Real Estate Information

Easter weekend is upon us, and that means family fun for everyone. Kids are getting excited for the surprises the Easter Bunny will bring, parents are ready for family time and good food, and everyone can't wait to see what the Easter eggs have in store for them. The question is, where do you celebrate? 

Lauritzen Gardens is the perfect place to spend the entire Easter Weekend with the family. 

Saturday April 15, 2017 

Families can come and enjoy Easter egg hunts for all ages! But wait... that's not where the Extravaganza stops! You can snap an eggcelent photo with the Easter Bunny and create beautiful crafts with the family. 

The Easter Extravaganza is from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The crafts will be available from 9:00-11:00 AM and Easter egg hunts for ages 2 - 12 years old will be at 10:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, and 11:30 AM. If your child is below 2 years old there will be a separate area designated for them to enjoy Easter egg hunts as well. The Easter Bunny is on site all morning (bring your camera) ​!

The cafe opens on-site at 9:00 AM and will have coffee, beverages, and breakfast to tide your hunger while you enjoy your time.

Registration is required before the event which can be done here or call (402) 346-4002, ext. 262 by 5:00 PM Wednesday, April 12. Standard garden admission rates apply, members are free. A charge of $3 per child will be required to participate in the crafts and Easter egg hunt. 

Sunday, April 16, 2017

The fun continues Easter morning with the Garden's Easter Brunch. This annual tradition is a beautiful setting among the Garden's flowers and sells out quickly. The cost is $30 per person, $13 for kids 6-12 and children 5 and younger are free. Reservations are required and along with payment up front. The menu selection is available here.

For reservations and information please contact Merri at (402) 346-4002 ext. 201 or email at [email protected] by Wednesday, April 12.

Using over 450,000+ LEGOs, Sean Kenney's third exhibit Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks at Lauritzen Gardens brings together a display of nature's beauty with the creativity and art of the LEGOs we all know and love. The amazing exhibit is one for family and friends young and old. Everyone can relate to the days when they would spend hours putting together creations of their own with the tiny colorful bricks. 

With over 13 magnificent hand-built displays, these larger than life sculptures show the web of connections that nature sustains in everyday life. Kids can gaze as the wingspan of a monarch butterfly, see the colorful display of the peacock’s tail, or hang with the buck and his deer. 

The exhibit's interactive messaging educates on how the environment thrives on each other to survive and grow. The chain starts with the plants and goes all the way to the top of ecosystem showing the intricate necessity of species reliance on each other to live.  It also teaches visitors the effect that humans can have on the natural environment. "Play and Let It Stay Station" lets everyone interact with the LEGOs to build their own creations. It gives visitors an opportunity to take a trip back to their childhood and escape for some fun with the kids. 

This exhibit is available through May 15 from 9:00AM - 5:00PM daily, and is included with admission to the Laurtizen Gardens - $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12 and free for garden members and children under six.  

More information: Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks

Lace up those running shoes and get ready for the 2nd Annual bRUNch 5k!

The Junior League of Omaha is proud to announce they will be hosting the 2nd Annual bRUNch 5k​ on Saturday, April 29. Last year the event was such a success that the League decided to come back for seconds!

All proceeds benefit the Junior League of Omaha's community projects. The start line will be at the west end of Turner Park, loop throughout Omaha, and return to finish at Turner Park. Check in and registration starts at 9:00AM.

At the finish line, join the team for a brunch buffet and prizes at Crave. If you're not a runner, but still want to enjoy the event and help contribute to the Junior League, don't worry... we have an option for you! There are brunch only tickets available for you to come and enjoy the Crave brunch buffet and support the 5k runners in their success. There will be VIP ticket options as well as drinks available for participants 21 and older. 

Tickets and event information is available at the 2nd Annual bRUNch 5k page.

Horses are a beautiful species that many don't take the time to learn and truly understand. The depth of the horse's beauty and mind is often something that only few devote their life to truly embrace. This Equus Film Festival is one of few events that allows those individuals to display their works of art and literature. 

For three days film makers of all sorts are able to feature their videos, commercial, educational films and much more to open the eyes and hearts of those who have not had the opportunity to truly enjoy horses from their point of view. The Equus Film Festival truly empowers those involved to share and highlight the true depth and vibrant history that horses have in human culture. 

