Central Texas Real Estate Blog

As the summer months fade Into autumn, residents of the Texas Hill Country begin to prepare their homes for winter. The residents of homes in Bee Cave, Lakeway, Spicewood, Horseshoe Bay, Marble Falls and their neighbors usually enjoy a moderate climate year-round. Only half of the winter nights are 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less, with an average of 12 nights between December and March having freezing temperatures. But the weather in Texas does occasionally have some pretty impressive extremes. In January of 2018 an arctic front moved through the Texas Hill Country with plenty of freezing rain, sleet, and general wintry mix that did accumulate. Fortunately, all it amounted to was a really cold week. If homeowners do not prepare their home for winter, such surprising conditions can at best cause a really high utility bill, and at worst result in cracked pipes and flooding. It is always best to winterize your home and not need it than to be on the phone with your insurance adjuster wishing you had taken a little time to prevent damage.

Lawn and Garden

• Winterize your sprinkler system
• Turn off faucets in-store hoses
• Place Styrofoam insulators over faucets
• Bring in delicate plants
• Inspect trees for damage and trim
• Trim back shrubs and bushes
• Plant bulbs and fertilize lawn
• Store outdoor furniture

Home Exterior

• Inspect roof for damage
• Clean gutters
• Inspect chimney
• Inspect bricks and siding for cracks and holes

Home Interior

• Inspect weather stripping around doors and windows replaced if needed
• Inspect fireplace
• Insulate pipes
• Replace furnace filters and have furnace inspected
• Install or update programmable thermostat
• Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors

Many of these things are easy to do yourself, but some may require the help of a professional. Caring for and maintaining your home for cold weather extremes is the best way to protect your investment from unforeseen and unpredictable damages.

If you are buying or selling a home in the Greater Austin area, contact the experts at Crawford Realty Group to learn more or arrange a showing. If you'd like to have homes for sale in these areas emailed to you, sign up for our free home finder service and specify which types of homes you'd like to receive updates about.