Real Estate Information

Putting your home on the market is such a fun and exciting time as you are saying goodbye to one chapter and looking forward to the next. Staging your home is one way to help sell your home faster and seem more appealing to potential buyers. And while that may sound like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be. There are some simple tips and tricks that we will be discussing today to help you through the process – we hope you take them and use them during your home selling process.

One of the first things you will want to do when staging your home is to de-clutter the spaces. Having too many items and/or furniture can make the home look small and closed off, which can be a turn off for potential buyers. It is also a good idea to steam clean the carpets, repaint the rooms that look dull, and give away or sell things that you do not need anymore. This will all help you to achieve a clean canvas for you to stage. Also, if you are going to be painting the inside of the home, you may want to stick to white or lighter colors as they can help to make the spaces appear larger.

Nothing is better than a home that has light and no one likes walking into a dark and dreary home. And the good news is if your home is darker than you would like, it is a pretty simple fix! First, make sure that all windows are clean to help push natural light through the home. Next, you will want to replace any dark window treatments with lighter ones to brighten up the frame of the room.

One thing that can help potential buyers see how the spaces can be best utilized is to stage furniture how the room should best be used. Leaving a room unfurnished or solely as a kids play room (when potential buyers may not have kids) can deter them from seeing the home’s potential. You will also want to crank up the curb appeal as this is the first impression potential buyers will have of the home. Make sure your front door is freshly painted, plant some new colorful flowers and make sure the grass is trimmed. You never have a second chance at a first impression, and these are simple ways to make sure it is a good one!

The weekend is almost upon us! And as the weather slowly starts to warm up, there are many family friendly events happening throughout Omaha this weekend. We have listed a few below that are sure to be fun for the whole group. So grab your friends and get ready for a weekend creating new and lasting memories. Enjoy! 

What: Ink | Paper | Press: The Power and Process of Prints
When: April 20th 
Where: Gallery 71, 1806 Vinton St. Omaha, NE 68108

What: Widespread Flowering Art Exhibit by Ann Brugenhemke
When: April 20th till June 4th 
Where: Lauritzen Gardens

What: Karaoke Friday Nights
When: April 20th 
Where: 510 N. 33rd St. Omaha, NE 68131

What: Moon Mouse by Lightwire Theatre 
When: April 20th 
Where: 2700 College Rd. Council Bluffs 

What: Opera Omaha’s ONE Festival
When: April 20th till April 22nd 
Where: Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Omaha, NE 68102

What: Shakespeare in Love
When: April 20th till May 6th 
Where: Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Omaha, NE 68132

What: Handmade Omaha 6th Annual Arts and Crafts Bazaar
When: April 21st till April 22nd
Where: Bancroft Street Market, 2702 S. 10th St. Omaha, NE 68102

What: Old Market District Walking Food Tour 
When: April 21st till June 26th
Where: Omaha Culinary Tours

What: Healthy Kids Day
When: April 22nd 
Where: 2285 S. 67th St. Omaha, NE 68106

In today’s blog post we are going to be talking about a few simple tips and tricks that will help lower your energy costs on a monthly basis. And with summer quickly approaching, it is a good idea to get yourself and your family in the habit of implementing these as soon as possible. We hope you enjoy and hope they prove to be helpful!

The first trick we have for you is to install dimmer switches and light/motion sensors. How many times have you or your children mindlessly left the lights on when you leave the room? These devices are great because the automatic systems help to conserve light energy when you and your family forget to turn the lights off.

Next, you always want to make sure to unplug all appliances when they are not being used as they tend to drain energy - even if you were to power off the device completely. The Department of Energy estimated that appliances can increase your electric bill by ten percent or more, so this trick can prove to be very beneficial for you and your family.

It is always a good idea to keep your hands off the thermostat, as frequently altering the settings can end up wasting a lot of energy. You may also consider implementing a programmable thermostat that will adjust the temperatures automatically for you and thus save energy.

Many people do not realize that your front door can be a huge culprit when it comes to energy loss for heating and cooling your home. Be sure to use weather stripping, as well as check the caulking, to make sure both are properly sealing the air in the home. And if need be, it may be a good idea to invest in a new front door altogether.

