Real Estate Information Archive

Blog

Displaying blog entries 1-5 of 5

Budget Friendly Ways To Increase The Curb Appeal Of Your Omaha, NE Home

Monday, March 30, 2020

by Nancy Heim-berg

Budget Friendly Ways To Increase The Curb Appeal Of Your Omaha, NE Home

We are officially in selling season in Omaha, NE and now is the perfect time to spruce up the exterior of your home to make a great impression on potential buyers. And while many homeowners may cringe at the thought of the cost of a home improvement project, we are here to calm your nerves and save your budget.

Below we have five cost effective ways to bring a little life back to the front of your home, increase your curb appeal and charm buyers in a big way. After all, you never get a second chance at a first impression. Let’s dive right in!

1. Painting your front door is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to transform the front entrance of your home. Whether you choose to use a bold statement color like yellow or red, or opt for a subtle, neutral shade, a fresh coat of paint is sure to boost curb appeal.

2. Staying on the topic of front doors, hanging a wreath is another great way to invite people into your abode. You can purchase one at a local store or online, or you can DIY your own. Either way, a wreath is a warm and homey touch that makes people feel welcomed.

3. Planting flowers along your walkway is a great way to bring life to your front yard. It is a peaceful and colorful way to guide people to the entrance of your home. Opt for plants and flowers that will do well in the Omaha, NE climate such as Blue Phlox, Purple Poppy Mallow, Clove Currant, Coral Berry or Aromatic Aster.

4. Power wash exterior surfaces such as wood decks, concrete sidewalks, vinyl siding and aluminum. This is an effective way to keep the outside of your home looking clean and also shows potential buyers that you care for your home. You can always rent a power washer from a local home improvement store if you don’t own one.

5. Lastly, giving your mailbox a makeover is another great way to up your curb appeal. You can paint it a fun color or grow a vine plant (such as clematis) up the base. Even the smallest improvement to your mailbox can make a big difference overall!

Selling your home in Omaha, NE? Be sure to check out our 'Home Selling Tips' page here for more useful tips and tricks!

A List Of Poor Habits Homeowners Need To Break

Monday, July 22, 2019

by Nancy Heim-berg

If you are a homeowner in Omaha, NE, today’s blog post is a must-read. It doesn’t take very long to form habits, which can be a good thing when it comes to eating healthy and staying consistent with your trips to the gym. However, with the good can come the bad, and poor habits can start to sneak in as well. And when it comes to owning a home, poor habits can equal a large price tag and consistent frustration. Continue reading below for a few things to pay close attention to and bad habits to break as a homeowner.

Be mindful if you are running a dishwasher that is half full as it can waste water. Instead of setting it off with only a few cups and dishes, wait until there are more kitchen items to include. And if you can’t wait, try washing and drying the few items you need by hand.
We all know that long, steamy showers can be refreshing and relaxing after a long day. But did you know they can also lead to mold and mildew buildup? Yikes! Try being more cautious the next time you rinse off as it also can waste water and ultimately increase your water bill. If you can’t help yourself and need a long hot shower to wash your day off, be sure to always run the exhaust fan and scrub your shower grout every few months.
Using too much mulch can end up suffocating your plants and trees, which in turn can cause rot and invasive insects to start popping up – a problem no homeowner wants on their hands! Be sure to loosely pack the mulch as this will allow water to properly filter through.
It is easy to be a sucker for a good bargain but buying cheap when it comes to household items doesn’t always save you money, as you may find yourself having to replace items more frequently. This is especially true when it comes to household appliances.
As a homeowner, you may think that each corner of your home has the potential to store something – anything really – and before you know it clutter starts to accumulate everywhere you turn. It can be easy to justify keeping items you may think you will need down the road, but all that does is add to the ever-expanding piles. If you haven’t used an item in six months to a year, it may be time to let it go.

For more homeowner tips, follow us on our Facebook Page.

Click here to find your dream home in Omaha, NE!

Nancy Heim-Berg Omaha Real Estate Bad habits to avoid when owning a home Homeownership habits to break Breaking bad habits Habits homeowners need to break

Simple Lawn Tips For A Thriving Spring In Omaha, NE

Monday, March 18, 2019

by Nancy Heim-berg

With the first official day of spring on Wednesday, we thought today would be the perfect time to discuss a few tips and tricks for getting your lawn ready for the change of season (sayonara winter!). After all, nothing says spring time like seeing a lush, beautiful lawn each day. Keep reading below for eight simple lawn care tips:

1.) Our first tip for you is to fill the garden by planting flowers and foliage that are able to withstand the cool Omaha nights. Better yet, to reduce work down the road, you may look into planting summer blossoms such as dahlia’s.

