Real Estate Information Archive

In the heart of the Midwest, Omaha residents are always looking for innovative ways to enhance their living spaces. As we spend more time indoors, the impact of our home environment on our well-being has never been more crucial. Enter the world of Circadian Rhythm Lighting – a revolutionary approach to interior design that's brightening homes and lives across the Cornhusker State.

Understanding Your Inner Clock

Before we discuss home lighting in detail, let's clarify what circadian rhythm actually means. Circadian rhythm is your body's internal clock, regulating sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, eating habits, and other bodily functions. It is intrinsically linked to the natural light-dark cycle of your environment.

Our circadian rhythms can easily become thrown off balance in our modern world of artificial lighting and screen time. Intentional lighting design offers a way to realign our internal clocks with the natural world.

The Bright Side of Circadian Lighting

Implementing circadian lighting in your Omaha home isn't just about following a trend but investing in your health and well-being. Here are some illuminating benefits:

1. Sweet Dreams Are Made of This: Proper lighting routines can help you fall asleep faster and wake up more easily, improving overall sleep quality.
2. Morning Glory: Exposure to bright light in the morning can boost your mood and energy levels, helping you tackle those busy Omaha days with gusto.
3. Spotlight on Productivity: Whether you're working from home or helping kids with homework, circadian lighting can enhance focus, concentration, and overall productivity.
4. A Brighter Outlook: Supporting a healthy immune system and potentially reducing symptoms of depression, circadian lighting contributes to a sunnier disposition all year round.

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Bringing Circadian Lighting Home to Omaha

Ready to light up your life? Here's how you can implement circadian lighting in your Omaha home:

1. Let the Sunshine In: Maximize natural light by incorporating large windows or skylights. This is especially crucial for taking advantage of Omaha's sunny days, even during our chilly winters.
2. Dim and Dimmer: Install dimmable lights to adjust intensity throughout the day. Mimic the natural light cycle by brightening in the morning and softening in the evening.
3. Warm Up, Cool Down: Choose warm-toned lights for living areas and bedrooms, creating a cozy atmosphere perfect for Nebraska nights. Save cool-toned lights for home offices or study areas where alertness is key.
4. Get Smart: Invest in smart lighting systems that adjust light levels and color temperatures automatically. Imagine your home gradually waking up with you on those early Omaha mornings!
5. Seasonal Adjustments: Given Omaha's distinct seasons, consider adjusting your lighting routines. Brighter lights are needed during our shorter winter days, while softer lighting complements long summer evenings.

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A Brighter Future for Omaha Homes

As we continue to understand the impact of the environment on our health, circadian lighting offers a powerful tool for improving quality of life. Whether renovating an old Dundee charmer or building a new home in West Omaha, integrating circadian lighting principles can create a more comfortable, health-promoting environment.

Imagine waking up naturally, feeling refreshed as your bedroom slowly brightens, mimicking an Omaha sunrise. Picture yourself winding down in the evening, as your living room lights gradually shift to warmer tones, preparing your body for restful sleep. This is the promise of circadian lighting – not just illumination, but a pathway to better living.

As Omaha continues to grow and evolve, so will our home design approach. By embracing circadian lighting, we're not just changing bulbs – we're transforming our relationship with our homes and our health.

Ready to shed new light on your Omaha home? The Heim-Berg Team is here to illuminate your real estate journey. Whether looking for a home with great natural light or seeking advice on brightening your current space, we're here to help.

Contact the Heim-Berg Team, Omaha's Real Estate Experts, at 402-677-9024 or visit www.OmahaAreaLiving.com. 

Whether you're considering selling soon or want to boost your home's value, you're in the right place. Today, we're diving into the top 5 home updates giving Omaha residents the biggest bang for their buck in 2024. Let's get started!

Energy-Efficient Window Upgrades

With Omaha's weather swinging from scorching summers to frigid winters, energy-efficient windows are more crucial than ever. The latest triple-pane, argon-filled windows keep homes cozy while slashing energy bills.

ROI: 85-90%

Local Tip: Look for the ENERGY STAR certification tailored for the Midwest region. These windows are specifically designed to handle our unique climate.

Smart Home Technology Integration

In 2024, "smart" is the way to go. From advanced security systems to AI-powered thermostats, Omaha buyers are willing to pay a premium for tech-savvy and energy-efficient homes.

ROI: 80-85%

Omaha Trend: Local tech companies offer package deals for full smart home integrations.

Outdoor Living Space Enhancements

With more people working from home, outdoor spaces have become a hot commodity. Adding a deck, patio, or even a simple fire pit can significantly boost your home's appeal.

ROI: 75-80%

Local Insight: Consider adding a covered area to extend the usability of your outdoor space during Omaha's unpredictable weather.

