September is time for Leaves, Lawns, Gardens & HVACs: Chuck Farr’s September 2019 “Talking Real Estate” eNewsletter

Hello again to all of you homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors. Before you check the “Talking Real Estate” monthly enewsletter, Fall is just around the corner and has its own home maintenance checklist in Central Texas. Here are a few items to consider during September:

•       Outdoor Tasks:

o   Plant and fertilize. Fall is a great time to lay down some good fertilizer on the lawn, plant trees, bushes, and perennials; they will thank you for not planting them in the blaze of summer. Fall/winter planting allows the plants and their roots to dig in before next year.

o   Rake leaves and shred to use as mulch or dispose of them based on local guidelines.

o   Clean gutters and downspouts after the raking season.

•       Indoor Tasks:

o   Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you set clocks back in the Fall (early November this year).

o   Have furnace professionally inspected. If you are on a semi-annual HVAC maintenance plan, have your system serviced in the next couple of months.

If you have questions or need more details on these items, feel free to email, text, or call me. If you have any good recommendations to add to my monthly maintenance lists, please let me know.

Here is the Talking Real Estate enewsletter with always-on links to trends in national, regional, and Austin area real-estate market news. You will also see some handy articles about home buying & selling, home maintenance, taxes, and other topics. In this issue:

•       How Important Is Square Footage?


•       Be Ready for Unexpected Expenses


•       Buying an Historically Significant Home


•       Getting A Mortgage Loan Despite Student Debt

I often get asked about current market conditions, whether now is a good time to buy or sell, or “what are home prices like in my area?” These questions are best answered with statistics because the real estate market is constantly in a state of flux. If you need more detailed information about your own neighborhood or home, just let me know. I'm happy to give you a free comparative market analysis of your home and neighborhood.



View your current Talking Real Estate enewsletter to see what's happening in your local market now.

August is time for Lawn & Garden Survival and HEAT Management: Chuck Farr’s August 2019 “Talking Real Estate” eNewsletter

Hello again to all of you homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors. Before you check the “Talking Real Estate” monthly enewsletter, Summer has gone triple digit and dry--and has its own home maintenance checklist in Central Texas. Here are a few items to consider during August. This is a repeat of the July list, so skip to the enewsletter now if this is a retread:

•       Set your mower on the highest setting so you do not cut the grass too short and expose it to drought and weeds.


•       Make sure your foliage gets plenty of water during hot summer days. Water early in the day, but not necessarily every day. Plants prefer a good soaking a few times a week rather than a light, daily drizzle.


•       Reverse the setting on your ceiling fans to counterclockwise. This pushes the air down, creating a nice breeze.


•       Clean or replace your air conditioner filters at least once every other month (or more often if they are visibly dirty).


•       Check the weather stripping around doors and windows to keep the cool air in. Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes. 


•       Check with your favorite roofing contractor about adding radiant barrier to the inside of the roof in the manner described by AtticFoil.com—or install it yourself (but be ready to hydrate and work only in the mornings).


•       Also check with a roofing contractor about replacing old soffit vents with new ones with a removable grill and to evaluate whether your home would benefit from adding roof ridge vents.


•       Increase your insulation in the attic to R-30 or more. Each month buy a little insulation until the job is done. Alternately, consider adding in the new foam style insulation inside your walls and in the attic with the help of a professional.

If you have questions or need more details on these items, feel free to email, text, or call me.

Here is the Talking Real Estate enewsletter with always-on links to trends in national, regional, and Austin area real-estate market news. You will also see some handy articles about home buying & selling, home maintenance, taxes, and other topics. In this issue:

•       Buying a Condominium


•       Fun Math Rules for Homeownership


•       How to Create a Luxury Bath


•       You’ll Be Glad You Measured First

I often get asked about current market conditions, whether now is a good time to buy or sell, or “what are home prices like in my area?” These questions are best answered with statistics because the real estate market is constantly in a state of flux. If you need more detailed information about your own neighborhood or home, just let me know. I'm happy to give you a free comparative market analysis of your home and neighborhood.