The Equus Film Festival runs from Thursday, March 30 through Saturday, April 1 at Marcus Midtown Cinema. The schedule is available on the event page. It is held in conjunction with the 2017 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping & FEI World Cup Dressage Finals Omaha. 

Not sure where to choose for your next family night out? Well, we have the perfect event for you! Omaha's BBQ Throwdown brings together many of the best BBQ hot spots in town. Each restaurant has a tent and offers samples of their most popular foods along with amazing drink pairings. It's the perfect way for the adults and kids to get a taste of what true BBQ tastes like.

This great BBQ Throwdown event happens right in Midtown Crossing on Saturday, March 25, from 11:00AM to 3:00PM.

The beautiful 16 acre plot at Midtown Crossing brings the community together with a variety of shopping and dining options. It is the perfect outdoor center for the family to enjoy a day indulging in a variety of good BBQ samples, drinks, and meeting new friends. There is a beautiful park situated right in the middle of it all where you can grab your food and enjoy a picnic and good weather.

More information available at Omaha's BBQ Throwdown. 

At the turn of the New Year we all set out goals to better our lifestyle and create healthier habits. Whether that is eating clean, getting back in touch with old friends, or starting an exercise routine, sometimes it's hard to keep up with the goals once life gets in the way.

One way to make yourself accountable and start getting ready for summer is to attend the 10th Annual Omaha Health, Wellness & Fitness Expo at Baxter Arena. 

This event is the largest in the region and is held on Saturday April 8 & Sunday April 9, 2017. From seminars to booths, you can learn how to live a healthier, happier lifestyle and create habits you can incorporate into your every day routines.

Experts are there to answer questions and make you feel comfortable and informed. You can attend seminars, engage in activities and find something and somewhere to start that is right for you. For more information and tickets visit: The Omaha Health Wellness & Fitness Expo.

While many buyers assume that spring and summer are the best times to purchase a new home, it's not entirely true.

Favorable weather can certainly make your house-shopping more enjoyable, and in cold climates you may not be able to see the yard because of snow, but there are plenty of advantages to searching for your new home in the winter.

For starters, it's a buyers' market. Potential buyers may put off home shopping in the winter because they're traveling, or are busy with the holidays. While there are still homes on the market, fewer people are looking at them and for you - the buyer - that's to your advantage. 

With less people looking, that means there's more time for your broker to spend time with you, as well. Instead of juggling a multitude of clients, they can focus on fewer potential buyers. And the typical winter buyer is a more serious buyer.

Winter is also a prime season to see how a house stands up to harsh weather conditions. Plumbing and heating systems, and roofs and gutters are tested hard in the cold. You may not be able to view all of the outdoor landscaping, but it's far easier to fix that than replace a major system such as a furnace or boiler several months down the road.

The winter season can also be a great time to find good deals, deals that are buyer-friendly because fewer people are looking. Even a small difference in price can mean big savings in the long haul. Also, if you're looking to buy a bank foreclosure you could potentially find a great deal because banks are anxious to get those loans off the books before the end of the year.

Even selling your home in the winter has its advantages. While it may be frightful outside, the warmth and cheer of a holiday-adorned home can charm prospective buyers.

Buying a home can seem overwhelming, especially if it’s your first. Taking advantage of favorable market conditions often means acting fast to evaluate many different properties in a short time.

Since you might look at dozens of potential homes in a month, it can be difficult to keep all the details straight. Weeks may pass during your search, making it hard to recall what you need to know to make a decision.

Before you visit your first property, it’s a good idea to develop a checklist to help you evaluate each one. Checklists allow you to get your thoughts about each property down on paper and compare them easily in the future.

A Checklist Helps You Find Your Ideal Home

Checklists are used in all kinds of situations, and have even been shown to reduce the potential for mistakes in the operating room! It makes sense, then, that you should consider using a checklist to see how potential homes stack up against your priorities.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development provides a free worksheet that allows you to quickly “check off” information about a home’s layout and condition, the neighborhood, nearby schools, and other community features.

