How to Find Renters

System - Sunday, October 1, 2017

How to Find Renters

This may be a common question if you own rental properties, even more so if you self-manage those properties. So, how do you find tenants for your properties? Partnering with a property management company can be a wise move, especially in a market like Austin’s. I’m sure if you do have a property manager you probably quizzed them on their marketing efforts and what they do to find tenants for your property when you first signed up.

We’ll try our hand at guessing the usual spiel – We use our website, we list in on the MLS, we syndicate out to all the major sites, etc. Most managers stop there, trying to put as many lines in the water as they can until they get a bite. A decent approach until the every avenue is exhausted and overcrowded with competition. Stone Oak Property Management is different. In a world where 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created every single day, Stone Oak recognized there has to be a piece of pie somewhere in there for property managers and rental home owners. Our Austin property management team now partners with several information partners allowing us more direct avenues to the end consumer - rent-paying, high quality tenants.

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9 Tips to Improve Your Rental Property

System - Thursday, September 28, 2017

A common theme with rental properties is that individuals don’t consider them as home-y as your owning their own home.

make your austin rental home feel like home

Of course, when you live in one location year after year you’ll grow accustomed to it and consider that home. So what do you do when own a rental home and you want your tenants to feel at home during their lease? Here are 9 tips to make your rental feel more like home for your tenants.

Add Smart Home Technology

Adding trendy tech and helpful gadgets can go a long way with tenant satisfaction. You can install digital thermostats to save them money, Google Home or Amazon Alexa’s to give your tenants their own personal assistant in their home, you could install smart locks – something that feels like a complete upgrade for the tenant.

Install a Bar

No, you don’t have to keep it stocked with alcohol. A bar in a house allows your tenants to have a great place for them and their guests to gather around. A bar has plenty of uses in a home!

Add a Backsplash to the Kitchen

Judging appeal alone, a kitchen looks much better and can be better received by guests when it features a fitting backsplash. Installation can be easy and you can have your tenant&...

Renting v. Buying

System - Monday, September 25, 2017

According to the National Association of Realtors, within the next 7 years 5 to 6 million new renter households will be created. Americans are in no rush to buy it seems. Despite the access to funds in our economy to purchase such an asset most renters are staying put. The infographic below sheds light on the recent change in attitudes toward buying v. renting.

How to Make Your Rental More Energy Efficient

System - Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Just because you don’t own the home you’re currently living in doesn’t mean you have no control over your home’s energy use!

Here are some quick tips to increase your efficiency and minimize your carbon footprint. Allowing you to save money on your monthly bills!

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Using a programmable thermostat to take control of your heat and cooling levels will lower your monthly costs and energy use. A good one can be purchase for around ~$35 and installed in no time!

DIY: Install a Programmable Thermostat

Install Gaskets to Prevent Leaks

Put your hand next to the outlets in your home. Can you feel air flowing through? If so you should consider installing these gaskets to prevent heat and cooling loss when it’s most important!

DIY: Insulate Outlets & Switches

Seal Windows and Doors

It’s pretty likely your rental features single pane windows and these usually are affected by old or missing caulk. You can combat these types of airleaks by insuring you’ve re-caulked and sealed any windows or doors that may need some attention!

Power Strips

If you’re like most, you just lea...

Preparing Your Texas Home's HVAC for Cooler Weather

System - Sunday, September 17, 2017

Preparing Your Home for the Cooler Season

As the end of the year approaches so does the cooler weather of the later months. Another summer of Texas heat has almost been defeated by all of us here in Central Texas. As this cooler weather approaches keep these tips in mind to prepare your home for the cooler season.

Your HVAC system

Most homes in Texas center around forced-air systems for both their cooling and heating. If you’re not properly maintaining this equipment it can have a big effect on how efficiently your home’s HVAC equipment performs. Additionally, understanding how well your home holds its heat can help you save with a programmable thermostat.

Replacing Your Air Filter

Clogged air filters can restrict the air flow of your heating system, but also reduce the system’s efficiency and lifespan. Disposable air filters are more likely to buckle when they become clogged and can wind up circulating all the dust and dirt it’s collected back into your home.

To be on the safe side be sure to change your air filter every three months.

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Furnace

Dust, dirt and other debris tend to collect around your furnace’s blower compartments if your system is leaky or clogged. An inspection can be performed by turning off both the thermostat and system’s breaker on your main fuse box.

Once you’re in ...

From the Tenant: Leah M.

System - Wednesday, September 6, 2017

As dedicated Austin property managers..

One of Stone Oak Management's biggest priorities is not only our landlords, but our tenants. From the beginning, our goal has been to always provide a satisfactory experience for both parties and ensure our tenants feel like home in their properties. When we here from our tenants about great experiences they've had in dealing with our team it's very rewarding for us! So what are tenant's saying about Stone Oak's Austin property management service?

