an ongoing conversation place for everything real estate

On the news Sunday night they were interviewing a man who lives downtown in a tent.  He was really proud of his tent and its aero dynamic features, but I couldn’t help worry that aero dynamic or not a low temperature of below zero that night would be cold.  Waking the next morning, I was still thinking about the man braving the cold tempratures and then saw a news report about the Siena Francis House being short on coats, boots, hats and gloves, etc.  I went through my closets and drawers and didn’t come up with nearly enough, so I knew where to go.  Knowing that I work with the most generous and compassionate people, I sent out an email asking for donations for the very next day.  As usual, they stepped up to the plate and together we stuffed to capacity the back of an SUV. 

While delivering the items we received great thanks from the people working there, but what touched us the most were the smiles and even waves of thanks from the men and women who had just walked up the street to pick up a sandwich from the table placed outside. 

I got home that night feeling grateful to have the opportunity to work with such caring people and that together we could hopefully keep a few more people warm this winter.  The Siena Francis House wanted me to thank everyone at CBSHOME Real Estate.  THANK YOU!!

Find out how to help here…

Omaha Wooded Retreat on TODAY Show!

If you watched the TODAY show last Friday morning you may have been surprised to see a home here in Omaha was chosen as one of just a handful of properties shown on the recurring segment by Barbara Corcoran, “What Can You Buy for Under $500k”? In case you missed it, click the previous link to view.

This awesome wooded retreat is one of my listings and I am pleased to announce that the home is now Pending! The soon-to-be owners are thrilled with the exposure and have sent the link across the country to all of their out of town friends and family to see their new home on National TV!

Marketing a home in today’s market is vastly different than when I first got into the business many years ago. Our marketing used to consist of ‘putting a sign in the yard and an ad in the paper’. Then just hope for the best! In today’s marketplace, it takes a lot more than that to properly market a home.

My marketing plan consists of attacking all possible avenues to expose your home (properly) to anyone and everyone who may be interested in it. The TODAY show segment was about six weeks of work but definitely worth it!

While I certainly can’t guarantee national TV exposure, I can tell you that we can no longer just ‘put a house on the market’ and expect results. Contact Bill Swanson today if you are thinking of making a move in the near future for a no-cost analysis of your home!  Or feel free to answer a few brief questions and get an online market analysis too!

Don’t forget the changes and enhancements to the tax credit! Repeat Homeowners may be able to qualify for a $6,500 tax credit instead of only qualifying first time homebuyers who are still eligible for up to an $8,000 tax credit.

Bill Swanson is an agent with over 20 years of experience with CBSHome Real Estate, an affiliate of Berkshire Hathaway.

Omaha, NE Whether you are moving across town or across the country, for a career or personal reasons, it is never easy, nor inexpensive, to make a move.  Historically, many companies have provided some form of relocation benefits for those transferring for their profession, but with limited budgets, those benefits have been revamped as well.  With CBSHOME Relocation Services, we are your partner to help you save time, money and frustration.  We will help you in Omaha or across the country find the best real estate professionals, household goods providers, temporary housing solutions and so much more.  Relocating is easy when you have the right partner helping you every step of the way.  CBSHOME Relocation Services is your advocate for all of your relocation needs. In fact, we will do such a great job, you will say this has been your best move ever!

Omaha, NE   Growing up in Omaha we tend to forget all of the great amenities that Omaha has to offer it’s residents.  From our award winning Henry Doorly Zoo  to being home of the College World Series to great schools, affordable housing, shopping and entertainment, we really do have it all!  No wonder some of the world’s leading companies call Omaha home.  Omaha is home to such Fortune 500 as Berkshire Hathaway(#11), Union Pacific (#154), ConAgra Foods (#210), Peter Kiewit Sons’, Inc.  (#385) and many more.  Per the Greater Omaha Chamber of  Commerce, the top employment sectors include Financial Services, the Defense Industry, Transportation, Manufacturing, and Information Technology.  With all that Omaha has to offer, why not call it home for you, your family and your business?

