Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
Time flies when you’re a homeowner! In this article, we’ve compiled an important summer home maintenance checklist to keep your home in tip-top shape. Most of these items can be done on your own, but if you’d like to delegate to a handyman and need a recommendation, please reach out to us anytime: (512) 609-8098 or info@prismrp.com. Let’s get started:
1) Have the HVAC system serviced by a qualified heating and cooling specialist.
2) Check detectors, including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they’re working correctly. It’s also a great time to replace the batteries.
3) Wash windows and window screens.
4) Check exterior faucets and hoses for leaks.
5) Seal any concrete cracks in your driveway or sidewalk.
6) Touch-up exterior paint as necessary.
7) Check roof for any missing shingles.
8) Check trees on your property and trim back as necessary.
Most of these items can be completed quickly and efficiently, and performing regular home maintenance can save thousands of dollars and lots of headaches down the road — this goes for any rental properties you may own, too!
We hope this summer home maintenance checklist has been helpful! If you have questions or if we can be of service, please know that we’re here for you:
Prism Real Estate Partners
(512) 609-8098 or Info@PrismRP.com
Prism Realty Partners Real Estate Market Update – Spring, 2018
Even though February is often a “slow” month for real estate, Austin’s real estate market didn’t show any signs of losing momentum, according to the latest market update from the Austin Board of REALTORS®. While the volume of home sales across the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) grew, pocket areas with the lowest inventory and highest market demand experienced double-digit percent price increase with overall declines in sales activity due to a shortage in home inventory.
The median price for single-family homes jumped 3.6% percent from $289,000 to $300,000 year-over-year, while the days on the market crept up six days from 65 to 71 during the same period. Additionally, there are 1% fewer homes on the market, as compared to February 2017.
“Last month, economists predicted an upwards of 5 percent growth in median home prices within the Austin area, and we have far surpassed that,” Steve Crorey, 2018 president of the Austin Board of REALTORS®, said. “This is especially evident in local markets where housing demand is strongest, such as Austin and Cedar Park. Home price increases are sharpest in these markets while dwindling housing inventory in the lower price classes could be discouraging people from buying.”
If you have questions about what these figures for the Central Texas housing market mean for your home or real estate investments, please contact Prism Realty Partners anytime: Info@PrismRP.com or (512) 609-8098.
Innovation is no stranger to Austin, TX, and when there’s a challenge to be solved, the thriving tech culture offers out-of-the-box solutions. The same is true for car sharing services in Austin, TX.
Borne of both innovation and practicality, car sharing allows you to use cars on an as-needed basis. It’s perfect for high-density corridors like downtown Austin, and this valuable service is perfect for anyone seeking to bypass the hassle of vehicle maintenance and the nuisance of driving and parking.
How does car sharing work?
car2go and Zipcar are two of the most prolific car sharing companies in Austin. Let’s take a look at how their respective services work:
car2go
A low one-time membership fee provides access to any of car2go’s distinctive fleet with their blue and white paint scheme. Serving both the “planners” and the spontaneous, users can reserve in advance or use on a whim from dozens of downtown Austin locations. Users simply press and hold the member ID card to the card reader on the car’s windshield, perform a quick once-over, and the car is ready. Billing is both straightforward, and drivers are only billed for the minutes used. When finished, the driver can simply park anywhere in the car2go operating area. Interested in learning more? Click here to read on about car2go’s services.
Zipcar
Austin was Zipcar’s eighteenth major metropolitan market, and the company’s services are catching on across the U.S. in high-density areas. Gas and insurance are included, and subscribers are free to select from a variety of vehicles in the company’s fleet (think hybrids, hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs and pickup trucks, just to name a few). The driver chooses and reserves the desire automobile from Zipcar’s mobile app or website. Then, the driver is able to pick it up in its designated parking spot, use it, and return it at the end of the trip. Rentals are hourly or per day. Click here to read more about Zipcar’s services.
As Austin continues to grow and the downtown lifestyle flourishes, this on-demand car sharing concept for metro areas is a simple, affordable and efficient way to bridge the geographic gap between various connection points around the city. Have questions? Give me a call — I’m always here for you.
Maintaining a clean and organized house can relieve stress, which in turn promotes a happier and healthier lifestyle. However, getting organized is not always a simple task. How do you get organized without creating more clutter from the start? Here are some mistakes to avoid, and how to better organize:
Mistake: Keeping the Kitchen Counters too Clear
Having clear kitchen counters might seem like a great idea, but it can be a fault if you remove the items you use on a day-to-day basis. If you have smoothies daily, have a designated space on your counter for the blender. You’ll be happy you did when your blender is already out and ready to go for your morning smoothie.
Mistake: Cluttered Fridge Face
While it might seem like everyone should notice the notes on the front of the fridge, that’s unfortunately not the case. Leaving lists, magnets and various coupons all over the fridge can create a feeling of disarray. Clean off the refrigerator and find another location within the home to leave notes and reminders for your family members.
