Spring is Here
The first day of Spring was March 20! That means you will likely see a surge in plant growth and activity. Please be mindful of lawn care and be sure you are following the lease if you are responsible for yard maintenance.
Spring Storms
With spring being here, we will hopefully see some beneficial rain hit Austin. Typically at this time of year, we get high and damaging winds, so make sure to keep an eye on the exterior of the property when storms roll through. Some obvious signs that your home may have been impacted by a storm are lifted/missing shingles, shingles laying in the yard, loose siding, and the most obvious one that we hear about the most is damaged fencing. If we aren’t told about potential roof or siding damage it could cause water intrusion during rain events. That could lead to damaging the home, your belongings, and create a big headache that no one wants to deal with. The sooner we know about potential issues the faster we can address them and prevent larger issues.
Signs of Maintenance Issues
Per the signs of wind damage above there are also signs to look out for inside the home to prevent larger issues. Some things to look out for:
Smell of Gas | this is an emergency and should not be taken lightly. Anytime you smell gas contact your gas provider or call 911 for the fire department and leave the home until it is cleared by a professional
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors Going Off | if these sound the alarm this is an emergency and you should immediately exit the home. Contact 911 for the fire department so they can determine if there is a CO leak
New Water Spots on Ceilings or Walls | never stand, sit, or sleep under water logged drywall as it can collapse under the weight of the water
Water in the pan under the water heater.
Water Dripping From the Exterior Overflow for the Water Heater or HVAC | This will usually be a piece of PVC piping sticking out of a wall or roof overhang, and will drip steadily if there is an issue
Water Damage to the Bottom of Cabinets
Toilets Gurgle When Flushed
Standing or Pooling Water in the Yard that Does Not Dry Out
Make sure to always use the exhaust fan in the bathroom to prevent the humidity from showers/baths from accumulating on the walls and causing mildew. Leave the ventilation until the humidity in the home has normalized relative to the home
Winter Storm Tree Cleanup
Most local providers are reporting that the tree cleanup is complete, so brush pickup should have been completed by now. If you still have a pile of brush that hasn’t been picked up, and you are serviced by a provider that did curbside pickup, please contact them to follow up.
Thank you for being a resident of a Stone Oak rental property! 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 drain 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, submit the form at stoneoakmgmt.com/maintenance or call 512-617-6766 ext-5.
Maintenance time frames continue to be extended due to the pandemic. 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.
AppFolio Tenant Portal Information
