Real Estate Information Archive

There is no better feeling than signing the final paperwork on your first home! And while the difficult hunt of finding your perfect property is over, there are still many items to check off your ‘to-do’ list before you can kick your feet up. 

We have dedicated today’s blog post to a list of items for you to consider after you purchase your first Omaha, NE home. Let’s dive in! 

-One of the first things you want to do after purchasing your Omaha, NE home is to change the locks and garage codes. This will ensure no one with previous access to the home is able to enter moving forward. You may also consider updating the home technology such as the security system for an added layer of protection. 

-You will want to use your home inspection report as a guide to address any issues that were flagged, and the seller did not fix. You don’t have to tackle these all at once – you can prioritize what needs to be completed on what timeline and gradually check items off. 

-Be sure to connect the utilities, such as electricity and gas, prior to your move in date. This will make for a smooth transition as you settle into your new abode. 

-Don’t forget to check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to ensure they are in good working condition. You may need to change out the batteries or consider replacing the entire units if you feel they need to be updated. 

-Prior to your move in date you may consider hiring a professional team to deep clean the space before your belongings are hauled in. You can’t be sure what dust and/or allergens have accumulated and it’s always good to start with a clean, clear space. 

-In case of emergencies, be sure to familiarize yourself with emergency shut-offs, appliance manuals and the circuit box right when you move in. The least ideal time to search for these is in moments when you need them! 

-Lastly, don’t forget to update places such as your employer, insurance companies and banking institutions with your new address. Additionally, if you are moving from out of state be sure to set a date to visit the local DMV to update your license. 

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Today concludes our three-part deep cleaning series and we believed we saved the best for last. We will be giving you all the tips and tricks for common areas and the laundry room – let’s dive right in!

Common areas:

-Couches and chairs: Arguably some of the most used furniture in your home, especially in your common areas, are couches and chairs which is why you want to ensure these areas stay clean and clear. Start by removing cushions and vacuum the base, paying special attention to corners and nooks where crumbs are sure to be hiding. Depending on your couch, you can also rotate your cushions to make sure they stay firm and hold shape. Tip: Use a lint roller to remove pesky pet hair from cushions. 

-Wooden furniture: Start by removing any and all items from the wood furniture and eliminate any surface dust with a dust rag. Next, take polish or wood cleaner and go over the entire wooden surface. Tip: If your furniture has water stains, try blowing a hair dryer at a close range and using mineral oil or furniture polish to treat the wood after. 

-Dust (Everything): One of the most time-consuming activities, depending on how many decorative items you have around the house, is dusting. We recommend removing all items and dusting them individually, versus just dusting around the items, but that is totally up to you and how much patience you have. 

-Clean the electronics: How many times do you touch your TV remote? And times that by how many people in your household use that remote – yikes! What we are getting at is your TV remote is another breeding ground for germs so be sure to disinfect it regularly. Make sure all the electronics around your home get a good wipe down and use a microfiber cloth for the front of the screens. 

-Wipe down ceiling fans, baseboards, light fixtures: You can utilize vacuum extensions for those hard to reach places such as high ceiling fans and corners. Use streak-free glass cleaner for windows and gently wipe down light fixtures. When it comes to baseboards, you should use a damp cloth to gather and catch the dust that has accumulated. And another reminder to disinfect those doorknobs! 

Laundry room

-Wipe down countertops and laundry machines: As lint tends to settle on pretty much every surface in the laundry room, take a damp cloth to remove any buildup. Additionally, take a moment to throw away any empty detergent bottles and misplaced, used dryer sheets. 
-Sanitize the washing machine: After time your washing machine can start to develop mold buildup, which is why it’s a good idea to sanitize it at least once a year. You can do this by running the self-cleaning cycle using hot water with a little bleach – be sure there are no clothing items in the machine when sanitizing. Tip: To clean the rubber seal around the door use a vinegar solution or multi-purpose cleaner. 

-Clean dryer vent: You should be removing lint from the lint trap after each load of laundry to prevent buildup and a potential fire hazard.

-Vacuum and/or mop the floor: Remove all items from the floor prior to vacuuming and moping and be sure to pay close attention to corners of the room where dust and lint are sure to accumulate.

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

Welcome to part two of our deep cleaning series! Today we are going to be covering three new areas of your home - bathrooms, bedrooms and closets. Let’s jump right in:

Bathrooms: the place where all dirty hands are washed, business is handled, and germs like to gather. Be sure to pay extra attention and disinfect just a little more here!

-Door knobs and handles: Using disinfectant wipes or multi-purpose cleaner, take some time to thoroughly wipe down these areas as they are some of the germiest in your home. Handles are used multiple times a day and many people don’t think do disinfect them often – so here is your chance! 

-Sinks, toilets, bathtubs and showers: The first thing you should do is spray all areas with disinfectant cleaner and let it soak for a while to break up any build up that has accumulated. After a few minutes, scrub all areas including the base of the toilet. 

-Bath mats, hand towels, cloth shower curtains: Before doing anything, be sure to check the care tags to ensure they are machine washable. If they are, throw those puppies in! To keep them from wrinkling in the dryer, you want to set your heat to low, take them out while they are still slightly damp and hang them up to finish drying. 