2.) We know, we know - weeding is everyone’s least favorite part of all this. But plain and simple, it must be done. You should think about starting now and breaking the work up by tending to small patches so you don’t feel overwhelmed by the workload. Your future self will thank you!

3.) The third tip we have for you is to aerate the soil, which improves the uptake of water and fertilizer, as well as aids in reducing soil compaction. Concerned where to find an aerator? Fear not – they can usually be rented through lawn and garden stores!

4.) Did you know that the beginning of spring is an ideal time to put down grass seed? It’s true! All you have to do is lightly rake the seed into the top ¼” of the soil, lightly water a few times daily and wait for your grass to grow.

5.) Our next tip is around trimming trees and shrubs. You should remove any damaged or dead branches from woody plants, and trim any summer-flowering shrubs.

6.) Grab that mower! It is a good idea to begin cutting the grass as soon as you think it needs a little trim. You also want to try and not cut off more than a third of the blade at one time.

7.) Now is the time to tend to your compost pile if you turned an eye to it throughout the winter months. Don’t have a compost pile? Now is a great time to start one!

8.) Last but not least, let’s fertilize that lawn. Although it is a good idea to hold off on this until the grass is actively growing, once you see this happening you should lightly apply the fertilizer. Additionally, you should do another light application about six weeks later.

Nancy Heim-Berg Omaha Real Estate Omaha Gardens Spring garden tips Omaha Garden tips for your home

Tips for Gardening on a Budget

Monday, May 7, 2018

by Nancy Heim-berg

With Spring in full bloom, many homeowners around Omaha are getting inspired and feeling an urge to head outdoors to begin gardening or tend to their already blossoming gardens. And while walking into your local flower or gardening shop can make you want to purchase everything in sight, today’s blog post will help to hone in those impulses and resist the urge to max out your credit card on containers, gadgets and plants. We have a few tips and tricks below to help your gardens bloom without breaking the bank. Enjoy!

The first thing you will want to do is make a list. You know how you are always told not to go grocery shopping when you are hungry because you will buy everything in every isle? The same goes with gardening shops. If you go in knowing exactly what you need you are less likely to buy everything that looks pretty or you THINK you need. Make a plan, write it down then head out. Trust us, this will save you a lot of time, frustration and cash. Our next tip is especially helpful if you have a lot of ground to cover in your garden. Rather than spending all your money on plants to fill the space, try incorporating things such as lilyturf, ferns and woodland phlox into your garden. Not only will weeds be less likely to flourish with these types of plants, but you will be saving money while covering more ground. And that is a win-win in gardening!

Lastly, if you want to spruce up your garden area try decorating terra cotta pots. Now we understand that traditional terra cotta pots are not exactly eye sores on their own, but these inexpensive gardening staples are the ideal blank canvas and the perfect opportunity for you to incorporate some serious design and color. They are also a great art project for the kids if you are not too picky about the artistic talent that goes into the design. Either way, splashing some color and art on terra cotta pots are a great and inexpensive way to spruce up and bring some life to an otherwise bland décor piece.

Nancy Heim-Berg Omaha Real Estate Gardening on a budget Omaha Gardens Spring Garden Ideas

Spring Garden Tips

Sunday, April 8, 2018

by Nancy Heim-berg

With the arrival of Spring brings beautiful blooms and dashing colors throughout gardens in Omaha. And to a gardener, we know there is nothing better than seeing your spring garden in full swing. No matter if you are a gardening expert or a newbie just starting out, we have some tips and tricks below to help your garden thrive!

A key step to a successful garden is mapping everything out as best you can. You want to think about the location of certain plants, which ones will grow successfully together, the amount of sunlight available in certain areas, what structures you will need, etc. The more detailed your outline and mapping, the easier time you will have when you to go start your garden.

It is very important to get your soil ready, as nutrients tend to deplete throughout the growing season. You should begin this process 2-4 weeks prior to planting and can achieve this by purchasing soil kits from your nearby home improvement store.

Adding mulch around the garden beds will help to save water, reduce the amount of weeds in the garden, mitigate diseases within the plants and moderate the temperature of the soil. Make sure to water the soil before and after you put down the mulch, and make sure to keep it a few inches away from the stems of the plants.

Another important step is to prune trees and shrubs to help improve their overall appearance. Be sure to only prune plants that have new growth in the spring, and keep in mind that plants from last years season should only be cut once their final blossom is compete.

Nancy Heim-Berg Omaha Real Estate Gardening tips Spring Gardens Omaha

Displaying blog entries 1-5 of 5