Fixer-uppers, student rentals and family homes
Waco has become known for renovation, and all over town older homes have been bought, opened up and made new. A few blocks from campus, Baylor students move in and out of rental houses every August and May. And along the Brazos, plenty of families live in older neighborhoods whose homes have seen decades of Central Texas summers.
Those are the three kinds of Waco homes we hear about most:
- Renovated older homes with shiplap and new counters in front, and the original ductwork, attic and wall cavities behind.
- Student rentals near campus with a new group of tenants every year.
- Long-time family homes with decades of living in them.
Each builds a bio-load in its own way, our word for the fine particles that settle in a home's air, on its surfaces and inside the HVAC system. What Is Your Home's Bio-Load? explains it.
Why does a fresh remodel still smell dusty?
Because sanding, cutting and tear-out leave fine dust in the ducts, on cabinet tops and in closets long after the crew packs up. New paint, finishes and flooring add their own smells. Before the family moves back in, or before the listing photos, a whole-home treatment gives the house a clean slate. Our Moving Into a New Home guide has more ideas.
Turning over a rental near Baylor
A year of college living leaves its mark: late-night cooking, a pet that wasn't on the lease, gym bags and several roommates in a small house. The gap between May move-out and August move-in goes fast, and the next group of students and their parents notice smells the minute they open the door. See Rental Turnovers for Landlords for a practical checklist.
What about a house that's been in the family for decades?
Long-held Waco homes often have aging ductwork and rooms added on over the years. Buildup hides in return vents, closets and the corners of an attic room. A fresh filter and a steady thermostat help, and a whole-home treatment reaches the places a dust rag can't.
The dry fog, step by step
The patented Pure Maintenance VaPURE system starts with a very fine dry fog of a hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid solution, which drifts through each room, closet and duct run and helps control the growth of odor-causing microorganisms on hard, non-porous surfaces before breaking down into water, oxygen and vinegar. Then a surface protectant goes on the same way. Nothing gets soaked, and the dry fog treatment is done in one day. More on our dry fog treatment page.
Can you quote several properties at once?
Yes. Landlords with several houses can have them treated on the same trip. On the free phone consultation, a team member asks about each HVAC system and filter and what you've noticed, then sends a written quote based on square footage.
Waco FAQ
We just finished a remodel. Should we treat before or after we move back in?
Before is usually easiest, once the dust-making work is done and the crew is out. Change your HVAC filter after the remodel, too.
Can you work around a short summer lease gap?
Yes. The dry fog treatment is done in one day. Call in the spring, before May move-outs, so we can plan around your lease dates.
The house had a leak during the remodel. Is that something you handle?
We don't perform or collect lab testing. If you'd like your air tested, or you've had a leak or visible growth, start with an independent state-licensed professional. After the source is fixed and repairs are done, our treatment can be a good next step.
Book your free Waco consultation
We serve all of Central Texas, including College Station, Temple and Waco. Call 512-904-4646 or email IAQ@goldeagleservices.com to set up your free phone consultation. We're available Monday through Saturday, 7am to 7pm.