Austin Property Management Blog

Dear Residents,

Please note that this is general information and is not directed at anyone specifically.  Some items will apply broadly and others may not apply based on individual circumstances.

Winter Storm Landscape Maintenance

The aftermath of the storm still lingers in the form of dead landscaping that a lot of HOAs are now sending out violation notices on.  If you have dead/damaged landscaping in your yard and your lease requires you to maintain the yard then it is in your best interest to address this as soon as possible.  Most HOAs require the dead plants to be replaced with similar or identical plants that will need watering and maintenance until they are established.  Some HOAs have lists of acceptable landscape plants that you can contact them about directly to determine what will get the property into compliance.

Summer A/C Expectations

In the near future, you’ll receive an email from us about what to expect from your A/C when we hit the warmer months of the year.  It is important to understand that cooling between 15-20 degrees below the outside temp is the normal operation of most HVACs.  If you think your A/C is not wor...

11008 Charger Way, Manor, TX 78653

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Quick Update on The CDC’s Eviction Moratorium

At the beginning of May, a federal judge vacated the CDC’s eviction moratorium. In the 20 page ruling, the judge ruled the agency has exceeded its authority with the ban on evictions citing that the Public Health Service Act does not give the agency the authority to place such a ban. An appeal was filed alongside the ruling and the moratorium will remain in place until the appeal can be heard. 

Keep in mind that Austin & Travis County have their own policies set in place. Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Andy Brown recently filed and signed an extension of the local eviction ban until August 1. Landlords with properties in Travis county need to be aware that even though the federal order may be set to expire soon, no evictions will be taking place in the Travis County JP Court system until at least August 1.

Recent Hail Storm Inspections

As you know, there was a recent hail storm in mostly North / Northwest Austin that potentially caused damage to a large swathe of properties in those areas. We are currently in the process of having all of our properties in this area inspected by our team. If any damage is discovered on your property we will contact you directly.

2021 Tax Protest Season

The tax values have jumped significantly this year, especially in Travis county due to the freeze on values in 2020. We are in the process of assembling our list for the tax protest season.  If your account(s) was/were protested last year or you became a client who opted into the protests your account(s) will be included unless we've discussed differently with you.  If we have a note to confirm your account before filing this year we will reach out very soon.  If you'd like to confirm the status of your account being on our list or make any changes please email accounting[at]stoneoakpm.com or call 512-617-6766 x-4.  The dea...

19112 Scoria Drive, Pflugerville, TX 78660

2,578 SF | 4 Bed | 2.5 Bath

Learn more about this Pflugerville rental home on our website!

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149 Barn Owl Loop, Leander, TX 78641

2,281 SF | 4 Bed | 2.5 Bath

Contact our property managers today to learn more about this Leander, Texas rental home. 

11209 Drumellan Street available for lease in Austin, Texas

2020 SF | 3 Bed | 2 Bath

Visit our available rental homes page for more information about this Austin, Texas home for rent!

Own a rental property in Austin, Texas? Learn how much your Austin, Texas home can earn in rent and learn more about our Austin property management services. 

Over the years of owning a rental property in Austin, there is a reasonable amount of deterioration that is expected to occur as your property ages. This is referred to as ‘wear & tear’ and is something all homes face - rental property or not. 

As the owner of a property, this wear & tear that occurs isn’t your fault, nor is your tenant responsible for this property deterioration over time, but the damage done to the property is not the same as ‘wear & tear’. Anyone responsible for damages to the property is financially obligated to fix the issues - even tenants. 

Defining Normal ‘Wear & Tear’ in Regards to Your Austin Rental Home

Your property is being used every day, and just like anything that receives that type of use, you can expect the property’s condition to decline via normal wear & tear. This is not caused by abuse or neglect, but rather just living in the property over time.

Examples of normal wear and tear in a rental home include:

• Carpet faded or worn thin from walking and regular use

• Light scrapes and dings in wood floor

• Color of carpet or hardwood fading due to exposure to sunlight

• Worn or scratched enamel in bathtubs, sinks, or toil...

We have some great news about a project that we have in the works to better serve you. 

In the coming weeks we will be implementing a portfolio structure to our company. What this means to you is that you will now have one point of contact within our company. You will have a direct line to you property manager who will be focal point for all things pertaining to your account with Stone Oak. 

Each property manager will manage a small portfolio within our company. The same great support staff will still be here, however, soon you will simply call your manager for everything you need and they will coordinate based on your needs.

We are thrilled about this project and how it will help simplify your experience with us. This will increase the ease of communication while increasing our response times to you. We are training staff for these new roles now and will be rolling this out over the coming weeks. As soon as we complete training and a manager has been assigned to your account you will be notified.

As always, we truly appreciate your business. Call or email any time with any questions that you may have regarding these changes. 

Information Regarding Property Tax Relief

We were notified by our protest agent that there is potentially some property tax relief for property owners who were affected by the storm. 

There is info in the first ...