Real Estate Information Archive

Purchasing a home is a milestone that many aspire to achieve, and for those looking to buy in Omaha, the process is filled with anticipation and the promise of a new beginning. The journey to homeownership is a complex one, with several steps that need to be carefully followed to ensure a successful purchase. Here is a short guide for new home buyers in Omaha, detailing the steps to take from the moment you decide to buy, to the day you step into your new home.

Step 1: Assess Your Readiness

The first and perhaps most crucial step is to introspect and assess whether you are ready to buy a home. This goes beyond having the financial means; it's about being prepared for the long-term commitment and responsibilities that come with owning a property. Consider your job stability, lifestyle, and willingness to settle in one place for an extended period.

Step 2: Financial Planning

Once you've decided to buy, it's time to look at your finances. This involves reviewing your savings for a down payment, understanding your credit score, and getting pre-approved for a mortgage. A pre-approval will give you a clear idea of your budget and shows sellers that you are a serious buyer.

Step 3: Find a Real Estate Agent

A good real estate agent is your ally in the home buying process. They have the expertise and local market knowledge to help you find a home that meets your needs and budget. Nancy and her team has years of experience helping new home buyers in Omaha.

Step 4: Home Shopping

With your agent's help, start the search for your Omaha home. Make a list of your must-haves, nice-to-haves, and deal-breakers. Attend open houses, schedule viewings, and explore different neighborhoods to find the right fit for you and your family.

Step 5: Making an Offer

When you find a home you love, it's time to make an offer. Your agent will help you determine a fair price based on comparable homes in the area and any other factors that might affect the home's value. They'll also assist you in negotiating terms and conditions with the seller.

Step 6: Home Inspection and Appraisal

After your offer is accepted, you'll need to have the home inspected and appraised. A home inspection can reveal any potential issues with the property, while an appraisal will confirm its value for the lender.

Step 7: Closing the Deal

The final step is the closing process, where you'll sign a lot of paperwork, pay closing costs, and finally, get the keys to your new home. This is when you officially become a homeowner.

Step 8: Moving In

Congratulations, you're now ready to move into your new home in Omaha! This is the time to celebrate and start making the space your own.

For those embarking on this exciting journey in Omaha, remember that patience, preparation, and professional guidance are key to navigating the home-buying process successfully. With the right approach, you'll find a place to call your own in this welcoming city. 

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If you've decided to sell or buy this year...congratulations!  What an exciting time for you. We're here to assist you every step of the way. Call our family team of experts today and we'll get down to business crafting your plan for real estate buying and selling success! 

Spring is a great time to sell your home in Omaha, Nebraska. The weather is pleasant, the flowers are blooming, and buyers are eager to find their dream home. But how can you make your home stand out from the competition and attract more offers? Here are some spring home staging tips for Omaha that can help you sell faster and for more money.

1. Clean and declutter. Nothing turns off buyers more than a dirty or cluttered home. Spring cleaning is a must before you list your home for sale. Get rid of any excess items, personal belongings, or seasonal decorations that may distract buyers from seeing the potential of your home. Make sure every room is spotless, especially the kitchen and bathrooms. A clean and decluttered home will look more spacious, bright, and inviting.

2. Refresh the paint. A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your home's appearance and appeal. Choose neutral colors that will appeal to a wide range of buyers and complement your home's style and features. Avoid dark or bold colors that may make your rooms look smaller or clash with the furniture. A light and neutral color palette will create a calm and cozy atmosphere that buyers will love.

3. Add some greenery. Spring is all about nature and freshness, so why not bring some of that into your home? Adding some plants, flowers, or herbs to your rooms can add some color, life, and fragrance to your space. You can use real or artificial plants, depending on your preference and budget. Just make sure they look healthy and well-maintained. You can also place some fresh flowers in a vase on the dining table, coffee table, or kitchen counter for a touch of elegance and charm.

4. Update the curb appeal. The first impression is crucial when selling your home, so make sure your curb appeal is on point. Spring is the perfect time to spruce up your landscaping, lawn, and exterior features. Mow the grass, trim the bushes, weed the flower beds, and add some mulch or gravel to create a neat and tidy look. You can also plant some colorful flowers or hang some baskets or wreaths on your front door or porch for some extra curb appeal.

5. Let in the light. One of the best ways to make your home look more spacious and inviting is to let in as much natural light as possible. Open the curtains, blinds, or shutters and let the sunshine in. If you have any dark or gloomy areas in your home, consider adding some lamps, candles, or mirrors to brighten them up. You can also switch out any old or dim light bulbs with brighter ones for a more cheerful and welcoming ambiance.