Mistake: No Home for Your Mail
Do you have a designated compartment to store your mail? If you place it on a dining or coffee table, it is likely that it not only sits there for awhile but also causes you to avoid using that space. Rather than placing it on a table or hiding it in a drawer, look into buying wall pockets or another open container. These provide a designated space for your mail, without changing your entire routine.
Mistake: Purchasing Storage Before Organizing
While it might seem like a great idea to purchase storage bins and various compartments before starting on organizing your house, it can be a pitfall. When you don’t have a specific idea of what you need to store or arrange, it is easy to go with the safest and most prominent option. This results in numerous storage bins being half filled and strewn around the property. Create a game plan before you purchase anything.
Do you want to get more organized and create the perfectly staged house? Contact us today! We would be happy to help you organize your home to not only work for you, but also for potential buyers if you are considering selling in the coming months.
Conflicting viewpoints are often one of the most confusing aspects of selling your home. From how to stage your home to what days to host an open house, one of the most conflicting viewpoints happens to focus on whether it is or isn’t in your best interests to sell your home during the winter months. Should you sell in the winter? To give you a better understanding of your options, it is first essential to know some of the most common misconceptions and the truths behind them:
Houses don’t sell in the winter
Further north, it is harder to sell during the winter, but here in Central Texas, selling a house is possible any time of the year. While it is more difficult to sell during the winter, there are some benefits. First off, buyers searching for a home during this time are typically more serious about finding a home. In addition to being more serious, these buyers also have fewer options to choose from. What does this mean for you? Committed buyers with fewer properties to choose from ensure your listing is likely a more promising option.
No Christmas decorations
When selling a house, it is vital to stage properly. The fear during the winter is that you won’t be able to decorate. That is FALSE! While you will have to reign in the yuletide spirit, you are encouraged to decorate. This is a great opportunity to accentuate the best architectural features of your house, drawing attention to archways and vaulted ceilings. You will, however, have to swiftly take down the decorations once the holidays are over.
Showings are inconvenient during the holidays
Your agent is someone who works and communicates with you effectively. If you know you are having holiday company, let your agent know what days you cannot have showings.
Are you considering listing your home this winter? Contact us today! We would be happy to help.
If you are new to real estate investing, you may have some questions on how to screen potential renters. Luckily, we’re here to help. A key measure to consider is the debt-to-income ratio. How do you calculate a tenant’s debt-to-income ratio? Exactly how it sounds. Simply compare the amount of debt they have (student loans, car loans, etc.) to the income they make. The result may be an excellent starting point to determine how likely a tenant is to pay their rent – on time and in full.Why should you consider a tenant’s debt-to-income ratio rather than just their rent-to-income ratio?
If the individual has no other debts, the two terms are basically the same thing. However, the general public usually has more monthly payments than just rent, water and electric. With that in mind, it is essential to take into account every single payment they make as these payments can be a deciding factor of if they can pay their rent on time, or at all.What else should you consider?
While the debt-to-income ratio is incredibly important to take into consideration, it should not be the sole point of focus. Take their past into account and consult previous landlords for information on the tenant. Did they pay rent on time? While people can have a great debt-to-income ratio, they may also be sporadic in payments. But, the questions shouldn’t stop there. Consider asking previous landlords the following questions:
- Can you confirm that ______ rented from you?
- Did _____ pay his rent on time? In full?
- Did _____ reasonably take care of the rental property?
- Was the unit clean and in good order when ______ left?
- Was _____ disruptive to other tenants or neighbors?
- Would you rent to _____ again?
Keep in mind; this list is not comprehensive. Anything you ask can shed light on the habits of a potential tenant. You never know until you have the full story.
By taking steps to evaluate the big picture, you can mitigate risk, making you a happy landlord.
Are you looking for help managing your tenant situations? Reach out to us to start managing your investments today with Prism Realty Investments!
Resources:
https://www.propertymanagementinsider.com/sizing-applicants-debt-income
The holiday season is upon us. From decorating the house to having the whole family in one place, it really is the most wonderful time of the year…for the most part, that is. What could be the downside to Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah? As it turns out, the holiday season is actually one of the worst times of year for the real estate market. Why? First and foremost, the cold weather doesn’t have anyone jumping to leave the comfort of their warm home to search for a new home. Plus, holiday parties and traveling to be with family dampens the number of potential buyers perusing the market. But, where there are disadvantages, there are also a couple of advantages. Buyers during this time tend to be more serious, and because there are fewer homes on the market, the competition is less fierce. Even so, you should seriously consider placing your home on the market. If you conclude that selling your home now is an absolute necessity, these tips for selling your home during the holidays are sure to make the process less of a challenge:
Price to sell You won’t get the same price during the holidays as you would get during the spring or summer, it’s just the reality of the market. To ensure your home sells during the slow real estate season, price it to sell from the beginning. Don’t overprice to try and get a deal, only to realize you have to continually lower your price to receive any attention from potential buyers.
Increase curb appeal Have you ever heard the saying, “first impressions matter?” Whoever told you that was right, they do. To ensure potential buyers have a great first impression of your home, clean up the yard, touch up the paint and add a few holiday decorations, lights, to the front of your home. Doing these things will have potential buyers wanting to discover what awaits inside your property.