On July 4th, 1854, a party of 3 dozen Council Bluffians with picnic baskets crossed the Missouri river by ferryboat to the infant “Nebraska Territory”, at that time only two months old, on the west side to celebrate the 78th birthday of the United States.  Carried across the river by a leaky flat-boat, the picnicers landed at the foot of what is now Davenport street.  The name of the ferry’s landing point was Lone Tree Landing.  Aside from the tree, an ocean of tall prairie grass lay before the picnicers, covering a mile- wide plateau of high bottomland that lay between two creeks.  Looking west, the plateau rose into a line of hills about half a mile away.  Such was the townsite.  They moved on to the hills with a wagon and a team of horses, they fought their way through grass as tall as the horse’s bridles, heading west on “Davenport street”.  The group stopped atop a high hill (now the site of Central High School).  From there, they could see in every direction for miles. That is where they held their celebration.  Grand toasts were drunk, grand speeches were given Shakepearean style from the back of the wagon and a gunpowder salute was fired.  Unfortunately this salute produced some unintended consequences.  The party on the hilltop got the feeling they were being watched.  In the distance, Indians appeared.  One participant recalled that “the women got frightened” (which imples that the men did not).  The speech was suddenly cut short, the food and belongings were hastily piled into the wagon, the horses were hitched up and the whole group suddenly couldn’t wait to get back to Council Bluffs.  The Indians watched as the team and wagon went rattling  and bouncing down the hillside,  followed very closely by 3 dozen very white people.  Soon the ferry boat departed and Omaha, a city of tall grass and trees, was deserted once again.  So was the first day in this city.*

*paraphrased from the book “A Dirty Wicked Town, tales of 19th century Omaha”  by David L. Bristow

Omaha, NE Just a few short days ago, the weather was a beautiful, sunny 70 degrees.  Today, it’s a little different as the first signs of winter blow in.  The joke in Omaha remains, if you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes and it will change.  Unlike the weather, the economy in the Omaha metro area is stable and dependable.    The newest unemployment rate in Omaha is 4.5% while the national average is more that double that at 9.8%  in August 2009.   While we understand the uncertainty in the economy these days, there is no better place to work, live and play than Omaha.

Our Chamber of Commerce is as busy as ever as they gear up for another solid year of recruiting new businesses and promoting business expansions right here in our hometown.  Whether you are looking to relocate to Omaha or relocate to another employer in Omaha, our job market is expanding.   Check out all they have going on at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce! Feel free to contact CBSHOME Relocation Services, we are here to help you make an informed decision and provide a streamlined process to make this move your best yet!

Omaha, NE,   Visitors who are considering making the move to the Omaha-metro area will typically ask – so what does Omaha have to offer me?  Whether the move is due to a job transfer or for personal reasons, the response is – EVERYTHING! Omaha has received many accolades from various sources across the country.  Some of our most notable achievements are as follows:

• Omaha ranked first on the list of mid-sized “Best Cities for Relocating Families” by Primacy Relocation and Worldwide Employee Relocation Council in 2008.
• The Competitive Alternatives: Focus on Tax Study ranked Omaha as having the most favorable tax structure for businesses among cities with a population between 500,000 and 2 million – KPMG International 2008
• Kiplingers Personal Finance ranked Omaha third among the “Top 10 Best Cities in 2008.”
• The 2008 Salary Value Index ranked Omaha third among the “Best Cities to Build Personal Wealth”  – salary.com 2008.
• Omaha is eighth for “Best Places to Live for Affordable Housing ” – CNNMoney 2008
• Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo was selected as Nickelodeons 2008 Parents’ Pick “Best Day Camp for Big Kids”

To view the complete list of Omaha’s top rankings, view the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce for more information.  Its great to live, work and play in Omaha – come join the fun!

The Omaha sorority is looking at buying the mansion at 101 N. 39th St.  The Joslyn Castle neighborhood is worried that since there is already a fraternity house in the area it will eventually turn into a “Greek Row”.  This in turn might cause the property values of the homes in the area to decline.  Other ideas for the mansion have been a bed and breakfast, art gallery, or lawyer’s office.

I am interested in hearing your thoughts on this matter.  Should it be turned into a Sorority,

Gold Coast Mansion or Chi Omega Sorority?

other business venture or kept as a family home?

