Real Estate Information Archive

When building a home in Omaha, it's important to be aware of common construction issues to avoid. By staying proactive, you can save time, money, and ensure a smooth experience. Here's an overview of the most common issues to watch out for during the home building process.

Poor Budgeting

Poor budgeting is a common issue in construction. Building a home is generally cheaper than buying a pre-built one, but many homeowners underestimate the cost. They often overlook major expenses and forget about smaller ones like legal fees and warranties. Unforeseen expenditures are also common.

It's recommended to have a contingency budget of 10-25% to account for changing costs. To budget effectively, start by creating a home building checklist and doing thorough research on the accurate costs involved.

An Unsuitable Location

When it comes to building a new home, choosing the right location is crucial. The wrong choice can result in major construction issues. There are several factors to consider when deciding on the best location for your home construction.

Before purchasing land for construction, it is important to consider the soil condition and water table. Testing the soil quality will ensure a suitable foundation can be laid. Additionally, determining the water table height is crucial as it may require costly dewatering measures.

Thirdly, during new home building, ask if the area is prone to flooding and water damage. Visit the site during the rainy seasons to assess drainage. Also, avoid sloppy regions, as you need to level the surface. Finally, consider the accessibility of the area and proximity to essential amenities such as powerlines, water, gas, etc.

Not Hiring Reputable Professionals

To ensure the smooth and timely execution of the project, it is essential to have a team of professionals with diverse expertise. This team should include builders, architects, engineers, interior designers, surveyors, contractors, and more. By assembling the right team, you can ensure that the project is completed efficiently and within budget.

When looking for service providers, it's important to do thorough research. Take your time and consider recommendations from other homeowners or check online. This will help you find reputable options and avoid potential construction issues.

When selecting a home builder, it is important to gather as much information as possible to ensure their credibility. Take the time to read through both positive and negative reviews from various sources to get a comprehensive understanding of their reputation. By doing so, you can make a more accurate assessment of their credibility.

Then, narrow down to 1-3 contractors for each category. Contact them for quotes and references to help you narrow down further. Conduct interviews with the most suitable candidates and hire the ones that come up as the best fit. 

Poor-Quality Materials

Using poor-quality materials in construction can have serious consequences. These materials weaken the structural integrity of the building, making it vulnerable to damage from rain, wind, and earthquakes.

Additionally, they often have a shorter lifespan, leading to frequent and costly repairs. Functional and aesthetic issues may also arise. Moreover, poor-quality materials can pose safety hazards and result in legal and regulatory problems if they don't meet building codes and standards.

To avoid these issues, it is important to consult with professionals and use high-quality products that adhere to regulations. Regular quality control checks and sourcing materials from reputable suppliers are also crucial.

Not Adhering to All Applicable Regulations

The building and construction regulations differ from state to state, with some being more widely known than others. It's important to be aware of these regulations to avoid potential fines, construction delays, and approval issues for future projects.

To ensure compliance, consult your home builder and reach out to your local government for specific information on the regulations and codes that apply to your new home building project.

When building your home in Omaha, it's crucial to avoid costly mistakes. To ensure a smooth construction process, make sure to address key issues such as choosing the right location, budgeting properly, using high-quality materials, and following all applicable regulations. Before hiring a home builder, take the time to read reviews to make an informed decision.

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!

Important Factors to Consider in a Construction Company

• Commitment to safety. When undertaking new construction projects it is imperative that safety be the paramount priority of any organization. Ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, having comprehensive insurance and taking every feasible measure to ensure the safety of all workers greatly avoids potential issues on multiple levels. Firstly, there is a moral responsibility to prioritize safety over other aspects of a project. Additionally, there is an economic logic; by prioritizing safety companies drastically reduce their chances of experiencing delays due to accidents. Furthermore, employee morale and thus productivity often increases when employees feel secure in their work environment.
   
