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Stage Your Omaha Home for a More Profitable Sale!

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

by Nancy Heim-berg

Are you getting your home ready to sell in Omaha? If so, it’s a busy time for sure, with plenty of preparations to make. One of the things you need to really focus on though is making your home stand out in the Omaha real estate market. This is called staging. Many people may feel the need to hire a professional to make their home shine. There’s nothing at all wrong with that idea, but it can get expensive. You can save money by doing a few basic main tasks. And the best part is that you can save money and raise the potential of selling your home for more. Here’s what you can do.

De-Clutter & Clean

Who wants to buy a dirty home? Not many, so make sure you go through your house with a fine-tooth comb. Your home needs the deepest clean it’s ever had. Go room by room and clean from top to bottom. Then sort through all of your possessions and decide what really needs to stay for showings and what you can discard or put in storage. Doing this kills two birds with one stone. You not only raise the appeal of your home, but it will be easier to move when you sell. Keep in mind that this is no longer going to be your home. Buyers need to see it as their own, so make sure the slate is as clean as possible so that they can envision their own possessions in it.

Be Versatile

Sure, the pink kid’s room may have been cute once. But it may not appeal to everyone. The best thing with rooms is to make them more generic instead of making it seem like they need to be used for the purpose you used them for. You can paint the bedrooms a more gender-neutral color and take down posters and other personal items. If you have a room that you used for something specific, like a sewing room, you may want to turn it into a more general guest room with a desk or table for projects. Like we mentioned above, buyers need to see this home as their own and be able to see themselves living in it.

Curb Appeal

We all know the saying about first impressions. When it comes to selling a home, that saying rings true. What do people think when they drive by your home? Why not ask your neighbors or friends? The more ideas and input you can get, the better. The fact is that many times buyers will drive by a home before they even schedule a showing. You don’t want that, obviously, so make sure you make the outside of your home appeal to as many buyers as possible. You should make sure the yard is well cared for. Add a fresh coat of paint to the siding and trim. Polish or replace dull hardware. Clean the walkways and driveway. Also think about investing in new roofing if it’s showing its age.

Other things you can look at in your home are making sure your foyer is clean and clutter free, do a walk through to find areas to focus on, find ways to let in more light, cleaning the fridge and organize the cupboards.

Have your home needs changed in the past year? Perhaps you’ve outgrown your present home, or need to downsize to a more suitable home. If you’re ready to make a move, let’s connect and talk about all the amazing opportunities that are available to you!

The Best Schools in Omaha for 2023

Thursday, January 26, 2023

by Nancy Heim-berg

Are you moving to Omaha in 2023? If you have school-aged children, then you'll probably be interested in finding the best schools in the area. Omaha boasts many top-rated schools for kids of all grade levels. Niche.com has compiled their list of best schools in Omaha for 2023. Here are the top 3 schools they rated for your review.

Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School
400 N HAPPY HOLLOW BLVD
OMAHA, NE 68132

#1 Best High Schools for STEM in Nebraska
#1 Best Private High Schools in Nebraska
#1 Best Private K-12 Schools in Nebraska

Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School is a top rated, private school located in OMAHA, NE. It has 441 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1. Tuition is $19,950 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college.

A happy parent comments: "Brownell Talbot's Points of Pride make up a comprehensive approach to moral development. Consisting of six components present throughout our school community, they promote core ethical values as the basis of good character."

Search Homes for Sale Near Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School

Mount Michael Benedictine High School
22520 MOUNT MICHAEL RD
ELKHORN, NE 68022

#1 Best College Prep Private High Schools in Nebraska
#1 Best Catholic High Schools in Nebraska
#1 Best Boarding High Schools in Nebraska

Mount Michael Benedictine School is a Catholic college preparatory residential/day high school rooted in Benedictine values for young men committed to excellence. Students develop spiritually, intellectually, and socially through the comprehensive curriculum and communal experience to become future leaders.

One student remarks: "Absolutely love the small student population. Really got to know all of my fellow students super well and the boarding aspect only helped in that. Amazing teachers who love their job, and I truly enjoyed going to school everyday!"

Search Homes for Sale in the Elkhorn School District

Millard North High School
1010 S 144TH ST
OMAHA, NE 68154

#1 Best Public High Schools in Nebraska
#1 Best College Prep Public High Schools in Nebraska
#4 Best High Schools for STEM in Nebraska

Millard North High School is a top rated, public school located in OMAHA, NE. It has 2,592 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1. According to state test scores, 71% of students are at least proficient in math and 75% in reading.

