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Just for Fun

Jul 02
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Safety tips and precautions for a carefree 4th of July

By | Home Maintenance Tips, Just for Fun, Seasonal Home Maintenance | No Comments

With our nation’s 243rd birthday upon us, you are likely making plans to celebrate the fourth of July in style. Before you take off for the lake or open your doors for the biggest barbecue of the summer, here are some considerations for your home:

Leave fireworks to the professionals. According to ADT, nearly 50,000 house fires are caused by fireworks each year. Never make your own fireworks or let children handle explosives. In case you did not know, it is illegal to use or sell fireworks within the City of Austin. If you are in an area where you can set off your own display or if you use novelty items like sparklers and glow worms, remember never to point fireworks at any one, and only light these items in areas that are fire resistant.

Keep your extinguisher handy. Per your family’s fire safety plan, you should have a working fire extinguisher. Be sure to place it within arm’s reach, in addition to a bucket of water or your water hose. If you need to purchase a fire extinguisher, now is the time! Visit your neighborhood home maintenance store before the holiday.

Be the grill master, not a disaster. As you serve up your famous burgers, be sure your grill is at least two feet away from all surfaces. This includes fencing, decks, outdoor equipment, and yes, your home. Check propane tanks for cracks, holes and leaks which can cause unwanted explosions.

By following these basic safety tips and taking easy precautions, you and your crew can enjoy Independence Day in carefree fashion. Stay safe and Happy 4th of July!

Bonus tip: It’s no secret that at Barfield, we love our pets and care about yours, too. That’s why we encourage you to leave your pets at home during the festivities, provide a safe space where they can find shelter during raucous celebrations, and keep glow sticks and fireworks out of their reach. For other great safety tips for Fido, visit PetMD. https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/care/fourth-of-july-pet-safety-tips

May 09
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Happy National Small Business Week!

By | Just for Fun | No Comments

Just as we are thankful for a healthy housing market across central Texas, we also celebrate the growth of small businesses across the nation. National Small Business Week is May 5 – 11, 2019, and we are proud to share that nearly half of all Americans own or work for a small business, including our team at Barfield Home Inspection.

Small businesses help to develop local economy and increase connections within a community. Additionally, small businesses like ours account for two out of three new jobs in the U.S. each year. That’s nothing to sneeze at! In addition to running our business, we partner with Austin-area realtors and vendors who help homeowners in the process of buying, selling and maintaining homes. Many of these partners also represent the small business population, and to them, we say hats off for a job well done.

Here are just a few of the reasons we choose to operate and work with small businesses:

  • Master of all trades. Small businesses rely on fewer people to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines. That means team members usually have expertise in a variety of areas and wear many hats.
  • Personal touch. Working with small businesses means you are more likely to develop one-on-one relationships and have a personal connection. Your business really matters to us.
  • Well managed. Small businesses understand the value of customers, and generally are quick to correspond. Additionally, smaller teams may be more flexible when it comes to timelines and budget line items than larger enterprises that are unable to negotiate.

In short, small is mighty! We value your business and are happy to serve you with honesty and integrity, just like we’ve been doing since 2003. For more tips and helpful information from our home to yours, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @barfieldhomeinspection.

 

Feb 28
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Barfield joins Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce

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We are excited to announce that Barfield Home Inspection has officially joined the Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce this year! Thank you to all those who came out to the ribbon cutting ceremony on February 6 to welcome us to the Wimberley community. The small-town charm, friendly people, great shopping and food, vibrant art, and beautiful views are just a few of the many reasons we love doing business in Wimberley.

The mission of the Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce is to promote community and economic prosperity while fostering strong alliances and partnerships. The Chamber partners with individuals, government and businesses like us to improve the economic climate and lifestyle of the Wimberley area. The Chamber membership is visible evidence of people working together for a thriving community.

In addition to Wimberley and Hays county, Barfield Home Inspection is proud to serve Travis, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Llano, Lee, and Blanco Counties. We’ve got central Texas covered! When it comes time to buy or sell your home, give us a call for a detailed, thorough home inspection.

