Real Estate Information Archive

Relocating to Omaha, Nebraska, presents a unique set of opportunities and challenges. Known for its rich cultural heritage, booming economy, and friendly communities, Omaha is a city that's both vibrant and welcoming. If you're planning a move to this Midwestern gem, here's an extended guide to help you navigate the process smoothly and efficiently.

Understanding Omaha's Landscape

Omaha's geographical layout is both straightforward and convenient, with most destinations within a 20-minute drive, even during rush hour. This ease of travel is a significant advantage when moving, as it simplifies trips between your old and new residences, hardware stores, and donation centers.

Choosing the Right Neighborhood

Omaha offers a variety of neighborhoods, each with its own character and amenities. From the historic Old Market district to the family-friendly suburbs of West Omaha, there's a community for every lifestyle. Researching neighborhoods in advance will help you find the perfect fit for your needs and preferences.

Weather Considerations

Omaha experiences four distinct seasons, which can impact your moving plans. If you're moving in winter, be prepared for cold temperatures and snow, which may require additional moving supplies like floor protectors and salt for walkways. Conversely, summer moves call for hydration and protection against the heat.

Selecting a Moving Company

When it comes to moving services, Omaha has plenty to offer. Companies like Two Men and a Truck and King's Moving provide reliable services with a local touch, ensuring your belongings are handled with care. Be sure to get multiple quotes and check reviews to find the best fit for your budget and needs.

Packing Strategies

Efficient packing is crucial for a stress-free move. Start by decluttering and donating items you no longer need. Use sturdy boxes and packing materials, and label everything clearly. For fragile items, consider custom crating services available in Omaha to ensure their safety during transport.

Transportation and Logistics

Most Omaha residents rely on personal vehicles, so if you're moving from out of state, ensure your car is ready for the journey. If you're renting a moving truck, familiarize yourself with the local roads and traffic patterns to avoid any surprises on moving day.

Cost of Living and Budgeting

Omaha's cost of living is relatively low compared to national averages, which means your moving budget may stretch further here. However, it's still important to plan for expenses such as moving supplies, professional movers, and any new furniture or appliances you may need for your new home.

Settling Into Your New Home

Once you've arrived, take the time to unpack and organize your space. Introduce yourself to your neighbors and explore your new community. Omaha is known for its friendly atmosphere, so don't hesitate to reach out and make connections.

Embracing Omaha's Culture

Omaha boasts a thriving arts scene, delicious cuisine, and a rich history. Take advantage of the local attractions like the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, and immerse yourself in the music scene that has birthed bands like Bright Eyes and 311.

By following this comprehensive guide, your move to Omaha can be a positive and rewarding experience. With careful planning and a bit of local knowledge, you'll soon be calling this charming city your home.

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No matter the distance, moving is one of the most stressful and time consuming events that people go through. Your entire life is uprooted which can be a lot to handle, especially if you are moving out of state or country.

If you are thinking of or are currently making a long distance move, today’s blog post is for you! Below we cover five tips to help ease the stress and frustrations of moving and help make the transition as seamless as possible. Let’s dive in: 

Set a plan once the move is confirmed. 

Do not wait until right before the big move to get your ducks in a row! Shortly after the move is confirmed set a plan of action that details what you want to accomplish each week leading up to the move and important details/tasks to keep you organized. This will be the to-do list of all to-do lists! 

Find and hire a trustworthy moving company.

The first moving company you talk with will not always be who you hire. Speak with a couple in-home moving companies, compare prices and hire the most reputable and credible company to avoid your belonging getting caught in a moving scam.

Sort through and downsize your home.

As with any move, you want to make sure you are only packing and moving items you want to take with you to your new home. Moving is a tremendous opportunity to sort through clothing, donate old furniture and get rid of anything that doesn’t serve you. So take some time to really be intentional about what you are taking and what you are parting with. 

Create an inventory list.

The last thing you want to do is rack your brain when your belonging arrive at your new home to try and figure out if anything got lost in the move. That is why creating an inventory list prior to packing and moving should be at the top of your list. It doesn’t matter if you use your phone or an old fashioned pen and paper, this list will give you peace of mind during a stressful time and ensure all your items are accounted for.

Properly label moving boxes with your info.

It is common during a long distance move for your boxes to be transported on a truck with other families belongings. To help ensure boxes don’t get mixed up, be sure to clearly label *each* box with your name (and even phone number) so things can easily be sorted in the event items get mixed up. 

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.

We know moving can be stressful. However, it can prove to be especially stressful when you find yourself in a situation where you have to store your items in a self-storage facility. It may seem like one more thing to add to your seemingly never-ending to-do list. Whether you are looking to rent a self-storage facility to hold your belongings for a few weeks or a few months, there are a couple key items that you want to be sure to check off your list to ensure the safety of your items. And yes, as you may have guessed, that is where our blog is going to take us today! 

-The first thing you want to look at when it comes to self-storage is the safety of the facility itself. Does it have security gates around the property, surveillance cameras and/or a keypad code entry? You also want to be sure to use a heavy-duty lock on your particular unit to add an extra layer of protection for your items. 