"Amazing company to rent from! All of our maintenance requests were handled in a timely fashion. Our rental house had a lot of problems because it's old but we were never over charged for rent and were compensated for the trouble. They have a super reasonable pet deposit policy. We wound up getting our entire security deposit back, minus utilities. Jennifer and the crew provide awesome customer service! After a terrible experience with Austin Manage/Realty Pros, Stone Oak met and exceeded all of my high expectations. Thank you!" - Leah M.

Thank you, Leah, for your kind and encouraging words. Love your landlord and partner with a

Minimizing Your Dog's Impact on Your Rental Property

System - Thursday, August 31, 2017

When you love your dog, you wouldn't dream of ditching them for a new Austin rental home that isn't pet-friendly. As a responsible tenant and pet owner, you always make sure to find a new home or community with a reasonable pet agreement in the lease and you're more than willing to pay an extra deposit promising you and your dog will treat the property well. However, what do you do if a landlord or property manager won't allow your dog unless you promise there won't be a single sign they ever lived there? If your pet is well-behaved, then you are safe to make this promise as long as you take the necessary precautions to control the usual troubles like scratched floors, dog-smell, and shedding into the carpets. Here's are some quick tips to take care of the property and in return making your property manager or landlord very happy!

Bath Time Every Week

When your landlord or property manager is particularly touchy about dogs, probably their biggest concern is the aftermath when you move out. Some people are very sensitive to the smell that can be left behind and it can cause non-dog-owners to pass on the property later on. While your furry friend can't help but smell like what they are, as a responsible tenant you can reduce the amount that smell gets into the house by giving them regular baths.

Bathing once a week and each time they get into messy situations is a good starting point. Make sure to use a mild-smel...

Water Damage: Quick Ways to Dry Out & Move On

System - Sunday, August 27, 2017

Hurricane Harvey hits Texas and that can mean trouble for your Austin home..

After the crazy weekend of hurricane weather and high winds a lot of us here in Texas are left with damages to our homes. When it comes to water damage, drying out should be the top priority for those looking to remedy the damage. As the floods continue to happen, keep these quick suggestions handy to help with any damage to your home.

Move Air Naturally

Once the raining has ceased and it’s nice enough out, open your windows and let the natural air filter throughout your home. Be sure to open any closet doors, cabinets or drawers to allow the circulation of air to any affected areas.

Move Air Mechanically

You can rent or buy high-powered fans to speed up the circulation of air. If you live in an area affected by flooding then the initial investment into fans can pay off down the road. If this is a freak accident then renting for a night or two should suffice. Positioning fans throughout your home to create a trail of wind can speed this process us.

Dehumidify

A dehumidifier is great to take care of moisture in the air. When using this be sure to place in a room with all doors and windows closed to prevent humidity from outside sources seeping in.

Pump Water

Flooding can get bad and once it’s saturated it’ll start to rise. A sump pump is submersible ...

5 Ways to Improve Your Rental Home's Kitchen

System - Sunday, August 13, 2017

Quick Ideas to Keep Your Austin Rental Property's Kitchen Up to Date and Like New!

Keeping your rental home up to date and like new is the key to retaining great tenants and getting the maximum rental rate for your property. The infographic below shows 5 ways owners and investors can keep their Austin, Texas rental property's kitchen up to date!

improve your austin texas home's kitchen

Stone Oak caters to maximizing our owner's ROI on their rental homes. We regularly audit properties and recommend only necessary and beneficial for them and their tenants. Ready to discover better property management for your Austin rental property?

TGIF: Let's Eat Sushi, Austin

System - Thursday, August 10, 2017

While Stone Oak is a leader in Austin Property Management, we are only human.

When we aren’t finding your Austin rental property great tenants or making sure your residents air conditioner is working we like to indulge. One of the biggest benefits of being a property manager in Austin is the seemingly endless supply of great restaurants and places to eat!

Despite our better judgment and hatred towards those extra calories, this awesome city sometimes doesn’t give us a choice. From our owners to our maintenance team, we consider ourselves foodies and we regularly make it a point to find a new, great place to eat in the greater Austin area! Stone Oak is a locally-owned Austin business like the many restaurants we visit, so we’re going to Keep It Weird and give our favorite local spots a shout-out!

Today is a special Friday for us in the office! It’s Sandy’s birthday and we’ve decided to go to order our favorite sushi spot for their awesome lunch special. Midori Sushi is unanimously the favorite sushi spot for everyone here at Stone Oak Property Management.

Located at 183 and Anderson Mill by Gold’s Gym, Midori is a little spot offering large flavor. They run an awesome lunch special everyday from 11-2 that can’t be beat. Each lunch special you get features your favorite roll, phoenix roll with Midori sauce, as well as a couple of pieces of sushi. Bel...

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