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 ...

As dedicated Austin property managers..

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 ...

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

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...

Just like any other industry or market, Austin provides rental property owners with various options of property management companies to partner with. While these companies all provide similar services, just like with anything else, that there will always be differences. In any market you’ll find big money players, those willing to do it for less than anyone else, and everywhere in-between.

Discount property management is marketed everywhere. One low monthly fee and the company will handle every headache and issue with the utmost responsiveness – or will they? Property management is no easy task and requires a lot of moving parts and coordination with teams. Yes, your Austin rental property is a house, but it’s much more than that. It’s an asset that requires great management and care to consistently see high ROI. So you’re paying someone a flat fee of $40-50/mo, how much of a priority is your property for them at that rate? Be wary of property managers offering a what seems to be an unbeatable price – hiring the RIGHT property manager will be the best decision you ever make – not the cheapest.

Stone Oak Property Management, like some other property managers in Austin Texas, provides our owners with premium property management services for a low monthly percentage of your rental rate. When you call around and do your shopp...

When evaluating your next Austin property management company, there should be a list of things you are looking for in them. Some owners are curious about their processes handling tenant acquisition, marketing, maintenance or maybe price. One important factor to be sure to consider when evaluating Austin property managers is the responsiveness and ease of contacting them.

Stone Oak Property Management offers each of our landlords a single point-of-contact management style. Each of our accounts are assigned an individual within our organization that will be their main point of contact for their property. This assigned individual will be an experienced property manager who will be able to field and handle all communications with the appropriate action. No more jumping through hoops to get to the party you need. With Stone Oak Management, you can connect with your assigned representative at any time to chat or discuss your property.

This is just one of the many services and implementations that make Stone Oak Management Austin’s best property management company. If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution to all things rental properties in Austin TX, contact Stone Oak today!

Getting a Feel for Austin TX Rental Properties

For a city like Austin TX, the rental market is strong. According to a report U.S. News and World Report survey, Austin has been ranked the #1 place to live in the United States. The report states for every person who moves away from Austin nine more are moving into the city. This equates to a healthy pipeline of prospective tenants rental properties throughout greater Austin.

With the ease of access the internet allows most renter’s are starting and ending their search for their next home online. If you’re property manager hasn’t prepared or is unable to utilize the various channels tenants start their searches on then you’re property isn’t receiving the exposure it deserves.

As a leader in Austin TX property management, Stone Oak spares no effort when finding ways to insure you’re property is viewed by the largest pool of qualified tenants possible. Our in-house marketing team is at the forefront of the real estate’s digital landscape and takes advantages of several technologies allowing for simple, efficient tenant acquisition.

At the beginning of the year we wanted to find a solution for utilizing a digital first real estate market. If we could allow prospective tenants to see and look around the inside of the properties without having to set foot on the property, our owners would surely see the benefits of that when it comes to ...

Austin Property Management: Advantages of Partnering with Stone Oak Property Management

When it comes to Austin property management there is definitely no shortage of options to choose from. However, choosing the right property manager to handle your investments is a big decision that can play a key role in your properties return on investment. What if we told you not all Austin property management companies were the same?

As a leader in providing property management for investors and homeowners throughout Austin TX, Stone Oak has many advantages that come along with our services. The relationships we build are important to us. We’ve worked with Realtors and their clients across greater Austin TX since 2011, being named the preferred property manager of several real estate brokerages around such as Reilly Realtors, Central Metro Realty, Outlaw Realty and many others. Stone Oak provides excellent communication and service and has been able to service these brokerages clients to the highest expected levels. So whether you are a client referred to us by your realtor or someone shopping around property managers online, you can rest assured that when you choose to partner with Stone Oak you are partnering with an Austin  property management leader.

What are some benefits for you as the owner of an Austin rental prop...