If your HVAC systems are more than ten years old, they tend to be less efficient and can also waste money every month. You may want to consider upgrading to Energy Star-qualified replacements to help ensure the system is not draining energy and money. 

Looking for family fun events in Omaha this weekend? Don't let the forecasted rain and clouds steer you away from all the fun activities around town! Below we have listed a few that are sure to bring a smile to everyone's face, young and old alike. We hope you enjoy! 

What: Free Daytime Family Fun Events
When: April 12th – 15th 
Where: CenturyLink Center Omaha 

What: Welcome to Storybook Land!
When: Sunday, April 15th from 1 till 4pm
Where: 14850 Laurel Ave., Omaha

What: Omaha Mini Maker Faire
When: Saturday, April 14th from 9am till 4pm
Where: Do Space, 72nd and Dodge

What: Nature Play
When: Saturday, April 14th from 1 till 4pm
Where: Joslyn Art Museum

What: Family Education
When: Saturday, April 14th from 10 till 11:30am
Where: 11809 Old Maple Road, Omaha

What: Creative Weapon Flow Classes
When: April 13th 
Where: 11138 Q St., Omaha, NE

What: Yoga in the Aquarium 
When: April 14th and 15th 
Where: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium 

What: The International Omaha Horse Competition
When: April 12th through April 15th 
Where: CentryLink Center Omaha

What: Metamorphosis: From Reclaimed Plastics to Works of Art
When: April 12th through May 13th 
Where: Lauritzen Gardens 

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. 

Hello April! With a new month comes new opportunities, new adventures and new family fun activities around Omaha for all to enjoy. For the young and old alike, these events are sure to keep a smile on everyone’s face and create lasting memories for the whole family. We have listed a few of these family approved activities below that we hope you will enjoy this weekend!

What: Spring Family Craft
When: Sunday, April 8th from 1:30-2:30pm
Where: Milton R. Abrahams Brach 

What: Under the Big Top! Circus Night
When: Friday, April 6th from 5-7pm
Where: Union Pacific Museum

What: Kids Workshops 
When: Saturday, April 7th from 9am-12pm
Where: The Home Depot

What: Hummel Hike Club
When: Saturday, April 7th from 9:30-11am
Where: Hummel Park Nature Center

What: Owl Prowl
When: Saturday, April 7th from 7pm-dusk
Where: Hummel Park Nature Center

What: Teddy Bear Weekend
When: April 7th-8th from 9am-3pm
Where: Omaha Zoo

What: 2018 Spring Festival, An Arts & Crafts Affair
When: April 6th-8th from (Friday: 11am-9pm, Saturday: 9am-6pm, Sunday: 10am-5pm)
Where: Ralston Arena 

What: First Friday Old Market
When: April 6th from 6-9pm
Where: Old Market

What: The Art of the Brick Exhibition
When: April 5th – 22nd from (Sunday-Friday: 10am-7pm, Saturday 10am-9pm)
Where: 222 North 12th St. Omaha, NE 68102

We understand that buying a home can be a very exciting time! As your mind wanders from room to room, you think of what décor you will use, what paint colors will dance on the walls and what colorful plants you will line the front walkway with. But understanding the structure and how well the home was maintained and built is also very important as it can help alleviate potential costly repairs in the future. Below we have listed a few items to watch out for, especially if you are a first-time home buyer, that can serve as warning signs for potential issues. 

Roof:
-Singles that are cracked, missing, curled or warped 
-Substantial wear and tear
-Materials that do not match

Plumbing:
-Leaking faucets
-A terrible odor
-Low water pressure
-Water stains that appear around the tub, toilet or under sinks

Foundation: 
-Any cracks that appear in the sidewalks, driveway or walls
-Doors inside the home that have large gaps at the top or jam up
-Crooked windows and doorways
-Unleveled floors 

Electrical:
-Visible signs of electrical tape
-Lights that flicker when turned on
-Exposed wires

Easter weekend is upon us! And yes, that means that April is right around the corner - how the time flies! We have listed below a few family fun activities being held around Omaha that are sure to keep the Easter spirit alive and keep a smile on everyone’s face. We hope you enjoy time spent with family and friends this weekend! 