Kitchen Updates with a Local Twist

The kitchen remains the heart of the home. In 2024, we're seeing a trend towards locally sourced materials and appliances designed for energy efficiency.

ROI: 70-75%

Omaha Special: Incorporate countertops made from Nebraska quarried stone or cabinetry from local craftsmen. It's eco-friendly and supports our local economy!

Basement Finishing with a Purpose

Finished basements have always been popular in Omaha, but in 2024, it's all about purposeful spaces. Think home gyms, entertainment rooms, or even small apartment units for multi-generational living.

ROI: 65-70%

Trend Alert: With the rise of remote work, many Omaha homeowners are turning their basements into stylish home offices. Some are even adding separate entrances for client meetings!

Bonus Tip: Flood-Resistant Features

Given Omaha's proximity to the Missouri River and recent climate patterns, homes with flood-resistant features are seeing a significant boost in value. Consider updates like:

• Elevated electrical systems
• Water-resistant flooring in basements
• Improved drainage systems

While the ROI varies, these features can be a significant selling point in flood-prone areas.

Remember, the best home updates increase your property value and enhance your quality of life while you're still living there. It's a win-win!

Are you thinking about making some updates but not sure where to start? Or are you curious about how these improvements might affect your home's value in the current Omaha market? We'd love to chat!

The Heim-Berg Team

Your Omaha Real Estate Experts

📞 402-677-9024

🌐 www.OmahaAreaLiving.com

P.S. The Omaha real estate market is always evolving. Don't hesitate to reach out for the most up-to-date advice tailored to your specific neighborhood and home. We're here to help you make the most of your investment!

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

If you are looking to sell your home, there are many benefits that come when you use an experienced, knowledgeable real estate agent. The home selling process can be tricky and emotional and having the right agent by your side is a must.

Below we have listed five benefits that come when working with the right agent - let’s dive in:
 
Listing Price. It’s crucial to ensure that your home is listed at the right price from the start, which is something that your agent can help asses. The last thing you want is for your home to sit on the market for too long, and price can play a huge role in this. Your agent will be able to assess the home, see the comps in the area and help you determine a listing price.
 
Guidance. A real estate agent will be able to help guide you on the best ways to present your home so that it will appeal to potential buyers. Tasks such as decluttering the master closet to rearranging furniture to updating the kitchen cabinets are areas that experienced agents will point out to you.
 
Exposure. More eyeballs on your home equals more potential offers. A good real estate agent will have a wide network and expansive knowledge on how to get your listing the exposure it needs to sell at top dollar.
 
Offers. Looking to receive multiple high offers on your home? Thats the goal. An agent gives you the best chances of these offers coming through the door.
 
Closing Time. A knowledgable and experienced real estate agent will aid in speeding up the time it takes to close the deal - which is great for all involved. It also ups your chances of the home selling at top dollar.

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! 

If you are looking to sell your Omaha home, chances are you have made a list (either on paper or in your head) of all the projects and improvements you would like to complete before the listing goes live. This can be a stressful time for homeowners and many of the tasks you've outlined may seem daunting from a time perspective as well as a budget. 

Don’t let that discourage you. Here are five areas to focus your efforts to get a great start:

1. While decluttering your home, be ruthless in what you purge. Whether you are selling, donating, or throwing things away, you want to ensure any items that are left in your home are intentional. Potential buyers want to be able to see themselves living in the space, so an uncluttered, neutral space allows them a clean slate to envision their lives in your home. 
2. Details matter! Walk through each room of your home with a discerning eye. Check light switches, baseboards, light fixtures, door handles & hinges, flooring, and walls. Make a list of any and all damage that needs to be fixed. Small items like patches in a wall or replacement of switches or hinges are fairly easy. However, if you find you need faucet replacements or larger items, you may want to hire a handyman to take the stress off of you and knock out chunks of your list at once. 
3. A fresh coat of paint is a great way to refresh almost every room of your home. Not only will it look brighter, it also gives the room and home a "new home" feel. As a side note- remember to choose a neutral palette in your color choices. This allows your potential home buyers to decorate according to their personal style. 
4. You never get a second chance at a first impression. Knowing this, give your front porch and yard a little extra TLC. Look into low-cost projects that offer big-impact curb appeal such as porch lights, new house numbers, a fresh mailbox, welcoming doormat, planters and/or a wreath for the front door. 
5. Finally, we can’t overstate just how important it is to give your home a thorough, deep clean before potential buyers start to tour the space. If you don’t have the time to do this yourself, look into hiring a cleaning service to make sure each surface is shiny-clean and your home is able to put its best foot forward. This includes cabinets, closets, the basement, and the garage. 

If you are looking to sell your Omaha, NE house, be sure to contact our team for more information. Our dedicated, knowledgeable agents are here to provide you with the expert services you need.