A Senior had this to say: "I love how diverse Millard North is. You are introduced to people of diverse backgrounds, thoughts, and experiences. Also, there are many ways to get involved and make an impact at our school. You can join many different clubs and activities to explore your passions. You can also customize your academic experience at Millard North. There are college level, honors, or standard courses here."

Search all Homes for Sale in the Millard School District

Best Schools Best Schools Omaha NE Top Schools Omaha NE Omaha Homes for Sale

Home Selling Tips for the 2023 Market

Monday, January 16, 2023

by Nancy Heim-berg

No doubt you’ve most likely received solicited and unsolicited advice from family and friends about selling your home this year. But are they really in a position to offer advice in this area? With a challenging market, economic uncertainty, and relevant local market conditions, it’s easy to get lost in the chaos of it all. Add to that high inflation and interest rates and it can make your head swirl. But what it really means is that in this market, as in any competitive market, you NEED the knowledge and resources of an excellent real estate team to help you win!

Working with a Top Real Estate Team is the single greatest decision you’ll make when selling your home. Experienced agents have been through challenging markets before so they are better equipped to advise you through every step of the process, from getting your home ready for the market- upgrades & repairs, showings, negotiating contracts, and more. Today’s home buyers are more discriminating, the market is NOT what it was 6 months ago. Deferred maintenance on homes is not going to be acceptable, showings have to be readily available, and contingencies are not going to be waived. Your real estate agent is worth every penny you will pay them and more. The resources they have available to them, and you can be the difference between a sale or no sale, and possibly thousands of dollars on the sale itself. Did you know that most homeowners who opted to sell on their own netted 16% less on the home sale? (National Association of Realtors)

Clean & Repair- This is the first step in preparing your home. Go through the house room by room. Deep clean every square inch- after you’ve purged items you no longer need or want and packed away unnecessary items to make each room and closet look larger. Once you’ve accomplished that goal, make a list of all repairs needed in each room and complete them one by one. You’ll want each room move-in ready without defects or repairs needed.

Depersonalize each room- You want the house to look uncluttered, clean, and organized and presented as a ‘clean slate’ for potential buyers to be able to envision themselves living in the home. In order to achieve this it is important to remove personal items, collections, and photos from walls and shelves.

Give dull rooms a coat of paint- Refresh dull-looking rooms with a fresh coat of paint. Nothing perks up a room better than a fresh coat of paint. Just remember to keep things neutral so your new buyers can decorate the home to suit their needs.

Boost your Curb Appeal- You have one chance to make a great first impression, and for some home buyers, that is going to be driving past your home. Make sure the outside of your home is well-kept and welcoming. In wintertime, it’s important to ensure sidewalks and driveways are cleared of snow and ice and that your front door/porch area is well-lit. Make it more welcoming by adding a wreath or chair and mat.

Your chosen agent will assist you in staging your home for its entrance to the market and all home showings. They will also work diligently to price your home appropriately for the market today and then negotiate all offers and guide you hand-in-hand through the process.

If you’re considering selling and have questions, please reach out to our team. We’re happy to sit down with you and review the process, and our enhanced marketing plan and get you on your way to a SOLD sign in your yard.

Nancy & The Heim- Berg Team

402-677-9024

www.OmahaAreaLiving.com

home selling tips Home seller tips Nancy Heim Berg Heim Berg Team Omaha Area Living Omaha Home Sellers

Wonderful Winter Hiking Trails around Omaha!

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

by Nancy Heim-berg

We may be in colder weather, but that doesn’t mean outdoor fun and hiking must come to a halt! Omaha has such an awesome natural landscape and incredible trails that offer year-round walking and hiking fun. All you need is to layer up, grab a great pair of boots, gloves, a hat, and some water and provisions and you’re ready to go. Here are some of the trails we recommend.

Big Papio Trail- A city trail meandering through neighborhood parks, residential & industrial spaces and stretching from Hefflinger Park to Seymour Smith Park.

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park- Our gorgeous state park not only offers great hiking & walking trails, but also has cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, and ice fishing available. Bring the entire family and make a day of it in the great outdoors.