-The next item to look at is the location of the facility. If there is an item you need to grab last minute, chances are you do not want to make a long commute to retrieve it. So ensuring that the facility is easy to get to is a big deal and a high priority for many people. 

-You always want to be sure to see if the units are climate-controlled or not. This is especially true if you have electronic items as they can be very sensitive to hot and cold weather. And while climate-controlled units tend to be more expensive, it may be worth the money to ensure that your belongings are well kept while they are not with you. 

-The next item you want to look into are the office hours. Are you only able to access your unit when the office is open? And if so, what are those hours and do they work with your schedule? 

-Lastly, you want to always make sure you look at reviews from other individuals who have rented units at that location. If the facility has an extremely poor rating with many bad reviews, it may be a good idea to stay clear of that one and find one that is more reliable and trustworthy. 

*On a side note, it is also important to compare pricing from different storage facilities. It may not behoove you to jump on the first one you see, as that one may end up being terribly overpriced in relation to other comparable facilities in the area.

In last Sunday’s blog post we talked about some different questions to ask before you hire on a moving company to assist you and your family on moving day. Staying on that same topic, today we are going to be discussing a few tips and tricks to help make your moving day a little less stressful. Because let’s face it, no matter how organized you are or how many hands you have helping, moving day is bound to be met with a little anxiety, hassle and stress. And with over forty million American’s moving each year (according to the U.S. Census Bureau), we know this blog post can be useful to many people around the county.

Our first tip for you is to declutter the items you don’t need or don’t use by throwing them out or donating them. Moving is a great excuse to purge your home of things you don’t need and will also give you less items to unpack later. Second, group items together that you know you will want to put away in the same space, such as kitchen items or bathroom supplies. This will allow you to stay organized and make the unpacking process seamless. Next, if you are going to be putting items in storage we suggest using a clear tote so they are easy to find in the future and have a lesser chance of being damaged. Nothing is worse than looking for something in storage that is triple wrapped in newspaper and at the bottom of a cardboard box.

We understand the financial stress that can also accompany the moving process, so our next tip is to find friends and/or family members that are willing to help you move to help you save some money if a moving company is not in your budget. This can also be a fun way to spend some quality time with people that are closest to you. Our fifth tip is to use a different colored label for each room’s boxes to help keep you organized and avoid having to shuffle boxes after they are moved into your new home. And lastly, you want to be sure to keep all of your important items with you during the moving process. This includes things such as expensive jewelry, family heirlooms and moving paperwork that you need to access quickly and easily. 

We understand how exciting it can be once your house sells and the closing documents on your new one are signed, sealed and delivered. We also understand how the excitement of moving, paired with the closing of one chapter and the beginning of the next, can easily be overshadowed by the stress, anxiety and annoyance that comes with moving day. And for these reasons, many homeowners choose to hire on a moving company so they can do all the heavy lifting for them, and it also allows the homeowner to keep a closer eye on the organization and schedule of the day. And since these companies literally do this all the time, movers are typically faster, more efficient and usually stronger than the average person, which is why what would normally take you and your family a span of several days to move, they can do within one day’s time. Is it worth the money? We absolutely think so!

But while hiring on movers can make your life a whole lot easier, you also want to make sure that your personal belongings are in good hands and therefore you do not just want to hire any company. A mediocre moving company runs a higher risk of breaking irreplaceable heirlooms, scratching furniture or damaging your delicate items. With that being said, the rest of this blog is dedicated to a few important questions to ask any moving company you are thinking of hiring. The first question you should ask is if the company has any references or a link to reviews of their business. This really applies to anyone you are looking to hire, as you want to make sure they are not only a legit company, but also that they are trustworthy and people have had good experiences with them.

Next, and one of the most important questions, you will want to ask if they will draw up an inventory of the items in your home that you are moving. It is important to understand that while moving ca be expensive, it is also one of the easiest ways to loose something because there are so many moving parts. You want a company that will create an organized and detailed list of the items from your home to ensure that they will arrive to your new home and that nothing is lost or left behind in the process. You will also want to ask if the company will do an in-home estimate so you can understand the breakdown of what the job will cost you, and you will want to make sure to get it in writing. This is a great way to compare the pricing of different companies to not only get the best deal, but to also ensure that it is in line with your budget.

Along those same lines, you will want to ask the moving company what specific services they offer. Prior to calling any company, make sure that you take inventory of exactly what you are needing and wanting the company to move so they can provide you with exact answers. Some companies will only come in to pack and lift smaller items and will not move larger items such as air hockey tables or a grand piano. So making sure that the company can provide all the services you are looking for prior to moving day is key. Lastly, it is very important to ask the company what happens if something is damaged in the moving process. Let’s face it, we are all human. Mistakes happen. Understanding what the company’s policy is for broken or damaged items, as well as if they offer optional coverage packages, is very important to understand prior to anyone touching your personal belongings.