Feb 13
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Brunch & Learn: Keys to selling you home before it hits the market

By | Home Maintenance Tips, Just for Fun, Real Estate News | No Comments

We are teaming with Ryan Kelly with Ryan Kelly Group and Ruby Cloutier with Vazzo Spaces for an exciting event this spring! Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 2, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Join us at the Keller Williams Southwest Market Center (directions here) for breakfast tacos, coffee, and a detailed discussion on how to prepare your home for sale before it hits the market. We are bringing together the finest in the industry to talk about preparing your home for sale. Panelists include: Our own Randy Barfield, Owner of Barfield Home Inspection and expert home inspector; Ryan Kelly, Realtor with Ryan Kelly Group – Keller Williams Realty, investor, and real estate enthusiast; and Ruby Cloutier, interior designer, home staging specialist and Founder of Vazzo Spaces.

This event welcomes homebuyers, homeowners and realtors to brunch and learn. The best part is that it’s not only educational, but free to attend! We’ll share an analysis of the current real estate climate, identify buyers biggest objections and how to overcome them, why you should consider a home inspection before you list, how staging can make you more money, and more. There will also be giveaways including a Nest thermostat, staging consultation, and discounted pre-home inspection. RSVP today!

Dec 21
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Give back to your community this holiday season!

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Here at Barfield Home Inspection, giving back to the community is important. It is also a great way to get in the holiday spirit. After all, giving is what the holidays are all about! This year, Randy and his friend Mike Chiconsky had the opportunity to deliver Christmas presents with Operation Blue Santa. Operation Blue Santa is a program through the Austin Police Department that provides toys and gifts to those in need during the holiday season. You can get involved by donating, adopting a family or volunteering your time. Operation Blue Santa is just one of many programs in Austin that is on a mission to make the holidays a happy time for all.

It is easy to get wrapped up in your own holiday festivities and forget there are families out there who are less fortunate. We want to remind you to think about others this Christmas and get out and do some good! See below for other opportunities to donate or volunteer your time during the holidays.

Many of these organizations have programs and accept donations year-round. Make giving back part of your holiday routine or even part of your monthly routine!

Salvation Army Angel Tree: Found in local malls, companies and churches, Angel Trees are decorated with numbered paper angel tags with the first name, age and gender of a child in need of gifts. Contributors remove one or more tags from the tree and purchase appropriate gifts for the child or children described on the tags.

Toys for Tots: A program through the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to less fortunate children in the community as a message of hope.

Meals on Wheels: Provides home delivered, prepared meals for seniors and other homebound clients throughout the Greater Austin area.

Central Texas Food Bank: The Largest hunger-relief charity in central Texas that works with food donors across the country, financial supporters and volunteers to fill unmet needs in Central Texas.

HEB Feast of Sharing: Communities all over Texas host an Annual Holiday Dinner to provide holiday meals and good cheer. These free holiday feasts bring together family, friends and neighbors.

Oct 25
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Spooky Home Inspection Stories

By | Just for Fun, Seasonal Home Maintenance | No Comments

As a home inspector, there is no such thing as a normal work day. Each day, we see new houses, meet new people, find new issues, and encounter different pets and pests. This is why we love our jobs, and why it keeps us on our toes. Every day is new and interesting.

In honor of Halloween approaching, we wanted to share some of our spookiest home inspection moments. We hope you enjoy a good laugh! And remember to call Barfield Home Inspection before something spooky occurs in your home…

    1. Mysterious bag under the house – Our team never cuts corners on a home inspection. As long as we have access, we inspect every part of a house no matter how scary. One day, our home inspector Randy was inspecting underneath a house, when he came upon a six-foot-long plastic bag, covered in flies and maggots. Talk about spooky…Assuming it was a body bag, Randy called 911. Come to find out, it was just an unusually large bag of trash. WHEW!

via GIPHY

  1. Cat in the microwave – This particular household took the meaning of “cat-lovers” to a whole new level. It is safe to say, this house was home to over 20 cats. Dodging cats to make his way to the kitchen, Randy reached out to test the microwave. Before hitting start, he noticed movement inside the microwave. You guessed it – there was a cat inside. His other cat friends were not happy with Randy for attempting to fry their friend. Luckily, the cat (and Randy) made it out safe. Incidents like this make you wonder what would happen if there was a serious emergency, with cloud veterinary software for setting appointments, you can book an appointment easily.

via GIPHY

    1. Falling off the roof – The title of this story speaks for itself. Have you ever fallen off a roof before? We are here to tell you, it is SCARY (and painful). Thankfully, this has only happened once in our many years of business. Don’t worry, he recovered and is back to climbing on roofs, safely.

via GIPHY

  1. Raccoons and spiders and snakes, oh my! – If you are not a fan surprise critter/ insect encounters, you should not become a home inspector. From racoons to rattlesnakes to scorpions to spiders to termites, we have seen it all. Next time you work with a Barfield home inspector, ask them about the scariest un-wanted house guest they have seen.

via GIPHY

We hope these stories put you in the Halloween mood. Have fun trick-or-treating, be safe and don’t forget to call Barfield Home Inspection for all your home inspection needs – the good, the bad and the spooky.

