September is Time for Leaves, Lawns, Gardens & HVACs + Austin Housing Market Continues Undeterred: Chuck Farr’s September 2020 “Talking Real Estate” eNewsletter
Hello again to all of you homeowners, tenants, prospective buyers/sellers, and real-estate investors. The Austin area housing market continues bouncing back in the era of COVID-19 (check the “Talking Real Estate” monthly enewsletter for details!). Fall is here--and has its own home maintenance checklist in Central Texas. Here are a few items to consider during September:
- Outdoor Tasks:
- 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.
- Rake leaves and shred to use as mulch or dispose of them based on local guidelines.
- Clean gutters and downspouts after the raking season.
- Indoor Tasks:
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you set clocks back in the Fall (early November this year).
- Have furnace professionally inspected. If you are on a semi-annual HVAC maintenance plan, have your system serviced in the next couple of months.
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:
- Austin-Area Housing Market Remains Undeterred Amid Ongoing Pandemic (latest ABOR report)
- Who Pays for Utility Disruptions?
- The Renewed Appeal of Suburbia
- Mortgage Guidance for the Self-Employed
- The Dish on Fine China
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.
July is Time for Yards, Watering, and HEAT Management: Chuck Farr’s July 2020 “Talking Real Estate” eNewsletter
Hello again to all of you homeowners, tenants, investors, prospective buyers, and real-estate moguls. Before you check the “Talking Real Estate” monthly enewsletter, Summer blazes onward and has its own home maintenance checklist in Central Texas. Here are a few items to consider during July (pretty much like June; please send in the rain!):
- 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. Shut off fans when you leave the house to save electricity.
- 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.
- Check with your favorite roofing contractor about adding radiant barrier to the inside of the roof in the manner described by AtticFoil.com.
- Increase your insulation in the attic to R-30 or more. 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:
- June Home Sales Rebound Across Austin Area After First-Half 2020 Decline
- Invest in a Fine Rug
- Buying a Home in the Age of COVID-19
- How to Prevent Water Damage from Leaks
- Three Risky Ways to Save Money
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.
June is time for Yards, Watering, and Heat Management: Chuck Farr’s June 2020 “Talking Real Estate” eNewsletter
Hello again to all of you homeowners, tenants, investors, 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. Shut off fans when you leave the house to save electricity.
- 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.
- 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:
- COVID-19 Exacerbates Inventory Shortage in Austin Area; Home Sales Drop
- Color Personality: Blue
- Sound Surroundings
- Buying A Home As Tenants In Common
- Federal Solar Energy Tax Credits for 2020
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.
May is time for Termites, Tax Protests, Homestead & HVACs: Chuck Farr’s May 2020 “Talking Real Estate” eNewsletter
Hello again to all of you homeowners, tenants, investors, prospective buyers, and real-estate moguls. Before you check the “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 May:
- Consider having your property inspected for termites and other wood-destroying insects 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, but May is not too late. Termites work slowly, but they can be devastating over time. You can also ask your bug pro to look for evidence of other wood-destroying insects.
- It is property tax assessed-value protest time. Check with your local county appraisal district for updates on potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on schedule guidelines.
- 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.
- A few other random items: [1] Inspect screens and repair any holes to keep flying insects out of the house. [2] Hose off the exterior of your home. [3] Scrub any mildew off the exterior of the house and treat decks for mildew and fungus. [4] Trim any trees or shrubs away from the house (wood-destroying insects use touch points to intrude).
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:
- Austin-Area Home Sales Feel Impact of Pandemic; Signs of Optimism Remain
- Which Rooms Should Be Counted?
- Are You Selling Your Home, Or Just Curious About Value?
- Buying a Home on the Dip
- Five Ways to Show Courtesy at Showings
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.
· Angelo Angelou 2020 Austin Area Economic Forecast and more...
· A Winning Real Estate Strategy for Sellers & Buyers
· Colors of the Year 2020
· Fair Market and Other Values
· Advice for Single Female Homebuyers
View your current Talking Real Estate enewsletter to see what's happening in your local market now.