The Paxton, an Omaha landmark has seen many transformations over its 70 years of existence.  The original Paxton was built in the late 1880s and was torn down in the late 1920’s to build the existing art deco structure.  It’s location in the heart of Downtown brought many different uses and memories for its occupants.  The Women’s Job Corps and a self-care retirement home to name a few.  Today, Shamrock Development has restored the building to its original grandeur.  The Paxton, now a mixed use development, is home to 57 luxurious downtown condominium residences and penthouses.  The building is also home to The Paxton Ballroom, office, and retail space including American National Bank, Ashley Lynn’s Tanning and the 801 Chophouse at the Paxton. 

Developer Mike Moylan states that, “The location of the Paxton is our best amenity for the residents as well as the commercial users.”  The Paxton is in the middle of Omaha’s downtown development and boasts convenient access to jobs, homes, the arts, the Old Market and the Gene Leahy Mall.  Moylan also pointed out that, “One block downtown is like a mile in west Omaha.  So, being close to all the numerous activities Downtown is a great convenience for people who live, work and visit the area”.

And a few considerations for the people, too!

You are ready to start shopping for your new home, your perfect pet property.  Start with finding a real estate agent to assist with your search. There are thousands of properties for sale just in the Omaha metro area. How do you narrow down your search? Your agent will ask some questions to get an idea of what you are looking for.

When you have pets in the family, you probably have some considerations that other people may not. A basic starting point is city, suburbs, or country? New construction, or existing home? For your dog, what about a yard?

Some more things to consider in your dog’s new home. Is the yard fenced?  Don’t write off the perfect house if all it is lacking is a fence if you have the means to add a fence after the purchase. Is the yard of appropriate size for your dog or dogs? People active in dog sports often want a yard with a good-sized level space for training their dog. What about access to that yard? If the house is two stories with a walk out basement, are you going to want to run down two flights of stairs (and go back up) first thing in the morning to let your dog out?  Think about the ease of access to the backyard.  If your dog is small, does the house have a utility sink to make it easier to wash your dog at home?  Is there maybe a space you could install a wash tub for a bigger dog?  What about your dogs’ crates? Is there a space for the dogs to have their own area, or a least a room they will fit in?

For cats, the biggest consideration is where will you put the litter box? Will it have to go in a laundry room or bathroom, or is there somewhere more out of the way to put it? A utility room in the basement with a little cat door cut in the door or wall can be perfect when available.

Do you like older houses with character? How do you feel about needing to fix things up? Do you prefer rooms with high ceilings such as newer homes tend to have? Do you have the budget to change things to exactly the way you want?

The most important thing in looking for your perfect new home for you and your pets is not to get caught up on cosmetic issues, like the color of the paint, or even carpet. These are things that can be changed. Focus on the location, the yard, and the layout of the house.  These are the things you can not change.

Contact me.  I’m ready to help you find that ideal home for you and your pets!

Coming up next:   a look at the pet license ordinances in the greater Omaha metro area, another important consideration when choosing your home.

Now you have a showing…

Actually, we are going to back up just a little, to be sure you and your pet-occupied home are prepared for showings.   It can be difficult to be ready for a last minute showing when you have pets in your home.  When you sign the listing agreement, be sure to ask your agent to put in the agent’s comments that you want at least one hour notice to show the home.  This will not appear to the public when they look at your listing, but real estate agents wanting to show your home will know to make an appointment ahead of time.  It is ideal for your home to be available to be shown immediately at any time, but it is more important that it be clean and your pets out of the way!

