Like anything in life, the things that are worth it are worth the work. You may own rental properties and real estate may be your passion so you don’t have any issues with dedicating the time and effort to try on all the different hats required to run a profitable rental portfolio. If you’re one of the many owners who doesn’t have this kind of time or if your portfolio is so large keeping up with everything would be impossible then deciding to partner with a professional property manager, like Stone Oak Management.

A great property management company dedicates 100% of its time to ensuring your property performs as well as it should. Effective and data-driven marketing of upcoming and vacant properties as well as thorough screening by Stone Oak ensures your property spends fewer days on the market and more days with a rent-paying tenant occupying the residence. We use professionally structured leases that establish guidelines that protect you as a landlord if there is ever a conflict with a tenant.

The lifeline of your property is the tenants and the rental income the produce for you. For this reason, renewals are an owner’s best friend. As Austin’s most responsive property management team, we make it our go...

How to Find Renters

This may be a common question if you own rental properties, even more so if you self-manage those properties. So, how do you find tenants for your properties? Partnering with a property management company can be a wise move, especially in a market like Austin’s. I’m sure if you do have a property manager you probably quizzed them on their marketing efforts and what they do to find tenants for your property when you first signed up.

We’ll try our hand at guessing the usual spiel – We use our website, we list in on the MLS, we syndicate out to all the major sites, etc. Most managers stop there, trying to put as many lines in the water as they can until they get a bite. A decent approach until the every avenue is exhausted and overcrowded with competition. Stone Oak Property Management is different. In a world where 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created every single day, Stone Oak recognized there has to be a piece of pie somewhere in there for property managers and rental home owners. Our Austin property management team now partners with several information partners allowing us more direct avenues to the end consumer - rent-paying, high quality tenants.

9 Tips to Improve Your Rental Property

System - Thursday, September 28, 2017

A common theme with rental properties is that individuals don’t consider them as home-y as your owning their own home.

Of course, when you live in one location year after year you’ll grow accustomed to it and consider that home. So what do you do when own a rental home and you want your tenants to feel at home during their lease? Here are 9 tips to make your rental feel more like home for your tenants.

Add Smart Home Technology

Adding trendy tech and helpful gadgets can go a long way with tenant satisfaction. You can install digital thermostats to save them money, Google Home or Amazon Alexa’s to give your tenants their own personal assistant in their home, you could install smart locks – something that feels like a complete upgrade for the tenant.

Install a Bar

No, you don’t have to keep it stocked with alcohol. A bar in a house allows your tenants to have a great place for them and their guests to gather around. A bar has plenty of uses in a home!

Add a Backsplash to the Kitchen

Judging appeal alone, a kitchen looks much better and can be better received by guests when it features a fitting backsplash. Installation can be easy and you can have your tenant&...

According to the National Association of Realtors, within the next 7 years 5 to 6 million new renter households will be created. Americans are in no rush to buy it seems. Despite the access to funds in our economy to purchase such an asset most renters are staying put. The infographic below sheds light on the recent change in attitudes toward buying v. renting.

Just because you don’t own the home you’re currently living in doesn’t mean you have no control over your home’s energy use!

Here are some quick tips to increase your efficiency and minimize your carbon footprint. Allowing you to save money on your monthly bills!

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Using a programmable thermostat to take control of your heat and cooling levels will lower your monthly costs and energy use. A good one can be purchase for around ~$35 and installed in no time!

DIY: Install a Programmable Thermostat

Install Gaskets to Prevent Leaks

Put your hand next to the outlets in your home. Can you feel air flowing through? If so you should consider installing these gaskets to prevent heat and cooling loss when it’s most important!

DIY: Insulate Outlets & Switches

Seal Windows and Doors

It’s pretty likely your rental features single pane windows and these usually are affected by old or missing caulk. You can combat these types of airleaks by insuring you’ve re-caulked and sealed any windows or doors that may need some attention!

Power Strips

If you’re like most, you just lea...

Preparing Your Home for the Cooler Season

As the end of the year approaches so does the cooler weather of the later months. Another summer of Texas heat has almost been defeated by all of us here in Central Texas. As this cooler weather approaches keep these tips in mind to prepare your home for the cooler season.

Your HVAC system

Most homes in Texas center around forced-air systems for both their cooling and heating. If you’re not properly maintaining this equipment it can have a big effect on how efficiently your home’s HVAC equipment performs. Additionally, understanding how well your home holds its heat can help you save with a programmable thermostat.

Replacing Your Air Filter

Clogged air filters can restrict the air flow of your heating system, but also reduce the system’s efficiency and lifespan. Disposable air filters are more likely to buckle when they become clogged and can wind up circulating all the dust and dirt it’s collected back into your home.

To be on the safe side be sure to change your air filter every three months.

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Furnace

Dust, dirt and other debris tend to collect around your furnace’s blower compartments if your system is leaky or clogged. An inspection can be performed by turning off both the thermostat and system’s breaker on your main fuse box.

Once you’re in ...

As dedicated Austin property managers..

Hurricane Harvey hits Texas and that can mean trouble for your Austin home..

After the crazy weekend of hurricane weather and high winds a lot of us here in Texas are left with damages to our homes. When it comes to water damage, drying out should be the top priority for those looking to remedy the damage. As the floods continue to happen, keep these quick suggestions handy to help with any damage to your home.

Move Air Naturally

Once the raining has ceased and it’s nice enough out, open your windows and let the natural air filter throughout your home. Be sure to open any closet doors, cabinets or drawers to allow the circulation of air to any affected areas.

Move Air Mechanically

You can rent or buy high-powered fans to speed up the circulation of air. If you live in an area affected by flooding then the initial investment into fans can pay off down the road. If this is a freak accident then renting for a night or two should suffice. Positioning fans throughout your home to create a trail of wind can speed this process us.

Dehumidify

A dehumidifier is great to take care of moisture in the air. When using this be sure to place in a room with all doors and windows closed to prevent humidity from outside sources seeping in.

Pump Water

Flooding can get bad and once it’s saturated it’ll start to rise. A sump pump is submersible ...