If you are thinking of selling your house in Omaha, NE chances are you have done a mental walkthrough of everything you need to fix, paint and/or redecorate before the listing goes live. And while the list may seem a mile long, there are certain projects that should be bumped to the front and be top priority. 

In today’s blog post we are going to be discussing four things that you should repair before selling your home - let’s dive in: 

Paint: If you are looking for an easy and cheap way to update the interior/exterior of your home, grab a paint brush! Old chipped paint can be a huge turnoff for potential buyers. Light, neutral tones are a safe bet when it comes to choosing colors as they will make your home appear brighter and appeal to a wide range of people. Also, be sure to remove any old wallpaper as it tends to date a house.

Damaged flooring: One area that potential home buyers take notice of is the flooring throughout a house. If you have worn and damaged flooring, especially hard wood flooring, it’s not only an eyesore but can also take away from the value of your house. If it’s in your budget, replacing the floors is best. If not, you can refinish/deep clean them and bring some life back into your home. 

Exterior: You never get a second chance at a first impression, so be sure to make it a good one when buyers come to tour the house. The first thing people will see is the exterior of your home so its crucial to make it look good. Pull the weeds, mow the lawn, plant some flowers, replace missing fence boards, remove any junk, fix the roof and add a fresh coat of paint to the front door. 

Pet damage: Even though you love your furry four-legged friends, you can’t deny the impact they can have on a home. If you are thinking of selling your house, be sure to repair any damage that resulted from your pets. Everything from the scratches on the doors to the urine stains on the carpets. Potential buyers touring the home should (ideally) have no idea that pets live in the home. 

If you are looking to sell your Omaha, NE house, be sure to contact our team for more information. Our dedicated, knowledgable agents are here to provide you with the expert services you need. 

Did you know the photos that are used in your home listing are a crucial part of the home selling process? It’s true! They can be a large factor in the amount of initial interest your listing receives, and can be a great tool to showcase your home with homebuyers out of state. Below we discuss a few tips and tricks to help ensure your images not only turn out well, but stand out from the rest. Let’s dive in: 

-Our first tip is to ensure that your home doesn’t appear too “lived in.” You want to spend some time decluttering your home to help that the images turn out clear and allow buyers can focus on the home - not your things in it.

-If you are finding you need extra space to store bulky furniture or miscellaneous items, you may want to consider renting a storage unit. It is a great way to keep your items safe and in good repair until the home sells, while also decluttering the space. 

-Staging a home is known to increase not only the amount of offers that come in, but also the price of those offers. You can either stage the home yourself or bring in a professional staging company to help ensure the home looks its best and is staged to sell. 

-You want to make sure to highlight all the natural light and/or pretty views as those features are a huge selling point for potential buyers. Make sure all your curtains are open and windows are cleaned. For a better photograph, you want to make sure all lights and lamps are turned on, inside and out, but to make sure that all ceiling fans are turned off.

-Lastly, it is important to take some time to depersonalize your home. This includes excessive family photos, refrigerator door clutter and kids toys. You want the images to showcase the home itself and not have potential buyers be distracted by the other items throughout your home. 

Are you interested in hearing what our amazing clients are saying about us? Be sure to check out the Testimonials page here!

Preparing your home to list and sell can be a stressful process as you want it to show well and appeal to potential buyers. And while there is no love like a pet's love, your furry family members can definitely wreak havoc on your property and create more work to get your home show-ready. 

Below we have outlined a few things to look for and pet damage to repair prior to buyers entering your home for showings. Let’s dive in: 

-The first and most pressing pet issue to address is odor. Not only can pet odor be quite difficult to get rid of, it is also very obvious to potential home buyers and can be one of the first things they notice upon entering your home. And although getting rid of odors the right way can be expensive (i.e replacing flooring, new paint, etc), it is well worth the investment and can greatly benefit your resale value. You also want to be sure to vacuum everyday while your home is on the market and being shown to keep odors away during the selling process. 

-Scratches - they are common in most homes, but are likely to be more prominent in ones with pets. There is a good chance if you have been living in your home for a while that you have grown accustomed to seeing them on walls and floors, but when selling your home you want to take inventory of what needs to be fixed up. You can look into having your scratched hardwood floors professionally refinished, and having scratches on trims, walls, doors and cabinets lightly sanded, speckled and painted. 

-The outside of your house will be potential buyers first impression of your property, so you want to ensure to take extra care of any pet damage that may be in the front of your home. This can include anything from filling in holes your pets have dug up, replacing plants they have chewed and fixing damage to fencing, porches and home exterior.

-Lastly, even though your furniture will be going with you in the move, having chewed surfaces in your home can make the space appear sloppy during showings and broadcast that pets live there. You can either repair the damaged pieces, replace the furniture altogether or maneuver the furniture in a way that the damage doesn't show to guests. 

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!