Friday, March 30th 

Omaha’s Healthiest East Egg Hunt
When: 10am & 4pm
Where: Natural Grocers (Omaha West)

StoneBridge Millard Easter Glow Party
When: 6:30pm
Where: 13906 S. Plaza, Omaha

Marshmallow and Peep Art
When: 10:30 – 11:30am
Where: La Vista Public Library 

Ralston Library Easter Egg Hunt
When: 1pm
Where: Ralston Baright Public Library 

Story time with the Easter Bunny at Village Pointe
When: 10:30am
Where: DSW at Village Pointe

Visits & Story time with the Easter Bunny
When: 10:30am
Where: Shadow Lake Towne Center 

Saturday, March 31st 

Easter Extravaganza 
When: 9am – 12pm
Where: Lauritzen Gardens 

Spring Fling in Tekamah 
When: 8am – 5pm
Where: Master’s Hand, 3599 Country Road F

Stonebridge Eater Eggstravaganza
When: 10am
Where: StoneBridge Christian Church 

La Vista Easter Egg Hunt & Food Drive
When: 10am
Where: La Vista Sports Complex

Spring Celebrate & Egg Hunt
When: 10am – 1pm
Where: Gifford Farm, 700 Camp Gifford Rd. 

Party Pals Easter Egg Hunt
When: 10am
Where: Ramble Ridge Park, 11424 Fort St., Omaha

Story time with the Easter Bunny
When: 10:30am
Where: Kona Grill at Village Pointe

Easter Egg Swim
When: 1 – 4pm
Where: Montclair Pool, 2304 S. 135th Ave., Omaha 

Sunday, April 1st 

Easter Brunch
When: 10am – 2pm
Where: Lauritzen Gardens

Easter Brunch
When: 10am – 4pm
Where: Society 1854

So the time has finally come to start the search for your first home. Your mind starts racing as you begin thinking of the style you like, the finishes you want, and how you will decorate to turn the house into your very own home. What an exciting time! As you begin your search, we wanted to leave you with a few tips and tricks that we hope will prove to be helpful during a time that can seem a little overwhelming. Enjoy! 

-Do your homework: It is very easy for your excitement to take over as you jump into the search for your first home. But it is very important to take the time to do your homework and see what are must haves and what you can live without. This will help you organize your thoughts and stay focused during your search. 

-Start shopping: After you do your homework, you will have a better idea of exactly what you are looking for and can start looking online for house information and listings. 

-Find a good agent: We can’t stress this step enough. Especially for first time home buyers, the process of buying a house can be a little stressful and overwhelming at first. You want to make sure you find an agent that not only takes the time to understand exactly what you want and is experienced, but one that is also going to be by your side and fight for your best interests during the entire process.

-Choose and lender and pick a loan: This is something you will want to also do a lot of homework on and find the right lender and mortgage that is right for you. 

-Go look around: While the World Wide Web is filled with information, nothing can trump actually going to open houses, walking the properties and seeing homes in person. 

-Make an offer: Once you find your dream home, you and your agent will craft an offer that works for you and spells out items such as price, contingencies and closing dates. 

It is officially Spring time in Omaha! And while the weather doesn’t quite feel like Spring, there are still many events happening this weekend all over town for you to enjoy. Check out below for a few of these events and spend a few days outside the house and exploring beautiful Omaha! 

What: Forest Animals Program
When: March 23rd 
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum 

What: American Adventure
When: March 22nd – June 2nd 
Where: Durham Museum 

What: Arctic Wonderland 
When: March 22 – April 8th 
Where: Omaha Children’s Museum 

What: 31st Annual Orchid Show and Sale
When: March 24th – March 25th 
Where: Lauritzen Gardens 

What: Metamorphosis: From Reclaimed Plastics to Works of Art
When: March 22nd – May 13th 
Where: Lauritzen Gardens 

What: Old Market District Walking Food Tour
When: March 24th – June 26th 
Where: Omaha Culinary Tours 

What: Energy Explorers Exhibit
When: March 22nd – April 23rd
Where: Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum 

What: The Art of The Brick Exhibition
When: March 22nd – April 22nd
Where: 222 North 12st St. Omaha, NE 68102

What: World/Play: Prints, Photographs, and Paintings be Ed Ruscha
When: March 22nd – May 6th 
Where: Joslyn Art Museum