(GIF credit: Giphy)

Jun 15
0

Where to begin your home search in Austin

By | Just for Fun, Real Estate News | No Comments

For several years now, Austin has been at the top of the list for fastest growing cities in America. Whether it’s the tacos, the pet-friendly environment, the laid-back lifestyle, job opportunities, the weather, live music, or education, Austin has something to offer for everyone!

While moving to Austin may be an easy choice, it’s difficult to figure out where to start when looking for a place to live.  Each area of Austin has something unique to offer. If you are looking for luxury Leftbank Condos living, surrounded by dining and entertainment, downtown is the place for you. If you are looking for the hipster, “keep Austin Weird” crowd, then south Austin may be a better fit.

Check out the quiz below from move-to-austin.com to help identify which Austin neighborhood fits your preferences. Taking into consideration your age, lifestyle and price range, this assessment will help you narrow your search and get one step closer to your new home in Austin.

http://www.move-to-austin.com/austin-tx-neighborhood-quiz.html

Jun 30
0

Grillin’ and Chillin’ for July 4th!

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Happy fourth of July everyone! Get ready for some grillin’ and chillin’ for the holiday. Randy will be cooking up his famous brisket so we thought we would share the celebration with you.

When it comes to good Texas brisket, Randy knows the key is cookin’ it low and slow. Roast at 1 hr to 1:30 minutes per lb. at around 225 degrees, until the internal temperature is around 200-205 degrees. See below for a borrowed recipe from Epicurious. If you want Randy’s secret brisket recipe, you’ll have to ask him yourself!

YIELD: Serves 12

INGREDIENTS

For dry rub
1/2 cup paprika
3 tablespoons ground black pepper
3 tablespoons coarse salt
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 7 1/2- to 8-pound untrimmed whole beef brisket
For mop
12 ounces beer
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons minced jalapeño chilies
5 pounds (about) 100% natural lump charcoal
4 cups (about) oak or hickory wood smoke chips, soaked in cold water at least 30 minutes
1 cup purchased barbecue sauce (such as Bull’s-Eye)
1 tablespoon chili powder
PREPARATION

Make dry rub:
Mix first 5 ingredients in small bowl to blend.

Transfer 1 tablespoon dry rub to another small bowl and reserve for mop. Spread remaining dry rub all over brisket. Cover with plastic; chill overnight.

Make mop:
Mix first 6 ingredients plus reserved dry rub in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat 5 minutes. Pour 1/2 cup mop into bowl; cover and chill for use in sauce. Cover and chill remaining mop.

Following manufacturer’s instructions and using natural lump charcoal, start fire in smoker. When charcoal is ash gray, drain 1/2 cup wood chips and scatter over charcoal. Bring smoker to 200°F. to 225°F., regulating temperature by opening vents wider to increase temperature and closing slightly to reduce temperature.

Place brisket, fat side up, on rack in smoker. Cover; cook until tender when pierced with fork and meat thermometer inserted into center registers 185°F., about 10 hours (turn brisket over for last 30 minutes). Every 1 1/2 to 2 hours, add enough charcoal to maintain single layer and to maintain 200°F. to 225°F. temperature; add 1/2 cup drained wood chips. Brush brisket with chilled mop in pan each time smoker is opened. Transfer brisket to platter; let stand 15 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool 1 hour. Wrap in foil; chill. Before continuing, rewarm brisket, still wrapped, in 350°F. oven about 45 minutes.) Combine barbecue sauce and chili powder in heavy small saucepan. Add any accumulated juices from brisket and bring to boil, thinning sauce with some of reserved 1/2 cup mop, if desired.

Thinly slice brisket across grain. Serve, passing sauce separately.

Recipe originally shared on Epicurious.com.