These are some of the spring home staging tips for Omaha that can help you sell your home faster and for more money this season. If you need more help or advice on how to prepare your home for sale, contact us today. 

Looking for a new place to host your OWN Super Bowl party next year??  Let’s get together and find your PERFECT paring now!  Give our team of experts a call today, and we’ll get your home plan created.  The Heim-Berg Team- 402-677-9024. 

Selling your home in the Omaha can be exciting, but the process requires careful planning to ensure it goes smoothly. Avoiding common mistakes will help make your sale efficient and stress-free as you transition to a new home.

1. Setting a price for your home without doing research or working with a real estate agent is a common mistake to avoid. Home values are based on many factors, including comparable sales in your Omaha neighborhood, seasonality, current inventory availability, and more.

2. Avoid the common mistake of pricing your home without research or an agent's guidance. Home values depend on many factors, such as comparable sales in your Omaha neighborhood, seasonality, current inventory, and more.

3. Avoid using odd listing prices that don't align with typical price ranges, as this can make your home harder to find; for example, pricing your $400k home at $402,289 rather than a round $400k could exclude it from searches below $400,000.

4. Overpricing your home because you have more time to sell it is a mistake. Homeowners may think they can list at a higher price and wait for the right buyer who will pay that price. However, the longer a house sits on the market, the fewer showings it will get, making it increasingly difficult to achieve the original asking price.

5. Listing your home at an unrealistically high price, thinking you have plenty of time to wait for the right buyer, is a mistake. While homeowners may believe they can overprice their home and eventually find someone willing to pay that inflated amount, homes tend to get fewer showings the longer they sit on the market. This makes it increasingly difficult to sell the home for its original overpriced asking price.

6. Even in a hot housing market, avoid thinking your home will sell itself. When listing a house, make sure to stage and market it well to attract buyers.

7. Avoid trying to sell your Omaha home without an agent. Studies show that homes for sale without an agent stay on the market longer and sell for less money.

The Heim-Berg Team has the experience you need to help avoid making these selling mistakes. Contact us today to see how we can help you get the best price for your home for sale in Omaha.

Are you selling your Omaha home and thinking about staging your home? Staging your home is worth paying for. Realtors highly recommend it to increase the chances of selling. While it's an extra cost, it helps make a positive impression on potential buyers and showcases the full potential of your property. Professional staging can highlight the best features, create a welcoming atmosphere, and allow buyers to envision themselves living in the space. Ultimately, staging can lead to a quicker sale and potentially higher offers, making it a worthwhile investment.

1. First Impressions Are Everything

When potential buyers enter a chaotic and disorganized home, they can quickly become disinterested. Comparing a messy property to a clean one, it's clear which one they will prefer. Professional staging can transform a space and create an inviting atmosphere.

Home staging is a transformative process that enhances your property's appeal. It is akin to a professional photoshoot, accentuating its best features. In a competitive market, first impressions are crucial when selling a home. By staging your property, you can capture buyers' attention and increase the likelihood of receiving offers.

2. Accelerate the Sale

When your home remains unsold, it incurs ongoing expenses such as mortgage payments, utilities, and property taxes. However, staging your home can significantly expedite the selling process. On average, staged homes sell 30 times faster than those that are not staged. By utilizing staging, you can save weeks, or even months, of time. Selling your home quickly allows you to cease paying for household expenses and transition to the next phase sooner.

3. Larger Offers

Staging a home can lead to higher offers from buyers, resulting in significant financial gain for sellers. It goes beyond superficial fixes and is an important aspect of marketing efforts.

Staging a home can have a significant impact on buyers. When a house is staged, it helps buyers visualize themselves living there, leading to a higher likelihood of them making a higher bid. The investment you make in staging could potentially result in a larger sale price. Whether your real estate agent covers the cost or you pay for it yourself, home staging is a worthwhile investment that should not be dismissed as just another expense.

4. Enable Buyers to See Themselves in Your Space

Home staging is a powerful tool that bridges the gap between different buyer preferences. It transforms a home into an inviting space that appeals to a wide range of potential buyers. By neutralizing unique tastes, staging creates a blank canvas that still exudes character. This allows buyers to envision themselves making lasting memories in the property.

Professional home stagers employ psychological tactics to create an inviting and appealing atmosphere. It goes beyond simply arranging furniture; home staging aims to establish a seamless flow that evokes a sense of excitement and possibility for potential buyers. By strategically placing items and creating a harmonious environment, home staging communicates the message, "Your future life here will be amazing."