View your current Talking Real Estate enewsletter to see what's happening in your local market now.

Hello again to all of you homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers, and real-estate investors. Before you check the “Talking Real Estate” monthly enewsletter, Summer is here and has its own home maintenance checklist in Central Texas. Here are a few items to consider during July. I got some great new ideas on increasing heating efficiency from a June newsletter reader and added a few below:

•       Set your mower on the highest setting so you do not cut the grass too short and expose it to drought and weeds.


•       Make sure your foliage gets plenty of water during hot summer days. Water early in the day, but not necessarily every day. Plants prefer a good soaking a few times a week rather than a light, daily drizzle.


•       Reverse the setting on your ceiling fans to counterclockwise. This pushes the air down, creating a nice breeze.


•       Clean or replace your air conditioner filters at least once every other month (or more often if they are visibly dirty).


•       Check the weather stripping around doors and windows to keep the cool air in. Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes. 


•       Check with your favorite roofing contractor about adding radiant barrier to the inside of the roof in the manner described by AtticFoil.com—or install it yourself (but be ready to hydrate and work only in the mornings).


•       Also check with a roofing contractor about replacing old soffit vents with new ones with a removable grill and to evaluate whether your home would benefit from adding roof ridge vents.


•       Increase your insulation in the attic to R-30 or more. Each month buy a little insulation until the job is done. Alternately, consider adding in the new foam style insulation inside your walls and in the attic with the help of a professional.

If you have questions or need more details on these items, feel free to email, text, or call me.

Here is the Talking Real Estate enewsletter with always-on links to trends in national, regional, and Austin area real-estate market news. You will also see some handy articles about home buying & selling, home maintenance, taxes, and other topics. In this issue:

•       Appraisals Can Protect Buyers, Sellers and Lenders


•       Understanding Buyer’s and Seller’s Markets


•       Moving with Pets


•       Six Tips for Better Listing Photos

I often get asked about current market conditions, whether now is a good time to buy or sell, or “what are home prices like in my area?” These questions are best answered with statistics because the real estate market is constantly in a state of flux. If you need more detailed information about your own neighborhood or home, just let me know. I'm happy to give you a free comparative market analysis of your home and neighborhood.



View your current Talking Real Estate enewsletter to see what's happening in your local market now.

Hello again to all of you home owners, prospective buyers, and real-estate moguls. Before you check the “Talking Real Estate” monthly enewsletter, Summer is here and has its own home maintenance checklist in Central Texas. Here are a few items to consider during June:

•       Set your mower on the highest setting so you do not cut the grass too short and expose it to drought and weeds.


•       Make sure your foliage gets plenty of water during hot summer days. Water early in the day, but not necessarily every day. Plants prefer a good soaking a few times a week rather than a light, daily drizzle.


•       Reverse the setting on your ceiling fans to counterclockwise. This pushes the air down, creating a nice breeze.


•       Whether you have central air-conditioning or window units, you should clean or replace your filters at least once every other month (or more often if they are visibly dirty).


•       Check the weather stripping around doors and windows to keep the cool air in. Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes. 

If you have questions or need more details on these items, feel free to email, text, or call me.

Here is the Talking Real Estate enewsletter with always-on links to trends in national, regional, and Austin area real-estate market news. You will also see some handy articles about home buying & selling, home maintenance, taxes, and other topics. In this issue:

•       Buyers Are Considering Fixer Uppers


•       Five Ways Homebuyers Get the Wrong Impression of Your Home


•       Running a Business From Your Home


•       Recourse and Nonrecourse Mortgage Loans

I often get asked about current market conditions, whether now is a good time to buy or sell, or “what are home prices like in my area?” These questions are best answered with statistics because the real estate market is constantly in a state of flux. If you need more detailed information about your own neighborhood or home, just let me know. I'm happy to give you a free comparative market analysis of your home and neighborhood.



View your current Talking Real Estate enewsletter to see what's happening in your local market now.

