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Here are some important links to local info as well as links to local utility companies so that you can determine if there is an outage or if you are experiencing other problems around your home due to the cold weather. We have vetted each of these links to the original websites to keep you safe while browsing the internet. Brought to you by your friends at Texas Trinity Team | Texas Premier Realty. Contact us today at www.TexasTrinityTeam.com or call us at 956-520-2311. 

Magic Valley Outage Map MVEC Outage Map Link

AEP Outages AEP Outage Link

First Warn 5 KRGV Weather News KRGV 5 Weather

Cold Weather Shelters  List of Shelters RGV

City of Edinburg Updates Edinburg Local Updates

City of McAllen Emergency Management McAllen

National Weather Service Winter Preparedness Winter Safety

Texas Department of Transportation Current Driving Conditions

It is very disheartening when the plants in your garden fall prey to disease. The question everyone asks is how exactly this came about. In the event that it spreads out will it destroy all your plants? For a fact, preventing disease when it comes to plants depends on the host, pathogens that attack the plants, and the prevailing environmental conditions. It takes all these factors to bring about disease. In that regard, the simplest way of preventing the occurrence of the disease is knocking out one of these factors. 

The best soil

You cannot consider your plants productive and healthy if they are not planted on the right soil. If the soil is not fertile, loamy or permeable then the plants are at risk of infection. Good healthy soil helps develop strong and productive plants. The choice of using chemical soil treatments has raised lots of debate lately. More industry experts seem to be in favor of using organic soil. 

Picking the right plants

Just because you saw an attractive plant while on vacation and noted down its name, it does not mean it will grow in your garden. Before going planting ensure they match the surrounding areas planting conditions. Narrow your choice on those that adjust well to moisture, dimensions, soil quality, and light. Plants resistant to diseases and pests can save you from disappointment. 

Proper spacing

Always ensure there is adequate space for planting as it contributes to the plants' health. Every plant has its own unique set of needs. A few tips worth considering is the air circulation room and size of the pot when planting. If you opted for ground cover species, ensure they are grouped together in beds away from public pathways. If you group them accurately, the need for weeding will be minimized alongside the uneconomical water usage. The rows in between should have ample space to allow for maintenance that way fungal attacks are repelled. There are those who plant tomatoes alongside their fresh organic plants or non-hybrid beans - that way they maximize on the space. 

Predictable watering schedule

You must have a regular watering schedule as it is a must-have requirement for any plants survival. Watering does not mean you have to make them wet. Not all plants demand an equal amount of water. In that regard, do your homework to get the right watering schedule for the particular species. The mornings happen to be the best time for watering plants given the atmosphere is cool and chilled. Unlike noon when the sun is overhead and the place is hot, water loss from evaporation is minimal in the mornings. 

Beddings and their borders

Tender flowers thrive in hot climates and can result in occasional heat waves. Water your lawn as recommended by an experienced botanist. Good examples are the canna, agapanthus, petunias, eucomis, dahlias, zinnia, and lots more. Where planting is required to fill the planting holes and drain it out before setting in the plants. Weeds can easily be killed so this is the best chance of getting them out. 

The planting position matters

If you are planning to drop a dime on high-value plants for your garden landscaping, get an expert opinion on the place you will have them positioned. Surprisingly, some plants thrive when under shade. Also, look at the planting position and ensure its well-drained. If the planting was done in a container ensure there are adequate drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. 

Vegetable and fruit growing

If there is too much exposure to sunshine there might be adverse effects on your crops. For instance, potatoes will fill up with starch, beetroots and carrots will ripen. Tomatoes need the sunshine to ripen to perfection. Plums and pears equally respond well to light and warmth. If there is an extended rainy season there is a high chance of the brown rot disease affecting them. 

Pests to look out for during the hot weather season are the caterpillars, red spider mites and blackflies. If you have to simply squash by hand. Diseases like potato blight are also affected by the weather. 

Greenhouse conservancies

If you intend to fix some greenhouses in your backyard, beware that they easily overheat so manage the temperature. This can be done by shading or taking out some panels. 

About the Author:

Lena is an interior designer at Homes in London, and she loves to be able to help her clients create their dream home because she believes that home isn't just a place, it's a feeling. She is confident that her experiences can help a lot of people so she expresses it through writings. If you need design advice, feel free to reach out to her as she will always be available for those in need. :)

Are you thinking of renting out your home? In that case, you need to ask these 10 questions to anyone wanting to rent your house:

1. When are you planning to move in?

This is the question that shapes the rest of your engagement with the potential tenant. The answer here will help you determine whether or not the tenant’s timelines synchronize with yours. If, for example, a tenant wants to move in a month from now but you want to rent it out sooner than that, then there is no point in engaging the person any further.

2.  Why are you relocating? 

If the tenant is moving into your property after falling out with their previous landlord, you need to know what led to the fallout. Was it because of dishonoring their rent obligations? Was it because of neglecting their other tenant responsibilities as per the lease agreement? The answers they give will tell you whether or not to let them rent your property. In the same vein, ask them how long they have lived in the previous apartment and how long they intend to live in yours. If you establish that they have a habit of hopping from one apartment to another within unreasonably short durations, politely decline their application.

 3. Have you ever been evicted for any reason?

This question seeks to clarify the #2 question even further. Maybe they weren’t evicted in their immediate former home, but you cannot conclude that they have never been evicted in the past. Ensure that they give you sufficient details about their journey since they started renting.

