I'm Leafing it All Up to You...

If you live out in the country, you might not have to worry about the leaves and how to get rid of them. The wind takes care of it for you! But, if you live in an acreage community around Omaha, there may be expectations from the neighbors or even covenants about keeping things tidy. So the question is: what to do with all those leaves???

You can blow them. You can vacuum them. You can lay tarps under the trees to catch them. But then what??? My parents used to burn them. I have to admit, I really enjoyed the smell of burning leaves but that is just not an option for folks living in acreage communities around Omaha any more. And, while it might be fun to use them in art projects, how many leaf rubbings can you put on the fridge???

After doing a thorough Internet search for leaf disposal suggestions, I came across this article on the gardners.com site. They have some good ideas on how to use leaves to help fuel next year's garden. I especially appreciated the information they offered about not mulching with whole leaves but rather shredded leaves in order to be certain that water and sunlight can still get through to the new plants. Check it out. I also came across this older blog that has some good eco-friendly thoughts on how to make an informed decision about leaf disposal.

Still not completely satisfied, I continued my search for an easier way to deal with the leaves in and around acreage communities in Nebraska. Then, I came across this video that reminded me of how I felt about Fall leaves when I was younger. Seems like I have lost site of the fact that while the falling leaves can create a lot of work, they can also create a lot of fun.

Until next time...
Dick

Weather! Again...

So in my last post, I said I can't remember a Spring like this year.  Now, I have to repeat myself (and, it's not due to age...) I can't remember an August like the one we just had. I was beginning to think I should "Google" Noah and see if he was back in the construction business!

The rains have made Acreage living in Omaha, NE a little soggy. Even my old barn in Dundee was pushed to the limits on what the ground could hold.  I decided to be proactive and see what steps I could take to make sure my basement stayed dry.  Here's a very simple and easy to understand article that I found useful: How to Waterproof Your Basement

With all the water on the road, I found it difficult to navigate to my acreage listings in Nebraska and Iowa.  I know we are not supposed to drive through standing water but come on now, we know we all do it.  So, I figured if I am going to do the wrong thing, I might as well do it the right way. This link will take you to the Smart Driving site where I found some great information under the heading of Negotiating Floods.


With our country's farmers in mind and the acreage homes around Omaha that I need to show and sell, let's hope the worst is over. In the meantime, here's an amazing video recap of the entire country during the second week in August.

Wow! Until next time...try to stay dry. And, if you'd like to see one of my incredible acreage homes around Omaha, be sure to bring your boots!

Wow! I can't remember a July like this in all my years on this earth! The storms in June were incredible and now July feels like Springtime! BTW, if you are looking for a way to help those families in the Pender and Pilger areas who lost their Nebraska acreage homes in the multiple tornadoes, there are so many great opportunities out there. One of my favorites is Samaritians Purse. Click here for details. Let's remember to keep them all in our thoughts and prayers.

As I continue to work on helping people find the acreage home of their dreams, I have been reminded  of how important it is to have a copy "off site" of your belongings so that when tragedy strikes, you can hand it over to your insurance company. A great FREE app I have found for that is called Home Inventory Mobile Backup. It was developed by Binary Formations and backs up on the Cloud via Dropbox.

Another thing I have been reminded of is the necessity of a storm shelter when you are living on an acreage in Nebraska. This guy, David Botkin, has put together a great DIY video on how to build a storm shelter on your acreage home. It may be overkill for some but at least he has saved you a bunch of research time so that you can make an educated decision on what best suites your need.

Well, until next time...in the meantime, if you, your friends or family are looking for an acreage home in Nebraska, please give them my number.

You Moved In, Got Comfortable and Now the Honeymoon is Over with Your New Omaha Home

I've always said, "You never really know someone until you live with them."  I guess the same thing could be said about homes.  You find the perfect home in Omaha.  It has everything you've always wanted.  You just have to have it.  So, you purchase it and move in...

A few months go by and you realize that you really have a tough time getting a family of 5 ready to greet the day in just 1 & 1/2 baths, to quote your mom, "The kitchen isn't big enough to cuss the cat" and your SUV has to sit outside because the garage is too short with that workshop in front.

While there are some things you can't (or shouldn't) change about other life choices you make, fortunately, conforming your home to be more in tune with your lifestyle is fairly common. And, if you are like most Americans, you may even feel pretty confident that you can remodel your new Omaha home yourself.  Just don't be disillusioned or coerced into believing that just because you can watch a YouTube video means you can handle it:

The smart thing to do (and I know you are smart because you are reading this blog) is to check with a qualified home builder in Omaha, NE to see if adding a bathroom or enlarging the kitchen is even feasible. They builder will make sure that your plan is compatible with the plumbing and electrical locations and pull any necessary permits to keep you out of hot water with the city. (Go ahead and tear out that portion of the workshop on your own. It will make you feel accomplished.)

