be flushed. Do not put anything down the drains except water, human waste, and regular toilet paper. Food, toys, feminine products, wipes, towels, wrappers, condoms, and other objects do not break apart and go down the drain. Clogs of the plumbing system may be charged back to you, so it is best to avoid this by not putting anything down any of the drains aside from water and human waste.
- Disposal Systems: This includes using the sink disposal as a garbage chute. These appliances are not meant to dispose of large quantities of food and should only be used as a last resort after all food items are scraped off dishes into a compost bin or trash can.
- Drainage: Shower, bath, and sink drains can get clogged up over time with hair and other organic matter. Do not use Draino-type products as they are extremely acidic and will do more harm than good by damaging the pipes while usually failing to fix the drainage issue. The best way to address this is to use a disposable drain snake that can be obtained from any hardware store for a couple of dollars. Please note that if we send out a vendor for this and it turns out to be this very issue you may be charged back for the cost. Here is a video on how to use those - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOb4MJ6widg
- Emergency Maintenance: this extension should not be called unless you have an issue involving Flood, Blood, or Fire. Do not call the emergency line to follow up on existing work orders or submit a new request that is not an emergency. In case of an emergency call 911 if needed and then contact us after everyone is safe. Remember that we do not monitor emails after hours, so if you submit something considered an emergency online and do not call we may not know until the next business day.
Other Maintenance Notes:
If you'd like to inquire about, or update an existing request, contact your property manager at 512-617-6766.
Please allow at least 5 business days before requesting an update from our team unless it is an emergency.
For basic DIY tips and tricks to solve some issues quickly, visit our DIY rental property maintenance page.
Your Tenant Portal & Electronic Statements
The system will generate a statement even if you're moving out, so there is no need to contact us if you receive this and are moving. All charges, including any prorated rent, will be adjusted as needed when the deposit is processed.
If you are not using the portal app that keeps you logged in please take a look at the linked flyer for more info. This can eliminate forgotten passwords, and help with easy updates/access to maintenance requests and all other account details.
