Much of the Austin area was built in the last thirty years. Here is how to care for newer finishes, what to do in the first weeks in a new build, and where the newest homes are.
The Austin area is young as housing goes. The median home in Austin itself was built in 1994, and in the suburbs to the north the median is newer still: 2002 in Round Rock, 2004 in Pflugerville, 2005 in Cedar Park and 2008 in Georgetown.
Newer homes have their own cleaning needs. The finishes are different, the dust after construction is different, and some of the habits people bring from older houses can do damage. This guide covers what to know.
Georgetown stands out. Its median home was built in 2008, and about 45 percent of its housing units went up in 2010 or later. That includes Sun City Texas, the Del Webb community where the city has approved a total build-out of about 10,550 homes for roughly 18,500 residents.
Cedar Park's median home dates from 2005, with about 35 percent of units built from 2000 to 2009 and about 29 percent from 2010 to 2019. Pflugerville's median is 2004, and about 79 percent of its units were built from 1990 to 2019. Inside Austin, about 26 percent of units date from 2010 or later, and Mueller, the 700 acre master-planned community on the former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport about three miles from downtown, is one of the best known newer neighborhoods.
Most homes built since the 1990s share a handful of finishes, each with its own care rule:
Even after a builder's final clean, fine construction dust keeps appearing for weeks. It settles out of the ductwork, drifts from the tops of cabinets and door frames, and collects in drawer tracks and window tracks. Change the HVAC filter within the first month, then again a month later.
A Moving Clean before you unpack is the cleanest start, because cabinets, drawers and appliances are empty and can be wiped inside. Cleaners do not remove construction debris, leftover materials or builder trash, so ask the builder to clear those first.
Newer suburban homes tend to be large. About 38 percent of Cedar Park units have four or more bedrooms, and about 44 percent of Pflugerville units have three. Two story foyers, tall living rooms and ceiling fans in nearly every room are common.
In Austin's heat, those fans run for months. Camp Mabry averages about 123 days a year at 90 degrees or more, and a fan that runs that long collects a thick layer of dust on the top of each blade. A One-Time Deep Clean wipes ceiling fans, light fixtures and vents in place, which is usually the most noticeable improvement in a newer home.
New chrome and matte black fixtures show mineral film quickly. Round Rock reports average hardness of about 249 mg/L, and its report notes this can cause water spots. A new frameless glass shower in a Round Rock home will cloud within weeks unless it is squeegeed after use. Austin Water is much softer, averaging about 93 ppm, but dark fixtures still show spots over time. The hard water guide has a full routine.
Sun City Texas in Georgetown is an age-restricted community where residents must be over 55, or one spouse 55 or older. With a build-out of about 10,550 homes, it is one of the largest groups of newer houses in the area, and residents often want help with the tasks that involve ladders or bending: ceiling fans, high shelves, baseboards and shower floors. A Recurring House Clean dusts reachable baseboards and blind slats on every visit, and a deep clean handles the higher work.
The questions Austin homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Austin and surrounding areas with background-checked cleaners and is insured up to $1 million. Re-clean guarantee: if we missed something, tell us by the end of the next day and we come back to fix it. Beyond Clean. TotalCare.