Hire a professional photographer As the Internet is the first place a buyer will see your home, make it count. You want a buyer to look at the photos of your home and automatically put it on their “must-see” list! To accomplish this, hire a professional photographer to take top-notch listing photos of your property to ensure its best angles are captured and on display for buyers.
Create a cozy environment Create a cozy, warm and inviting environment for buyers to escape the cold. Turn on all the lights, adorn furniture with pillows and blankets, and if you have a fire, consider lighting it for showings. These tips will help make your home stand out during an otherwise slow selling season. Do you have any questions about any of these? Give us a call; we would be honored to provide guidance. Are you thinking of selling your home this holiday season? We would love to help you navigate the slow market. Contact us today for more information!
Owning a home and keeping up with maintenance and repairs can often feel like a full-time job…even more so during the cooler months! As fall is the precursor to winter, it is the ideal time to prepare your home for the upcoming cooler weather. Be proactive and add these home improvement projects to your fall maintenance to-do list – you’ll be happy your home is prepared when the colder weather arrives.
Gutter cleaning Clear your gutters of any debris and leaves before the start of winter. Clogged gutters can cause serious damage to your roof – which in turn can extend all the way inside your home. As leaves don’t typically fall until the end of the season, you can wait until then to clear the leaves and debris from your gutters. However, we recommend scheduling two times during the fall season to clear your gutters – the beginning and end of fall. To clear your gutters, simply stand on a ladder and, with gloves, remove the items by hand and place in a trash can. Or, call a contractor or maintenance professional to do the dirty work for you!
Window and doorway inspection Check your doorways and windows for air leaks before the cooler weather arrives. If you do find leaks, use weather stripping to ensure no cold air enters your home during the winter months. Weather stripping your home will likely save you money on your heating bill.
Patio cleanup As your patio likely saw increased use during the spring and summer months, it may be time to check it and other outdoor areas for wear and tear. Unless the patio and or deck damage is severe enough to warrant immediate maintenance, you can put this off until the spring. However, if you do want it ready for the warmer months, be proactive and make the necessary repairs NOW! As for other areas, like the driveway and sidewalks, consider repairing cracks immediately! These cracks could lead to bigger issues if left alone. Completing these home improvement projects in the fall will make your winter and holiday season more enjoyable. Are you searching for maintenance professionals around the greater Austin area? We would be happy to send you our recommendations!
In a city as great as Austin, there is never a shortage of events and festivals. Whether you’re new to the Capital City or you’re just looking for some new events to enjoy with your friends and family, below is a list of the Austin events and festivals happening this fall and winter:
www.fantasticfest.com 9/23 – 9/24 Old Pecan Street Festival Sixth Street Austin
www.pecanstreetfestival.org 9/30 Texas Craft Brewers Festival Fiesta Gardens
www.texascraftbrewersfestival.org 9/30 AustOberfest Scholz Garten
www.austoberfest.com
October 10/6 – 10/8 and 10/13 – 10/15 Austin City Limits Music Festival Zilker Park
www.aclfestival.com 10/14 Oktoberfest German Free School
www.germantexans.org 10/20 – 10/22 FORMULA 1 United States Grand Prix Circuit of the Americas
www.circuitoftheamericas.com/events TBD Dia de losMuertos Festival Fiesta Gardens
www.austindiadelosmuertos.com
November 11/3 – 11/12 Wurstfest New Braunfels, Texas
www.wurstfest.com 11/4 – 11/5 Texas Book Festival Texas State Capitol Building
www.texasbookfestival.org 11/4 – 11/5 Austin Celtic Festival Fiesta Gardens
www.austincelticfestival.com 11/5 Texas Monthly BBQ Festival City Terrace at The Long Center
www.tmbbq.com 11/6 – 11/8 Fun FunFun Fest Auditorium Shores
www.funfunfunfest.com 11/10 – 11/12 Sound on Sound Festival Sherwood Forest
www.soundonsoundfest.com 11/18 Chuy’s Christmas Parade Congress Avenue
www.chuysparade.com 11/23 Turkey Trot The Long Center
www.thundercloud.com
December 11/22 – 12/31 ZACH Theatre Presents: “A Christmas Carol” ZACH Theatre
www.zachtheatre.org 12/8 – 12/23 Ballet Austin’s “The Nutcracker” Long Center for the Performing Arts
www.balletaustin.org 12/12 Austin Symphony Orchestra presents Handel’s “Messiah” Hyde Park Baptist Church
www.austinsymphony.org TBD 51st Annual Trail of Lights Zilker Park
www.austintrailoflights.org 12/31 Austin New Year Auditorium Shores
www.austintexas.gov
January 1/1 – 1/8 Free Week Various Locations around Austin
www.do512.com/freeweekaustin 1/15 Martin Luther King March and Festival Huston-Tillotson University
www.mlkcelebration.com
Austin Events & Festivals. Do you have any questions about the greater Austin area? We would be happy to provide guidance. Give us a call anytime.
