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Take That Remodeling Job Outside in Time for Spring

. Posted by in • Austin

Living in the gorgeous city of Austin can present many wonderful opportunities for exciting backyard parties, family nights, events and more. Why not indulge in your very own backyard? After all, nothing can be more spontaneous and refreshing than being outside, close to the nature and its beautiful elements.

Making practical additions to the exterior of your home and adding just a few backyard touches can both work wonders for the aesthetic appeal and real estate value of your property. When it comes to creating the perfect outdoor sanctuary, the sky is the limit.

A Screened Deck Can Be a Welcoming Idea

Imagine spending lazy afternoons reading on your gorgeous deck while your children are playing their favorite board games. Rain or shine, you’ll be able to enjoy your home and garden without ever being confined indoors. Having a deck, complete with an outdoor mini-kitchen, can be ideal for entertaining family and friends. … Read Full Post »

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How to Properly Remove a Tick

. Posted by in • Austin

Ticks are tiny, spider-like parasites that fasten themselves to your pet’s skin to feed on its blood. Although these creepy little critters prefer to feed on the blood of animals, they’ll attach themselves to people if necessary. Typically, they can be found in areas where there are a lot of trees or underbrush.

Tick Prevention

Since ticks can carry diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, you’ll want to do your best to prevent them from hopping on you or your pet. Products such as Frontline and Advantix can help to prevent ticks from collecting on your dog or cat. Additionally, the following tips can help keep ticks at bay as well.

• Stay away from heavily wooded areas.
• Wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
• Tuck your pants into your socks.
• Wear light-colored clothing.
• Spray insect repellent on yourself and your pet when outdoors.
• Keep your pet away from … Read Full Post »

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Help Your Landscape Spring into Warm Weather

. Posted by in • Austin

Like many people, you probably feel the urge to freshen up your home when spring rolls around again. Spring cleaning is well and good, but it shouldn’t be reserved strictly for inside the home. By taking a little time to prepare your landscape for the summer, you’ll have an easier time maintaining it throughout the long, hot season.

Have you ever noticed how some people’s yards seem to instantly look terrific after warm weather returns? They tend to be the ones who get out there right away to prepare their landscapes for the summer. Even if you’re conscientious about raking and otherwise getting your yard ready for the winter, there are things that should be done to help everything spring back to life more easily.

Clean Up the Yard

It’s amazing how much debris and litter can end up in a yard over the winter. This is the time to be fastidious about … Read Full Post »

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Why Is That Mouse in My House?

. Posted by in • Austin

Having pests in your home is always a troublesome experience, and you probably aren’t pleased by the idea that there are mice and rats living in the house alongside your family. Understanding a bit more about what causes these infestations and how to get rid of them, however, can help you handle your own pest control problem.

What Causes Rodent Infestations?

There are actually quite a few reasons why rodents enter homes. Many of them look for warm homes to find shelter from the cold, and some simply look for places that offer food, water and other necessities. Having a dirty and unsanitary home can cause rodents as well, although even clean, clutter-free houses are susceptible to infestations.

How Can You Tell If You Have Mice or Rats in Your Home?

There are several things that you can look for if you think that you might have a rodent infestation:

• Mouse or rat droppings … Read Full Post »

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Curb Appeal: Regional Plants That’ll Make Your Landscape Pop

. Posted by in • Austin

When you’re dreaming up the ideal landscape, why should you choose plants native to the Austin area? Simply put, regional plants sing in a glorious harmony of colors that turn your business or residential property into an eye-catching dreamscape, and they do this with a minimal amount of water and work. In our particular climate and weather conditions, regional plants thrive where non-resident plants, even with constant attention and nurturing, struggle to survive.

If you’re stymied trying to decide on the regional plants to use in beautifying your landscape, the Native Plant Society of Texas and the Texas AgriLife Extension have substantial lists of native plants. We’ve assembled a list containing a few of our favorites for you.