This is a great place to start, but you might also consider making a customized checklist that reflects your own needs and preferences. Make sure that each checklist you use is identical and that you can “rate” different aspects of a home in a way that will make sense later.

Making Use of Your Checklist

Once you have your checklist all prepared, each member of the household should bring a copy to every property visit. While reviewing a potential home, it’s a good idea to take each item in sequence and do one thing at a time.

Your checklist will probably include details about the surrounding neighborhood, so be certain to make time to drive or walk around the area after you’ve seen every room of the property. Some features, such as schools and hospitals, might require online research to “score” accurately.

Be sure to save your completed checklists somewhere convenient so that you can compare them easily in the future. If multiple people will be evaluating each property, it’s a good idea to write each one’s name at the top of the checklists they filled out.

A checklist helps make the home buying process easier, faster, and more convenient. Don't forget it!

Selling your home can be one of the most stressful situations in you life. There are so many things to consider; you need to find the right real estate agent, you need to choose the perfect price to sell, there are potential buyers coming in and out of your house all the time. It’s enough to make you want to forget the whole thing and just stay where you are.

However, this is one thing that you can do that will relieve your stress and help you get a better price for your home. You need to get your home professionally staged.

Staging your home for sale is one of the most overlooked steps in the selling process and it could cost you a lot of money if you ignore it. The benefits of professionally staging your house are many.

What The Buyer Wants

Too many home sellers want to show off their individualism when they sell their house. And while that Moroccan rug may have a great story behind it the buyer probably doesn’t care. A professional home stager will know how to present your home to the widest possible audience. They will know what works and what doesn’t.

Return On Investment

Think of the cost of home staging as an investment. The money you spend will result in an overall higher selling price than you would get without staging your home.

Create The Vision

Most home buyers cannot visualize the potential of a home they are looking at. By having your home professionally staged you will be able to show them all the advantages it has to offer. It will also allow them to really see themselves living in your home. The staging will speak to their aspirations and once they become emotionally involved they are more likely to make a solid offer on your home.

Quick Sale

You want your home to sell quickly in order to get the most out of it. According to a study done by the National Association of Realtors , homes that sold within the first four weeks sold for 6% more than those sold after the first four weeks. By having your home professionally staged you have the best chance of selling quickly.

In addition to all these benefits, staging your home will relieve you of a lot of stress. When so much money is at stake seek the help of professionals.

Selling a house is no walk in the park. A tremendous amount of work is involved in staging a house to sell it, especially if you want to bring in the top dollar for your home. With a bit of cautious planning, you can make your home look amazing from the inside out in less than two weeks. Take these steps to prepare your house efficiently.

Step 1: Remember that it is just a house, not an extension of you.

If you never “let go” of the home, you will have trouble setting it up to be sold. Imagine yourself handing over the keys to the home and feeling happy about it. It is also wise to avoid potential distractions for buyers. Pack up personal photographs that might distract buyers. Your goal is for buyers to envision their own photos gracing the walls of the home.

Step 2: Eliminate the clutter.

You might not even realize how much “junk” you have out in the open. Box up, donate or trash those items that don’t add a positive, open vibe to the house. This includes books, knickknacks and anything taking up precious counter space. Don't have enough space? Consider renting a storage unit until you can sell the house.

Step 3: Make your house snoop-free.

You never know when buyers are going to take a peek in your closets and cabinets. Ensure that anything potentially embarrassing is hidden away, and take a few moments to clean out each cabinet. Get those spice jars in order and stack those bowls. Line up the shoes and hang up all those clean clothes on the floor.

Step 4: Remove any fixtures you aren’t leaving behind.

It would be difficult to tell a buyer that you are taking built-in appliances and fixtures with you once they have seen them. Remove the potential for nitpicking and heartbreak by removing these items, including chandeliers, window coverings and faucet handles, before you even show the house.

Step 5: Fix small problems around the house.

Notice cracked floor tiles? What about a hole in the wall or a leaky faucet? Fix those problems right away. You don’t want to give your buyers reason to remember your home as one with faults; leave a good impression instead!

No matter your goals for your home, taking time to prepare it for viewings will save you time, stress and money.