April is time for Termites, Tax Protests, Homestead & HVACs: Chuck Farr’s  April 2019 “Talking Real Estate” eNewsletter

Hello again to all of you home owners, prospective buyers, and real-estate moguls. Before you check the all-new-and-improved “Talking Real Estate” monthly enewsletter, Spring is here and has its own home maintenance checklist in Central Texas, especially for existing property owners. Here are a few items to consider during April:

•       Consider having your property inspected for termites if you have not done so in a year or two; perhaps set up an annual plan with a pest control pro. March and April are the annual termite swarming season.


•       It’s property tax assessed-value protest time. Check your paperwork; you may have only until May 15 to file.


•       If you bought property last year, don’t forget to apply for your homestead property-tax exemption and any other exemptions with your county if you have not already.


•       Get your HVAC serviced. Consider setting up a spring and fall annual contract to protect your investment in energy survival.


•       Finally, have someone inspect your roof for cracked, loose, balding, or missing shingles—and clean gutters, if needed, and make sure downspouts drain away from your foundation.

If you have questions or need more details on these items, feel free to email, text, or call me.

Here is the Talking Real Estate enewsletter with always-on links to trends in national, regional, and Austin area real-estate market news. You will also see some handy articles about home buying & selling, home maintenance, taxes, and other topics.

In this issue:

•       Make Your Small Home Inviting


•       Moving with Teens


•       Updating Your Home’s Wiring


•       What to Expect with Low Down Payment Loans

I often get asked about current market conditions, whether now is a good time to buy or sell, or “what are home prices like in my area?” These questions are best answered with statistics because the real estate market is constantly in a state of flux. If you need more detailed information about your own neighborhood or home, just let me know. I'm happy to give you a free comparative market analysis of your home and neighborhood—and I can give you some market data and tips for getting started protesting your property taxes.



View your current Talking Real Estate enewsletter to see what's happening in your local market now.

Hello again, home owners, tenants, prospective buyers, farmers, ranchers, and real-estate moguls. Spring begins on March 20, and the 2019 Property Tax Protest season is just ahead (and I can help you get started preparing now). Here is another reminder that if you bought a home last year and started living there on January 1, 2019, don’t forget to file your homestead exemption at your local county tax office to save money on property taxes. Before you check the all-new-and-improved “Talking Real Estate” monthly enewsletter, Winter is almost over and has its own home maintenance checklist in Central Texas, especially for existing property owners. Here are a few items to consider during Winter months (Spring checklist coming in April!):

•       Outdoor Tasks:

o   If you are considering doing some big jobs, like external painting or roofing repair/replacement, remember that this is the slow season for many contractors, and you may get a better price and quicker scheduling now.

o   Clean gutters and downspouts if you did not in the Fall. Call your gutter company to get those gutters cleaned and inspected. Your workers should also inspect the roof for any loose or broken tiles.

•       Indoor Tasks:

o   Have furnace professionally inspected if you did not in the Fall; make sure they check for carbon monoxide leaks. Remember to change out your indoor HVAC filters on a regular schedule.

o   Dryer vents: Clothes dryers cause 2,900 fires a year, so have your dryer vent inspected and cleaned annually by an HVAC specialist who specializes in ductwork or dryer vents.

Here is the Talking Real Estate enewsletter with always-on links to trends in national, regional, and Austin area real-estate market news. You will also see some handy articles about home buying & selling, home maintenance, taxes, and other topics.

In this issue:

•       Chuck Wins an Award!


•       Organization for the Disorganized


•       Poor Rain Drainage Can Drain Your Equity


•       Slowing Market Good for Both Buyers and Sellers


•       Three Ways to Get Your Finances in Shape

I often get asked about current market conditions, whether now is a good time to buy or sell, or “what are home prices like in my area?” These questions are best answered with statistics because the real estate market is constantly in a state of flux. If you need more detailed information about your own neighborhood or home, just let me know. I'm happy to give you a free comparative market analysis of your home and neighborhood—and I can give you some market data and tips for getting started protesting your property taxes.



View your current Talking Real Estate enewsletter to see what's happening in your local market now.