Something else to consider is the return on your investment. You may just be trading dollars in order to make your home in Omaha, NE more user friendly or you may actually be increasing it's value. This year is expected to be a good year for remodel projects. Click here to view a good site I have found that keeps you informed of remodels that really pay off when you are remodeling your homes in Omaha, NE.

Hope this helps you make a more informed decision when making plans to rekindle the flame with your new home in Omaha, NE. Feel free to call or email me for more information on what remodels pay off when it's time to sell and which ones to avoid. Until next time...

So You've Found Your Dream Home in Omaha, NE...

Ok. So you've found the home you want to buy. Now it's time to prepare the home you currently live in and get it ready to sell.  Of course, you know you can call me at anytime and I am happy to assist you but to get you started in selling your home in or around Omaha, NE, I found this checklist on Real Simple to be a pretty good place to start. Click here to access it.

Basically, you need to look at your current home (as much as possible) as if it were the first time you were looking at it. If you were a buyer looking for their dream home in Omaha, NE, how would you rate YOUR home? We all tend to move into our homes in Omaha, NE with lots of ambition. I know my kitchen cabinets were the first things I planned to change...years later, they are still there.  Also, time has a way of slowly changing the condition of the walls, woodwork, etc. especially if you have raised a family since moving in. Are the walls marked up? Do you need to repaint? If you do, be sure to keep things neutral and light. Buyers are attracted to a blank slate so that they can see themselves in the home.

First impressions are critical. Is the yard healthy and weed free? Are the trees and shrubs trimmed so that they are not touching the house? How about the driveway...are any cracks sealed up? First impressions are very important. You want to be sure they make it to the front door feeling good about the home. I'm not going to go through everything on the list here but you get the idea. Keep things neat and tidy. Here's a great before/after photo of a tidied up laundry room.

Make the home look well cared for. Serious buyers will want to see every room in the house and may also ask "technical" information like what is the R factor of the wall and ceiling insulation, what are the ages of the appliances and/or roof, etc. So, it is a good idea to have the answers on hand, just in case.

Our market is heating up...There are fewer homes on the market than there were last year at this time. You know the whole supply and demand process. In the case of home buying in Omaha, NE, this means that it's a great time to Sell and a good time to Buy, but you better be making that move sooner rather than later. Prices will continue to rise as supply falls and interest rates have been slowly rising.  Check out this article by the National Board of Realtors. (While I am on the topic of articles from NAR, I have to let those of you who have interest in Acreage Communities in or around Omaha, NE know about the special financing available in rural areas. Click here for that article.)

I hope the information I have provided here gets you off to a good start. Remember, you can call me at 402-680-3945 or email me anytime at dickgibb@dickgibb.com if you want more information on how to prepare your home in Omaha, NE for sale. Until next time...

Easy Moves: The What, When, Who and How Much of Moving in Omaha!

Last year, you got to know me through my love of Acreages in and around Omaha. This year I'd like to offer up some of the things I've learned after being in Real Estate in Omaha, NE for over 25 years! Hopefully, what I share over the next several months will make your life a little easier if you will be moving in 2014.

When you're thinking about the what, when, who and how much of moving, it's been my experience that the whole moving process takes about 90 to 120 days from the date that the contract gets accepted to the day you exchange your keys. That means that after you decide the where of your new home, you have about 3 months to decide what you will move, when you will move it, who will help you and how much it is going to cost.

The first few weeks you'll need to focus on what you will be moving.  It's a great time to clean out the attic, basement and closets. Also, what furniture will you need in your new home? Will everything fit? I found this video by the author of the Clutter Diet that has some pretty good advise.

If you've got some pieces that won't fit or maybe you're just tired of dusting, you can have a garage sale (I've got some metal signs you can use) or you can give me a call. I have a friend, Anthony Yates, that has a ministry of taking gently used stuff that I don't need to someone that does. He picks it up for free and puts a smile on someones face when he delivers it for free.

If you have some left over paints or other liquids that you won't be moving and can't throw away, call UnderTheSink to arrange a time to drop them off.

I have more stuff to share about the what, when, who and how much of moving in Omaha but my assistant is bugging me to make my sales calls so it will have to wait. But if you are sitting on the edge of your seat and can't wait to hear more about the what, when, who and how much of moving, you call me.  If I'm on my phone, she'll think I am making my calls.