Paying for Home Staging is Worth It

Selling a home can be an emotional and financial roller coaster. Fortunately, staging is a helpful tool for finding buyers. Staging acts as a safety harness, ensuring a smooth and quick sale process. The benefits of home staging make it a worthwhile investment when listing your home.

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!

When selling your home in Omaha, it's important to consider making minor improvements to increase its appeal and market value. One highly effective and budget-friendly improvement is applying a fresh coat of paint. This goes beyond simply hiding old colors or stains. It involves carefully selecting the right shades, techniques, and finishes to bring each room to life.

Before searching for local painters, consider these expert painting tips to make sure your property leaves a lasting impression:

1. The Power Of Neutral Tones

Neutral colors such as beige, gray, and soft pastels have the ability to create a calming and versatile backdrop. When used in interior design, these colors can transform spaces into airy sanctuaries that exude both life and elegance. The versatility of these hues allows for an inviting ambiance, making it easy for future buyers to envision their cherished furniture and decorations seamlessly fitting into the space.

While neutral colors are a safe choice, does it mean bold colors are a no-go? Not necessarily. 

2. Bold Doesn't Mean Bad

Neutral colors are versatile and appeal to a larger group of people. However, incorporating bold colors strategically can highlight important aspects of a house. Consider painting an accent wall or using vibrant colors in smaller areas such as bathrooms. This will bring character to the space without overpowering potential buyers.

Once you've settled on colors, the next vital aspect is the quality of the paint you select.

3. Invest In Premium Paint

Choosing less expensive paint may seem like a good idea, but it could lead to regrets. Premium paints are more durable, go on smoothly, and often require fewer coats. By investing in quality paint, you'll save time and achieve a professional finish, enhancing the overall appearance of your home.

If you're uncertain about the ideal color palette for your home, consider consulting professionals.

4. Preparation Is Key

To achieve a high-quality paint job, proper surface preparation is crucial. The condition of the surface directly impacts the final result.

Start by inspecting the wall for any nails, screws, or other protrusions. Remove them and fill in the gaps with spackle. For areas with old paint chipping or peeling, a thorough scraping will create a more even surface.

Before painting a wall, it is essential to ensure that it is clean and free of dust, cobwebs, and stains. Cleaning the walls with a mild cleaner will create a spotless surface, guaranteeing a smooth painting process and a flawless finish.

With a clean, even canvas in place, it's now crucial to set the stage for your paint.

5. Prime Before Painting

Priming is an essential step in any paint job. It serves as the foundation for the paint, ensuring better adhesion and longevity. While it may be tempting to skip this step, doing so can compromise the overall quality and durability of the paint job. By taking the time to properly prime, you are setting yourself up for a more successful and long-lasting result.

Primers serve a dual purpose by blocking previous wall color or stains and creating a consistent base for paint. This allows the paint to showcase its true color. Additionally, primers prevent older stains and dark shades from bleeding through, resulting in a uniform and vibrant finish.

6. Use The Right Tools

When it comes to painting, it's important to understand that not all tools are the same. The quality of your tools can greatly impact the outcome of your project. Here are some common painting tools that you may need:

• Brushes: When selecting brushes for painting, it is important to choose ones with tapered bristles. These brushes offer precision, especially when working on corners and edges. Additionally, using a top-grade brush will result in a smoother paint application, reducing the appearance of brush marks.

• Rollers: When selecting a roller nap thickness, consider the texture of your wall. Smooth walls call for thinner naps, while textured walls require thicker ones. A good roller can effortlessly cover large areas.

• Painter's Tape: When it comes to painting, it's important not to cut corners. By using superior tape, you can achieve sharp lines and ensure easy removal, preserving the integrity of your fresh walls.

Investing in high-quality equipment is essential for achieving professional results and making the job easier. However, it is equally important to master the proper application technique.

7. Master The Technique

When painting, it is important to use proper technique. Use long, even strokes and maintain a wet edge to avoid lap marks. Start at the ceiling and work your way down, addressing any drips as you go.

To achieve a flawless finish, it is important to remember to overlap your strokes slightly. This will minimize streaks and ensure uniform coverage. It is recommended to practice this technique on a smaller area first, allowing you to get the hang of it before moving on to larger spaces. Patience and precision are key in achieving the desired result.

While the technique is basic, the conditions under which you paint can also influence the final result.

Boost your home's resale value with a professional paint job. Use quality products, prepare surfaces thoroughly, and follow expert techniques. Buyers will be attracted to the fresh appeal. Start painting now for a lucrative sale.

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!

When selling a home, some small inconveniences can occur, but being prepared for them & working closely with your real estate agent, can limit the irritation. While we do our best to help the process go smoothly, there will inevitably be things that may be annoying. The fact remains that you'll be dealing with different buyer types when selling, and personality types do vary. 

