Holiday Hours
As the holiday season wraps up we will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 31st and January 1st for New Year's Eve and Day and will resume normal hours on the following business day. You can find our holiday closing schedule at this link.
We wish all of you a happy New Year!
Holiday Cooking and Drains
We have received a lot of maintenance requests recently regarding clogged drains and sewer line backups. The most common cause we find for these are “flushable” wipes which end up being charged back to the tenant. Please read the following to avoid an expensive plumbing bill:
When preparing the meals we all enjoy during the holidays we generate a lot of food waste. We want to remind everyone that nothing should be put down the drains or it could result in plumbing charges to you if things get clogged up. Here is a short article about the issue, and keep in mind that while this discusses food waste all of that food has to go somewhere after our bodies have taken what they want from it. Never flush things down the toilet other than human waste and toilet paper. Manufacturers of wipes claim they are flushable, but they are absolutely not flushable and should never be put down drains.
Christmas Tree and Lights Recycling
After the holidays, many people will be looking for a way to properly dispose of their tree. Austin and Travis County are offering curbside pickup and drop-off recycling to dispose of trees. This article has links to different drop off areas. If you live outside of these areas or want a more convenient option many localities will have similar programs, so check with the solid waste services or other utility departments of your city.
Austin is also offering drop off by appointment for broken Christmas lights at the ARR Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center, located at 2514 Business Center Drive.
For Williamson County residents, starting Dec. 26, Williamson County residents can dispose of their Christmas trees for free by dropping them off at the Williamson County Landfill, 600 Landfill Road in Hutto. Residents have until January 4th to recycle their trees at the landfill. Residents are asked to remove all lights and ornaments before taking a tree to the landfill. Flocked trees are not accepted for recycling. For more information, please call 512-759-8881.
News Year’s Eve at Auditorium Shores
With the New Year just days away, there are a range of events around the city but the big, free, annual event at Auditorium Shores, Austin’s New Year, is a favorite for many locals and one you do not want to miss!
The event is a free, family-friendly evening with live music, food trucks, beverage vendors, and a midnight fireworks show. Austin’s New Year 2025 features a night of entertainment headlined by DJ Mel, Angélica Rahe, Gina Chavez, and Third Eye Blind.
If you prefer something different, here is an article with a list of 13 events for ringing in 2025, or check out Do512’s list of events for a variety of options..
Fireworks for the New Year
If you’re not ringing in the new year at one of the many celebrations that are happening publicly or privately, you may be one of the many people who like to buy and light fireworks yourself. Generally, fireworks are not allowed in the City of Austin and most of the surrounding counties. The City of Austin has a list posted of what is allowed without a permit, and Williamson County has a notice posted about safety and where it’s allowed.
We strongly recommend attending a public display of fireworks to avoid potential injuries, fires, legal problems, and other hazards. Keep in mind that the standard lease expressly prohibits storage or use of hazardous materials including flammable or explosive materials, which includes fireworks.
From all of us here at Stone Oak we wish you a Happy New Year!
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 Carbon Monoxide (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 drains 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.