Fontenelle Forest- It’s hard to believe that this amazing natural wonderland is just minutes from Omaha! Featuring a mile-long boardwalk along the Mississippi River that is just breathtaking. You can also choose to take a dirt trail deeper into the woods for a more adventurous hike.

The Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge- Connected to more than 150 miles of nature trails, the 3,000-foot-long walkway crosses the Mississippi river and offers astounding views of the city of Omaha. Great trail for a quick hike, or if you want to be adventurous and connect to the many miles of nature trails for a day-long hike.

Enjoy the scenery and beauty of the winter season while doing some cardio in the brisk cooler air. More blogs to come about winter activities to enjoy all season long in Omaha, so check back frequently.

Things to do in Omaha Nancy Heim Berg Heim Berg Team Winter Hiking Trails Omaha Winter Things to do in Omaha OmahaAreLiving

5 Things you NEED to Deep Clean after the Holidays!

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

by Nancy Heim-berg

The holidays bring so much joy and fun to our homes and families, but when they are finished, the clean-up begins. And let’s be honest, this clean up isn’t the ordinary ‘after a weekday meal’ clean up. It’s time to do some heavy-duty cleaning to get your home ready and running efficiently to take on the new year. Let’s look at the 5 most important areas to focus on for the ‘deep clean’ after the holidays.

Dishwasher- If your home is anything like ours your dishwasher has probably been running non-stop. Especially if you’ve hosted overnight guests as well. Think of all the food residue from your holiday dishes that your dishwasher has scrubbed through?! Remember, all that gunk can build up on the inside walls, racks, and bottom of the dishwasher itself as well. However, there’s good news! It’s easy to clean and get rid of that and have your dishwasher looking and running like it's brand new again. You’ll want to start by handwashing all removable filters. Then put together 1 scoop of dishwasher-approved cleaning solution into the bottom of an empty dishwasher and run on your dishwasher’s hottest setting. Voilà - that’s it! When finished it’ll be good as new and ready to tackle anything you toss in it.
Refrigerator- First and foremost, start by tossing out all the old & expired foods and any bottles or containers that are empty or nearly there. Then set aside all remaining items in your refrigerator so that you can clean inside. Start with a cleaning solution and hot water. Wipe down all shelves and bins. Remove any pieces possible to scrub thoroughly. Once everything has been scrubbed inside, organize and replace foods and condiments back in. Place a baking soda deodorizer inside to eliminate any future odors. Not done yet. If you haven’t already done so, pull out the refrigerator and vacuum off the vents in the back. They tend to get very dusty and gunky which makes it more difficult for your refrigerator to run efficiently.
Oven- Not my favorite, but has to be done, especially if you’ve had spills cooking or baking those delicious treats for the season. Whether you choose to use an oven cleaner or opt for a natural solution, make sure you have a pair of rubber gloves handy. Remove racks before starting. If you’re interested in a natural solution, here’s some to try: Oven Cleaner- ½ C Baking Soda, 3 Tablespoons water. Mix in a small bowl then use scrub brush and sponge. For Degreasing your Oven try 1 C White Vinegar, baking soda, and water. First put water in the spray bottle and spray your oven. Sprinkle baking soda onto the wet areas and let stand for about an hour. Empty the water from the spray bottle and put in the vinegar. Spritz the vinegar onto the baking soda and it will begin to bubble. Use a sponge to wipe away all residue.
Stove Hood- This is one area that captures a lot of greases, so it needs a great cleaning after the holidays. Use your cleaning solution and hot water to submerge the filter for 20 minutes. Then scrub clean and replace back into the hood.
Bathrooms- Whether you’ve just entertained for an evening or two or had overnight guests for days at a time, your bathrooms are in desperate need of a deep clean and sanitizing. Again, mix your favorite cleaning solution with hot water, grab some clean towels and wipe down counters, drawers, handles, toilet surfaces, and tub & shower. Once finished, spray on a sanitizing solution and let dry. Next using a sanitizing cleaner, scrub toilets until they sparkle.

This is a great start to getting your home back in shape. In blogs to come, we’ll address the organizing and deep cleaning of the rest of your home so you’re operating at an optimum level for 2023!

Nancy Heim Berg Heim Berg Team Omaha Area Living Homeowner Tips Holiday deep cleaning

Displaying blog entries 1-5 of 5