March is Time for Self Care, Distancing, Termites, Homestead Exemptions, and Powering Through: Chuck Farr’s March 2020 “Talking Real Estate” eNewsletter
Hello again, everyone. Life is quite different this month as we all find our own ways to get through the shutdowns and isolation of the Wuhan COVID-19 pandemic together. More difficult times are ahead, but we will get through this in the weeks and months ahead with vigilance and common sense and caring. In the meantime, life goes on for most of us. Go on we must, and we will do so with courage and understanding. This intro email is a little longer than usual (sorry!), but you can click into this month’s Talking Real Estate enewsletter now if you want to see that instead (give it a few moments to render on your screen).
Social Distancing and Remote Interaction: Even as we start getting back to more normal life, we will want to continue practicing safe measures of interaction, whether that be with loved ones or training, shopping or interactive business. We can use this opportunity to renew the comforts of telephone voice calls and live video chats. Many of us already use Google Duo or Hangouts, Facetime, Skype, and even Facebook Messenger chat now (and many others, I’m sure). Zoom is an emerging free cross-platform application I have also been tinkering with that works well with individuals and groups. You might consider this if you do not already have a good option (no, I will not get a kickback for this; it’s free!)…
A free Zoom account includes:
- Unlimited number of meetings
- 40 minutes each max. (3-100 people)
- Unlimited time on One-on-One meetings.
To create an account:
- Go to Zoom.US
- Click on SIGN UP (it works on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android devices)
- Enter your email address (Any email address will work)
- Will send you an e-mail. Click on ACTIVATE ACCOUNT
- Can invite people at this point or SKIP
- Will receive a personal Meeting URL in your email that you can share
- Click Start Meeting
- You will be prompted to check your audio & video
- Can invite more from here!
Visit the following URL for training resources & plans & pricing for larger groups or just for help on using free Zoom video chat for the first time: https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/covid19.html
Termites: I usually send out a reminder to folks in April about the termite season, but word is on the street that termites have already been seen swarming in the last two weeks. Termites are no reason to panic, but these tiny subterranean critters will not be changing their habits to fend off the flu; they will simply march onward until they hit wood.
Property Tax Exemptions: Here is another reminder that if you bought a home last year and started living there on January 1, 2020, don’t forget to file your homestead exemption at your local county tax office to save money on property taxes.
Spring Home Maintenance: Before you check the 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 March and April:
- As mentioned above, 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 almost property tax assessed-value protest time. During the current crisis, it is very likely that deadlines will be delayed.
- 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:
- Austin-Area Real Estate is Open for Business (Kind Of)
- Should You Manage Your Own Rentals?
- Buying a Flipped Home
- The Best Homebuying Strategy
- Rehoming Your Pet Humanely
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 for when that time comes.
View your current Talking Real Estate enewsletter to see what's happening in your local market now.
February is Time for Property Tax Exemptions, Big Jobs, Gutters, & HVACs: Your February 2020 “Talking Real Estate” eNewsletter from Chuck Farr
Hello again, homeowners, tenants, investors, prospective buyers, and real-estate moguls. If you bought a home last year and started living there on January 1, 2020 (or if you bought in 2017 or 2018 and did not already do this!), don’t forget to file your homestead exemption (and while you are at it, your over-65 and/or disability exemption) at your local county tax office in the next month or three to save money on property taxes. And before you check the “Talking Real Estate” monthly enewsletter, Winter 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 Winter months:
- Outdoor Tasks:
- 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.
- 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.
- Don’t forget to protect your pipes, plants, and pets when freezes come to town.
- Indoor Tasks:
- 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.
- Dryer vents: Clothes dryers cause 2,900 fires a year, with many fires happening in the Fall and Winter, according to the United States Fire Administration. Lint is a major culprit, 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:
- All About City Trash Pickups
- Build Wealth with a Less Expensive Home
- Hiring an Interior Designer
- Four Things To Do Before You Move In
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 just a call, text, email, or Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn direct message away and 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.