It's good to know what to expect from buyers in advance to keep focused on the goal and not let the inconveniences and annoyances delay the process. Here are a few of the things to expect.

Last Minute Showings

Not everyone is organized with their time, and will sometimes request last-minute showings as they fit their schedules.  

While we do our best to get buyers to schedule at least a few days in advance, last-minute showing requests can & do come up. While this may seem like a major inconvenience to you, remember that this could be the buyer making an incredible offer on your home. A missed showing is a missed opportunity, so try to be open to any showings, even if it means juggling your schedules.  

Buyer Not Arriving for Showings

You work hard to accommodate showing times by coordinating schedules and ensuring your home is in tip-top shape and ready to make an incredible impression, only to find out the buyers will not be coming. Yes, this can be frustrating. However, things can come up on the buyer's end that were inevitable and caused the cancelation. Don't automatically assume it is an inconsiderate buyer.  Instead, work with your agent & buyers agent to reschedule at a better time for both of you. The situation can still be turned around to be profitable for both of you. 

Lights left on or doors unlocked

Sometimes a buyer's agent will leave the lights on or a door unlocked when showing your home. While this is very rare, especially a door unlocked as secure lockboxes are normally used, it could happen.

As real estate agents, showing instructions are included for buyers agents that convey exactly what is to be done during a showing, including the smallest of details. If those details are not followed, simply talk with your real estate agent and the situation will be remedied immediately.

Selling your home may come with some annoyances or inconveniences, but if you keep your eyes on your ultimate goal, and work hand in hand with your real estate team, the process flows much smoother. Communication is key, and your TEAM is always by your side. 

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!

There's a lot of work involved in keeping a home looking clean and tidy, whether or not your house is on the Omaha market and you're preparing for showings. Particularly when you have a family, keeping your home clean can seem like a full-time job.

If you’ve ever been to someone’s house and felt like it’s always clean and you’ve wondered their secret, they probably have a few, including the following.

Stop the Marathon Cleaning Sessions

Many of us put off household chores and try to do everything at once, which makes us feel like we'll never be able to keep up. You may pile up clutter all week and then tackle it on Saturday.

That’s fine, but you could develop a negative relationship with cleaning because it’s always frustrating to tackle such a big project.

If you can make goals to clean your house a little at a time, it changes your habits and becomes a natural part of your routine rather than a once-in-a-while dreaded task.

Try focusing on things you can do right now that will make a difference over time, even if they are small. As a result, you won't feel overwhelmed. By gradually adding these small tasks to your daily routine, you'll stop thinking of them as cleaning. You'll just accept them as part of your daily routine.

Try the 20/10 Rule

The 20/10 rule is an approach that can help you stop being a marathon cleaner.

By using a timer, you train yourself to clean briefly throughout the week. For example, you can set a timer for 20 minutes. You focus on cleaning something during those 20 minutes. Then, you give yourself a 10-minute break to do whatever you want, and once that ends, return to cleaning.

Make the Beds Everyday

One of the best things you can do for yourself to feel mentally more in control of your home and your day is to make your bed every day. Make it even on the weekends or when you don’t feel like it.

Making your bed has an immediate impact. You can feel calmer knowing that at least one thing in your home is tidy, no matter what.

Put Things Away As Soon As You’re Done Using Them

Take a moment to consider how many things you use throughout the day without putting them back. Every day, we do it unconsciously. You might leave something on the countertop for now instead of putting it back in the drawer.

Clothes are another example. Instead of hanging them up, you start throwing them on the floor or your bed, so try to change that habit.

These things add up.

If you consciously promise yourself you’ll put everything back after you’re done using it, you’ll notice a difference in your home.

Do One Room At a Time

When you do clean, focus on one room at a time. It gets overwhelming to tell yourself you have to clean the entire house.

You can stay motivated and encouraged when you focus on one room at a time.

Have a Schedule

Having a schedule can help people maintain a clean home consistently. It is up to you to come up with something that works for you, but one way to do it is to separate tasks by day and do them on the same day every week.

You might dust and do laundry on Monday, and vacuum and clean bathrooms on Tuesday. You can go from there, but as you’re doing more frequent cleaning, things have less of a chance to become big messes.

Finally, aim to do a load of laundry a day. That means washing it, folding it, and putting it away. Laundry can create piles and messes all over your home if it gets out of hand, so taking control of those before they become problematic will keep floors and other areas tidier.

Maybe you come up with a routine for the load you do every day. For example, you could put a load in in the morning before leaving for the day. You put it in the dryer as soon as you get home, and you put it away before bed.

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!

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