4.     How stable are you financially?

If they are unstable, chances are that they will give you problems with the rent. Experts say that a good tenant is the one whose monthly rent doesn’t exceed 40% of their total monthly earnings. That is to say that if you expect the tenant to pay $1000 in monthly rent, they should be earning at least $2500 per month. And because monthly income isn’t a perfect indicator of financial stability, make a point of running a credit check to determine how much debt the tenant is in. If your new tenant is in the Gig economy, you might want to ask more questions if they are financially stable.

5.     How many people will you be living with?

The last thing you want is to rent your house out to an individual, only to realize later that he brought in his extended family and some of his friends to live with him. There is nothing wrong with housing a needy friend or relative, except that more people mean more wear and tear to your property. Besides, overcrowding in homes is listed by most fire departments and health professionals as a major health and safety risk.

6.     Do you own any pets or support animals?

If yes, how many do you have? This is important to know if you have a renting policy that doesn’t allow pet ownership. If you have a set monthly/annual deposit for pets or a limit as to how many pets a tenant can have, make it clear to them beforehand.

7.     How clean is your criminal record?

As a tenant’s credit history is significant to your property’s financial future, so is their criminal history to your - as well as your other tenants' - security. Don’t underestimate the number of ex-convicts looking for rental homes in the US today. In 2015, a tenant screening by SmartMove showed that at least 22% of all tenants-to-be had a criminal record. Even if you don’t have a problem renting out to an ex-convict, having this information with you is necessary when planning your rental unit's overall security.

8.     Are you prepared to pay all moving costs upfront?

Some landlords require tenants to pay a security deposit, one month rent deposit, and first month rent in full upon signing the lease. If you are such a tenant, or if there are other moving costs attached to your house, then let the tenant know beforehand.

9.     What kind of a neighbor can you describe yourself as?

A new tenant can be so unruly that they force their neighbors to end their lease earlier than intended. If they like to play loud music or bring home too many friends, you need to know so that you can append a rule within the lease that will keep their unruly behavior in check. 

10.   Do you have any follow-up questions?

This sounds obvious but it is very important. You need the tenant as much as they need your property, so you will be wrong not to give them the chance to ask you the follow-up questions they could have. This presents you with the opportunity to appeal to the tenant.

Texas Trinity Team is being proactive regarding the current situation with COVID19. Here is the latest advice from Texas Association of Realtors (TAR) as well as from CCIM Institute. Of course, our blog is not meant to interpret law. We encourage you to speak to your risk advisors or attorneys on these matters related to COVID-19.

Current Federal and State mandates have prohibited any foreclosures or evictions for two months. It is important to review all Federal, State and Local orders in regards to how missed rent payments or late payments are to be handled. We need to be mindful that these new regulatory orders may supersede language within lease agreements. 

TAR recommends the following: 

• Landlords should consult the CDC website for recommendations to create written protocols and procedures that include how to deal with an outbreak and prevent the spread of the virus in the building, as well as recommended communications to tenants.

• If you are notified that a tenant has received a positive diagnosis, you should communicate with the tenant to ascertain what prevention measures that tenant is taking and whether additional communications to other tenants are necessary. Keep all communications confidential to make sure you are complying with your health-related confidentiality obligations (such as the ADA)

Source: www.texasrealestate.com/about-us/newsroom/coronavirus-faqs/coronavirus-faqs-leasing-property-mangement/

Insurance May Not Cover Tenants

In addition, Landlords and Tenants need to check their insurance policies. Tenants may not be covered for business interruption and here is why: business interruption insurance policy should list or describe the types of events it covers. Some policies require business interruption to last for a certain time period before being entitled to any policy benefits. The concern is that business interruption coverage typically can only be triggered if you have property loss that leads to the business interruption. At this time, tenants have not experienced property loss. All parties need to consult with their insurance providers.

Source: www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/coronavirus/business_interruption_insurance_faqs

How Landlords Can Respond

The CCIM Institute states “it is only a matter of time before tenant’s approach landlords about negotiating rents. When a business closes suddenly, even if it's temporarily, there are no winners in this situation. Here are some viable alternatives to mitigate this issue:

• Rent Reduction. The landlord can reduce the tenant's rent for a portion or all of the term left on the lease. The usual forms of rent reduction are to reduce the base rent, operating expenses, or both. In regard to retail, it is possible to convert base rent to percentage rent. 
• Rent Deferral. In this case, the landlord can defer a portion of the tenant's rent but would require them to repay the rent deferred at a later time, either in a lump sum or by increasing subsequent payments. A variation of rent deferral could be to cap or set a base year to operating expenses for a short or extended period of time.
• Rent Abatement. If a tenant is significantly past due on rent payments, a landlord may agree to forgive a certain amount of the past due rent if the tenant remains current thereafter.
• Loan Conversion. Rather than abating past due rent, a landlord may agree to convert the past due rent into a loan payable over time. The tenant would, however, continue to pay the current rent. The loan is then evidenced by a promissory note that is cross-defaulted with the lease.
• Application of Deposit. If the landlord holds a deposit, this amount could be credited against the tenant's current obligations.
• Subletting. Bringing in a new tenant (for part of or all of the rented space) could reduce or eliminate the rent obligations while replacing revenue for the landlord.

Source: www.ccim.com/cre-tenant-landlord-guidance/?gmSsoPc=1

There are additional recommendations that can be offered to tenant. We want to assure you that we are working hard to assist you at this time. Reminder! To Stay Home, Stay Safe. Let's help Flatten the Curve. Let’s find some time to visit real soon. Virtually, that is. 

Miki McCarthy, REALTOR®, GRI 

Texas Trinity Team | Designated Supervisor

C 956-249-9454 | www.MikiMcCarthy.com  

Texas Premier Realty | Broker Daryl Zipp 

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