-Drawers and under sinks: No matter how hard you may try to keep these areas clean they always seem to get cluttered and messy overtime. The first thing you should do is take all the items out and put them on the floor. Next, sort through and throw out any products/items that you no longer use or need to clear the clutter. You then want to wipe the bottoms of the drawers and cabinets. Lastly put back all your items, making sure to put the most used items near the front so you can easily access them.

-Mirrors and light fixtures: Taking a small amount of vinegar on a damp rag, thoroughly wipe down all mirrors and light fixtures in your bathroom. Pay special attention for any buildup that has settled into corners and edges of the areas. 

-Glass shower doors: Fewer things are more frustrating than water spots and/or soap scum build up on your glass shower doors. To remedy this, try spraying warm distilled white vinegar and let it sit for about thirty minutes before sprinkling baking soda on top. Lastly, scrub everything away to reveal your sparkling glass doors! If you don’t have white vinegar and baking soda, you can also try using a damp dryer sheet to remove the buildup. 

Bedrooms:

-Bedding: First, remove all the bedding and throw it in the wash. If for whatever reason you are unable to wash certain items, such as pillows or down comforters, you can look into taking them to a dry cleaner for a freshen up. 

-Dust/clean surfaces: Clean any mirrors and/or windows in the room with appropriate cleaner and rag, and dust surfaces such as nightstands and dressers. Additionally, don’t forget those often-neglected surfaces such as ceiling fans (use damp paper towels to collect dust), window treatments and headboards.

-Vacuum and/or mop floors: Don’t forget to pay extra attention to baseboards and corners of the rooms where dust and allergens are most likely to accumulate.

-Flip and freshen your mattress: To freshen your mattress, try sprinkling baking soda on top and letting it sit for just under an hour before vacuuming it up. Additionally, if you have a pillowtop mattress you should consider rotating it to help keep its shape. 

Closets: 

-Wipe down shelves and drawers: When deep cleaning, it is best to remove all the items so you can do a thorough clean of the surface. Take a damp rag to remove any buildup.

-Vacuum carpet: Again, remove all items from the floor and do a onceover with your vacuum paying attention to the corners of the closet. Also be sure to check the corners of the ceiling for any cobwebs or dust bunnies that have accumulated. 

Selling your home in Omaha, NE? Be sure to check out our 'Home Selling Tips' page here for more useful tips and tricks!

Due to the world’s current events, cleanliness is on everyone’s mind now more than ever. And while washing your hands is a great way to stay healthy you also want to make sure to keep your household surfaces clean and disinfected.

In a three-part series, we are going to be covering the best and most effective ways to deep clean the rooms of your Omaha, NE home. Let’s dive in!

*Before you actually get your hands dirty there are a few things you want to do to prepare. First, take a few minutes to clear away clutter on your floors, tabletops, countertops, etc. to ensure you are able to reach all the places you need to. Next, make a game plan. Take a few minutes and do a walk-through of your home to map out what rooms you will tackle when and which areas will need a little extra attention (i.e. bathrooms and kitchen). Lastly, take note of what products you will need and make sure you have everything prior to starting your cleaning journey. Trust us, you will thank us later when you don’t have to make a last-minute run to the store! 

Kitchen: 
-Wipe down and disinfect countertops: Countertops are one of the most commonly used surfaces in your home and therefore can harbor endless amounts of germs. Before starting, remove ALL items off the surfaces and use disinfectant sprays and/or cleaning wipes to clean every part of your countertops – do not forget the corners and backsplashes. Don’t forget to wipe down appliances and other items as you place them back on the countertops. 

-Disinfect the sink: Using bleach or a disinfectant, give your sink basin a good scrub. Especially if you cook raw meats in your home, your sink can be home to many germs and bacteria. You will also want to throw away old sponges as they are germ magnets!

-Cabinets: Use a damp rag to clean off dirt or dust that has accumulated on both the outside and inside of the doors, as well as inside the cabinets themselves – being sure not to forget the top of the cabinets! *Tip: Be sure to really ring out your rag and dry surfaces down immediately as to avoid the cabinets from swelling

-Refrigerator: Many people will want to clean around the food that is already in their fridge, but this is not the way to go when deep cleaning. Remove ALL the food from your refrigerator, throw out any food that is expired, and thoroughly disinfect the entire area. You may also want to remove the shelfing to ensure you can reach all the surfaces.

-Pantry: This is a great excuse to clean out and organize your pantry – we are sure it’s been on your to-do list for a while! First, start by taking everything out of your pantry. We mean everything! Wipe down every inch of the shelving, paying close attention to the crumbs that have accumulated in the back. Next, go through your food and throw away anything that is expired to ensure you are not keeping old food you won’t be able to use. Then start to put things back by category so they are easy to find. For example, put all the baking goods together, canned vegetables together, etc. 

-Microwave: The microwave just may be the easiest task in the entire kitchen – don’t let the splattered spaghetti sauce fool you! By simply mixing a cup of water with a tablespoon of vinegar and microwaving it for five minutes you will make the surface easier to wipe down. 

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