• Areas of specialty. What are the areas of expertise and specialty held by this construction company? Are they competent at building the type of house you want?
   
• Options and customization potential. How many options do you have when building a house with this company? Increasingly, construction companies are trying to streamline the design and preparation phase, relying on templates and simple modules for customization. If you're looking for something more unique, you'll need to find a construction company that can accommodate you.
   
• Past work/portfolios. How many houses has this company built? Can you tour some of them? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these houses, as you see them?
   
• Ratings and reviews. It's important to weigh in the opinion of past customers when considering a construction company. Be sure to read all customer ratings and reviews, as they can provide valuable insight into their experiences with the firm. Are there mostly positive or negative critiques? What are some of the most consistent compliments and complaints? Careful analysis of client ratings and reviews will help you get an informed sense of the quality of work this company does.
   
• Pricing and payment schedules. Cost is an important factor when choosing a construction team—some may be pricier than others, for a number of reasons. Make sure to take payment schedules into consideration, too: What are the respective amounts and due dates?
   
• Timelines. When building a new house, the typical timeline is 7-8 months from the point of obtaining permits to completion. However, it is important to note that this duration may extend or shorten depending on a range of factors. Be sure to clearly establish an understanding of the timeline and associated variables before starting the construction process.
   
• Contractors and subcontractors. When it comes to a construction project, it’s important to understand who is handling the work. The construction company no doubt relies on both its employees and contracted subcontractors as needed for each job. It's critical that the work meets quality standards, so make sure you know more about any contractors or subcontractors before committing; be sure to ask for references and reviews from previous customers. Additionally, ensure that all parties are properly insured and licensed so you can have confidence throughout the building process.
   
• Customer service. Client satisfaction is vital to ensure successful communication, organized progress, and an overall positive experience. Are you assigned a project manager for this process? If so, does this individual make themselves available as needed and respond to your queries objectively and truthfully?
   
• Terms and conditions. What other terms and conditions apply to this contract with this construction company? Do they make any assurances or guarantees? What happens if they can’t meet the original timeline? Will the price increase if the cost of materials increase?

Other Important Tips

• Set your priorities in advance. What are your biggest priorities when buying a house? You should know what these are long before you start looking for a construction company. For example, do you have a strict budget that's going to limit your options? Or are you willing to extend your budget if it means completing the house by a certain date?
   
• Shop around. Don't go with the first construction company you encounter. It's important to shop around and review many different options so you can properly evaluate each.
   
• Take your time. This is a huge decision, and not one you can afford to rush. If a construction company representative tries to pressure you into finalizing a deal before you're ready, push back.

If you are thinking of building your own home in Omaha, NE there are many things to consider before you decide if this route is for you. While there are pros and cons to every decision, below we have listed a few advantages of building a home for you to take into account. Let’s dive in! 

-One advantage of building your own home is that you get to start fresh with (quite literally) everything. There are no holes to patch in the walls, no weird carpet stains to steam clean, no paint chips to touch up and no appliances to update. Everything will start out brand new and for some people there is a peace of mind in knowing that.

-On that same note, another advantage is that you get to customize the home to your specific tastes and preferences. Depending on your builder, you could have the opportunity to pick out every kitchen finish, every paint color, every appliance and potentially even the layout of your new abode. 

-Building your own home allows you to incorporate new energy efficient systems throughout which can save you money each month. Many older homes do not have these systems in place and it can be a hassle to upgrade your home to these newer models. 

-Lastly, while you could potentially be paying more money upfront to build a house, you will have a higher resale value when you go to sell your home. This is due in part to people wanting to live in newer homes that are toxin-free, energy-efficient and more spacious than the older homes in surrounding neighborhoods. 

Selling your Omaha, NE home? Allow our team of professional, knowledgable and trustworthy real estate agents to go to work for you! Additionally, don't miss our "Seller Tips" page here! 