Mistflower

In colorful landscaping schemes, mistflower graces your property with two Bs: blooms and butterflies. Clusters of fuzzy blooms top clumps of four-foot stems with leaves of one to three inches. The blooms, in both … Read Full Post »

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Plumbing Problems Best Left to the Professionals

. Posted by in • Austin

Are you having plumbing issues in your Austin home? Are you the type of person who either doesn’t know how to fix plumbing problems or who simply doesn’t want to fix them? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, a local plumber can help. In fact, there are many plumbing issues that are best left to professionals.

Leaky Pipes

Not only can water leaks cost you a whole lot of money, but they can also cause a significant amount of damage to your home. While some of these leaks may be easy to detect, others are often hidden under your house or deep within your walls. These problems can lead to such issues as mold, mildew or damage to your floors, walls and ceiling.

Broken Hot Water Heaters

If your hot water doesn’t seem to be lasting as long as it did before, it’s best to have a professional check … Read Full Post »

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Is a New Home Addition Worth the Cost?

. Posted by in • Austin
home addition

The real estate sector is back in business, and MSN reports that property values are increasing at long-term rates once again. Now is the perfect time to upgrade your home with a brand new addition and increase its square footage.

What Does an Addition Require?

Once you flesh out the details with an architect or designer, you’ll want to secure a permit for the new construction. Permit rules vary by city, but your general contractor will help you file the necessary paperwork.

Please note that construction prices vary by company, so the cost of your addition may be higher or lower than the national average. Using a sample 150 square foot addition in Austin, a basic room without plumbing will run about $100 a square foot or a total of $15,000, but you might have to pay closer to $20,000 depending on the windows, doors, and flooring material you choose.

A bathroom addition requires … Read Full Post »

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You Will Soon Be Able to Purchase Cyborg Cockroaches. No Really. We’re Not Joking.

. Posted by in • Austin

Order Your Cyborg Cockroaches Today

If you’ve ever wanted to control a cockroach with your iPhone, today’s technology can fulfill your dreams. No, it’s not a new app. We’re talking about real live cyborg roaches that have been surgically modified with microelectronics.

How RoboRoaches Work

Tiny circuit boards affixed to their backs receive signals from Bluetooth-enabled devices; the signals stimulate electrodes inserted into their antennae. Roaches normally use their antennae to detect obstacles in their path. The signals trick them into thinking there is something in their way. They move right or left as directed to avoid the perceived objects. With a few strokes on a touch screen, you can make them walk in circles or navigate through an obstacle course. Neuroscience educators are excited about the prospect of teaching kids to modify their own roaches. They’re hoping the experiment will promote interest in the field. If you can’t wait to get your … Read Full Post »

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Landscape Fail: The Most Common Design Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

. Posted by in • Austin

Like any homeowner, you’d probably like your landscaping to look amazing. Wanting an amazing yard and creating one are two different things, of course. It’s easy to make seemingly small mistakes that can wreak major havoc on the appearance of your landscaping. By familiarizing yourself with the most common ones, you can be on your way to incredible landscape design in no time!

1. Not Having a Plan

If at all possible, come up with a plan before doing any major landscaping work. At ABC Austin, we routinely come across yards that have been worked on a little here and a little there. There’s often a mishmash of elements that don’t really go together, which results in a scattered, disheveled look. With a clear plan in mind, you can easily achieve an attractive, cohesive landscape design for your Austin home.

2. Not Considering the View from Inside

It’s easy to have tunnel vision when … Read Full Post »

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Roof Rats Bigger Threat to Austin Homes than Termites

. Posted by in • Austin
roof rats

For years, termites were the number one threat to homes in Austin. Recently, they’ve been eclipsed by roof rats, which have begun to invade the city and are now present throughout the Austin metro area. These rodents dwell in high spaces, like trees and rafters, and build nests and social colonies there.

Although roof rats are native to Texas, they were not commonly seen within the city until recently. They have traditionally been seen in rural areas. Recent weather changes have driven them away from their natural habitat, however, and the change seems to be permanent.

Like all rats, roof rats reproduce quickly and can be extremely destructive. They’re responsible for structural damage as they chew through the wood and insulation of a home. They can also invade pantries and cupboards and will cause food to spoil or become contaminated.

These rodents arrived in the city during the 2011 drought, which caused many … Read Full Post »

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