GUIDE HOME IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
Local businesses o er home improvement tips
ASK A RAINWATER EXPERT
Phil Thompson is the owner and president of Austex Sprinklers. The business services several locations in the Greater Austin area, including Lakeway and Westlake. Austex Sprinklers o ers sprinkler installation and repair of rainwater irrigation systems.
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For example: Austin Water o ers a 50% rebate of up to $5,000 for the installation of these systems with proof of nal payment. As time goes by, I feel the use of such systems will become much more common to the bene t of our environment and to the wallets of all those who choose to install such systems on their property. WHO SHOULD USE RAINWATER? WHAT REQUIREMENTS MUST A HOMEOWNER MEET? Everyone and anyone could and should consider using rain harvest systems as it has wide-reaching bene ts for everyone in Central Texas. For our purposes, the only requirements are a gutter system that can capture rain water o a roof line and spacing needed to install a tank somewhere on the property.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “USE RAINWATER” IN A HOME?
ASK A REALTOR
For our purposes, we reclaim rainwater for irrigation use on a property, and its intended purpose is to supplement whatever rain water or municipal water is
Monica Jones, a Realtor at Compass Realty in Austin, o ers advice to homeowners interested in renting out their property and shares what renters are looking for in a home.
HOW SHOULD HOMEOWNERS PREPARE THEIR HOMES BEFORE PUTTING THEM ON THE RENTAL MARKET? Renters are rough on homes. If the home is in pretty good shape, the best thing one can do is to make sure the walls are painted and the ooring looks nice. Also, get it cleaned by professionals. You wouldn’t believe the states some of these homes are in, and it can be a matter of hundreds of dollars if a home looks clean. If the carpet has stains that do not come out in the professional cleaning, get quotes on inexpensive carpet because you will probably have to [recarpet].
HOW CAN PEOPLE MAXIMIZE THEIR INVESTMENT WHEN RENOVATING? If you want to put money into the home, updated kitchens and bathrooms are your best return. Painting cabinets and having counters such as granite, or stone counters that are more durable as opposed to formica, are what tenants care more about as opposed to backsplashes or appliances. After the kitchen, the bathrooms are a great return on renovations. Ikea and Home Depot carry readymade vanities. It doesn’t have to be too fancy.
needed to irrigate the property. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF RAINWATER COLLECTION?
Rainwater reclamation is not only nancially bene cial, but also has environmental bene ts as it can replace the need to use municipal water for irrigation purposes. Municipal water is expensive, and the installation of a rain harvest system can reduce water bills signi cantly during the growth season. WHAT ARE THE DRAWBACKS OF RAINWATER COLLECTION? A couple of the initial drawbacks to rain harvesting is the initial upfront cost of the system and the space a rainwater tank can take up on a property. However, a lot of local jurisdictions promote and encourage the use of these systems and will o er a rebate of some percentage of the project back to the homeowner to encourage the use of such systems.
Monica Jones Realtor Compass Realty 2500 Bee Caves Road, Bldg. 3, Ste. 200, West Lake Hills 512-426-0972 www.compass.com
Phil Thompson Owner and President Austex Sprinklers 512-721-8564 www.austexsprinklers.com
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LAKE TRAVIS WESTLAKE EDITION • JULY 2022
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