There are a number of factors to consider and questions to pose when figuring out if a home is right for you – is the neighborhood safe, what is the school district rated, how far of a commute will it be to work, is it central to local amenities, etc. One other important item to consider is whether or not you want your house to be located within a Homeowners Association (HOA). 

In today’s blog post we are going to discuss the pros and cons of living in a community with a Homeowners Association. But before we dive into the meat and potatoes, we want to make sure you first understand exactly what an HOA is:

An HOA is an organization that is created to help run, maintain and manage a community, subdivision or condominium. The residents residing within the community are responsible for monthly or annual dues which the HOA uses to maintain shared spaces, as well as carry out other duties such as meeting management, rule enforcement and financial planning.

What are the pros of an HOA?

-A pro of living in a community with an HOA is that the organization typically is in charge of handling community maintenance. This could include things such as snow removal, landscaping and the upkeep of roads within the planned community. 

-Neighborhoods with an HOA typically offer (and will therefore manage/maintain) community amenities. These can include areas such as pools, parks, tennis courts, community centers, etc. and are all assessable to community members. 

-The organization will ensure that all members are abiding by the rules and set standards of the HOA, including the appearance of the exterior of properties. These standards can help protect the value of your home. 

-The HOA will make sure that the neighborhood and/or building is kept clean and neat.

-Lastly, you can lean on the HOA to step in on your behalf if you were to have an issue arise with a neighbor. 

What are the cons of an HOA?

-The main issue many people have with an HOA is the cost to be part of the community. It is important to note that the cost can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood and is based on things such as property and access to amenities. 

-Another downside is the unexpected fines and fees that can potentially arise if you were to do something that goes against the rules and regulations that have been set by the HOA. You, the homeowner, are expected to know, understand and abide by the standards of the community. 

-Lastly, there is a potential for things to become political within an HOA which turns some people off. 

From new, modern homes to old fixer-uppers - whatever your taste let our experienced team help you find your dream home in Omaha, NE. Be sure to sign up for our listing alerts here!

We get it. Looking for a new home to buy can be a daunting, exhausting and a downright confusing process. There may be one home that checks a few important criteria off your list, and the next one you see checks off the remaining boxes of your list but is missing other important aspects. This is when you may find yourself daydreaming about the possibility of merging the two homes into one and ending with a perfect oasis! But since this is not an actual possibility (sorry to burst your bubble), many people find themselves being drawn to building their own home from the ground up. If this is an idea you have been toying with, then today’s blog is for you! Below we have listed a few perks and advantages of ditching the search to buy a home and bringing your dream home to life!

The first perk, and possibly the most obvious, to building your own home is that everything is brand new. No holes in the walls to patch up, no conspicuous stains on the carpet, no upgrading appliances and no immediate repairs need to be made. There is just something so appealing about being the first ones to live in a home, and knowing that you had a large hand in creating and designing everything. On the same note, depending on the builder and neighborhood, most of the time you are able to custom design your home. Meaning that everything from the layout and flooring, to paint color, kitchen finishes and curtains can be created to your specifications. And there is a peace of mind knowing that everything will be new, clean and designed to your taste and preferences the day you move in.

Another advantage to building your own home is that you get to pick your neighborhood. It is quite frustrating when find your ideal neighborhood and either there are no homes for sale that meet your criteria or all the homes are way out of your price range. If you know the area you would like to live in, you can then search for a plot of land that is open and build your dream home, allowing you both a desirable location and a house you love. And that is what we call a win-win! Lastly, building a new home affords you the opportunity to incorporate new energy-efficient systems throughout that will allow you to save money. It is no secret that technology has become quite advanced over the past decades and even years. Many older homes are not equipped with the most up-to-date systems, which in turn will require you to spend more money on bills each month. So you are stuck with a dilemma – either pay the higher bills as they come or spend the money (and develop a headache) and update the systems. No matter how you slice it, it is always easier and more convenient to have a newer home that has these energy-efficient and cost efficient systems already in place prior to move in.