Friday, September 30, 2022 / by Jenny Carroll
In the changing seasons, keeping up with your home’s basic maintenance is important to keep the systems healthy and functioning properly.
Here is a list of tasks to tackle as the months turn cooler:
· Change the return air filters in your HVAC system. It is recommended that the air return filter be changed every four to six weeks, depending on use and conditions.
· Time to get ready for Trick-or-Treaters. Check around the front walk- way and front porch to look for any obstacles that may be a tripping hazard.
· Fall is a great time to check and clean out all the gutters and gutter downspouts. If the gutters are too high up, you may want to consider contacting a certified handyman.
· We recommend homeowners drain and flush the water heater at least once a ; ...
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home, home improvement, christmas, holiday, halloween
Tuesday, July 19, 2022 / by Jenny Carroll
PREVENTING SLAB SETTLING
By Jeff Stewart, CCIM
Last month set a record for the hottest June in recorded history. It sets the stage for a similar summer as we had in the drought of 2011. This means homeowners need to be proactive in safeguarding their foundations. This is especially true for owners with properties east of I-35 in the black clay.
Slab foundations are engineered with beams, rebar and post tension cables to perform under great stress, but in the final analysis, they are still ground supported. While engineered slabs seldom fail, they certainly can settle enough to bind doors and cause unsightly cracks in brick and drywall. The key to preventing this is to maintain consistent moisture in the soil supporting the exterior beams of the foundation. As a former general contractor and officer of a builder warranty company, I have seen scores of houses with all degrees of settling. Many of the problems could have been largely a. ...
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home, summer, dripping springs, home improvement, bastrop, water
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 / by Jenny Carroll
NEW YEAR PROVIDES NEW BENEFITSFOR PROPERTY OWNERS WITH HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONSProperty owners reminded to file for exemptions on property they own and live in
AUSTIN, Texas – The Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) is reminding property owners who own and live on a property to save money on their property tax bill by filing for their homestead exemptions.
“On average, a homestead exemption saved Travis County property owners $1,126 on their 2021 property tax bill,” said Chief Appraiser Marya Crigler. “Thanks to new laws and policies, property owners with homestead exemptions are set to enjoy even more reductions in 2022.”
Several types of homestead exemptions are available, including a general residence homestead exemption and exemptions for people over the age of 65, people and veterans with disabilities, and the surviving spouses of service members or first responders killed in the line of duty. To be eligible for a homestead exemption, a property ...
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home, new, dripping springs, home improvement, bastrop
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 / by Jenny Carroll
Contributed by James Witts
Edited by Jenny Carroll
Source
It’s easy being green in Austin. The city is set among the lush trees, the limestone, and lakes of the Texas Hill Country. The city government also offers incentives for people to be eco-friendly — from the paint on your walls, the temperature of your home, to the trash you throw out. Here are some tips to make your home more environmentally friendly, thanks to popular programs that are already in place.
1. Composting
Source
The city is happy to pay you to stop throwing out scraps of food and coffee grounds. No, you’re not stuck with rotting garbage. Austin's Home Composting Rebate Program will reimburse you $75 on the cost of a composting system. To take advantage of this program, you will have to take a class and buy from an approved local retailer. The benefit? You create a fabulous fertilizer for your garden — and cut down on the amount of trash in the landfill. It's a win-win!
2. Zero Wa; ...
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family, home, home improvement, housewarming, gifts
Thursday, June 10, 2021 / by Jenny Carroll
As summer begins to settle in and temperatures rise, it’s the perfect time to schedule your annual check up for your home. A check up for my home, you ask? Yes! The health of your home needs to be assessed annually to nip any potential issues in the bud as well as identifying problems before they become failures. Here are some things you can do to maintain your home and keep your systems running smoothly all year long.
What kinds of things should we be looking for?
Air Conditioner
Good question. Your A/C system, your home’s main support system in our hot summer climate, should be checked by a professional at least once a year. As it gets hotter outside our usage goes up and that’s when issues can take us unawares. Don’t find yourself sitting in a hot house this summer because you didn’t clean off your condenser unit, pour vinegar in your drainline, or you didn’t check coolant levels. Having a professional A/C company service your syste. ...
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family, home, new, summer, home improvement, water, electricity, spring