I’m going to give two sets of advice about showings when you have pets in your home.  One is the ideal, the other is how to do the best you can under your particular circumstances.  In our perfect scenario, someone is always available.  When your real estate agent or office calls to schedule a showing the house is pretty much clean and ready to show. Your quick list for that hour notice starts with making sure the dishes are done, or at least out of sight in the dishwasher.  Laundry is put away, or at least in a hamper in a corner where it is not noticeable.  As a last resort, toss the loose laundry in your dryer!  Pick up dog toys and make sure any dog or cat beds are moved to the garage.  It doesn’t hurt to make sure food and water bowls are put away.  If you have a cat, clean the litter box and put it in the garage. Now grab your vacuum and give the house a quick once over.  Lastly, I like to go around and mist the carpets and fabrics with Febreze. I like Febreze because it freshens the air, but no perfume smell will linger by the time the people arrive to look at your house.  I am not a fan of scented air fresheners. Any perfume smell can make it seem like you are trying to cover up other smells. You just want your house to smell clean and fresh.  People don’t really notice when a house is clean, they focus on the house itself.  They really notice if a house is dirty or smells and will leave it in hurry and take it off their list.

If you have one or two cats, they are probably fine at home during showings. Especially if they are the “invisible” kind that hide under the nearest bed when strangers come in.  Load your dogs, or your multiple cats into crates in your car, and head for your favorite park or coffee shop to hang out while your house is shown. Hopefully, an offer is on the way!

Now, for the real world. Most people are away at work during the day, and your house needs to be available for showings. If you only have one dog, life is still pretty easy.  Get up a little earlier to do your quick cleaning before you leave.  Leave your dog in a crate or exercise pen in a room like the laundry room or a basement room while you are gone. This will keep your dog safe and allow buyers to look at your house. If your dog has never used a crate, here is an article to get you started on crate training. It is easy, and is the best way to keep your dog safe and happy with strangers in your home, and when in your vehicle.  If your dog barks a lot, or you have more than one dog, it is really best to have the dog out of the house for showings. Some ideas to consider, hire a stay -at -home neighbor who you can call on short notice to come get your dogs for a showing while you are at work. Another idea is a doggy day care center, although this can get expensive  with multiple dogs.  The Omaha area has several doggy day cares, including Dogtopia and Bone Jour. Maybe you are lucky enough to have a relative in town that will let you drop your dogs off.  Try, if at all possible, to schedule showings when you can take the dogs out of the home. At worst, have the dogs crated and out of the way, and the house spotless, and go ahead and allow the showing. You don’t want to completely miss out on a possible buyer.  Just know, the odds of an offer coming in when they have looked at the home with dogs in it, go down.

Good luck, and let’s get your house sold so you and your pets can move on to your new perfect home!

Auctioning a home as a way to sell is becoming more and more common in Omaha today.  CBSHOME Auction services was introduced in June, 2008 and since then we have had some roaring successes and some that we did not sell.  Many times I talk with people who askme”is my home a good home to sell at auction?”  The answer to that is “it depends”.  We need to look at the history of auctions and the history of Real Estate in Omaha to explain whether or not your home is going to be a good prospect for auction.  The midwest is no stranger to the auction process due to farms and farm equipment being sold at auction on a regular basis.  The strange twist happens when we throw residential real estate into the auction mix.

Real Estate Auctions in Omaha

The focus now becomes “why are they selling at auction?”, “Are they desperate?”, “Is it a foreclosure?”  The answer to almost all those questions is invariably “NO!”  The reason why people chose to auction their house is because they want to meet the market and they want to meet the market today instead of selling in 3 months, 6 months or even a year.  So why do people have this perception of distressed or pre-forclosed properties?  I believe it has to do with the process of how banks will foreclose on properties.  We have all heard about the auction on the court house steps where the bank will buy back the property it has the note on.  People simply associate “courthouse steps auction” with real estate auctions in general.  It is an easy mistake to make and leads to usually some people who sign up for my auctions, expecting to pay 50 cents on the dollar for some of Omaha’s finest residences.  Fortunately, among these dreamers are some real buyers who are willing to pay the market price for the property today.  And so the next question that I often get asked is “what is the advantage to the buyer?”

Honestly, the advantages are geared toward the seller, but as a buyer, it is very comforting to kow that you have just paid $500 more than what someone else would be willing to pay for exactly the same house.  That can give a buyer a lot of solice.  In fact the transparency in auctions is probably one of the most attractive things for both buyers and sellers.  Have you ever made an offer on a house where there was a multi offer?  Often the buyer is left wondering, “was my offer high enough?”, “will I get a chance to increase my offer?”, “Is everything above board, or did someone know what my offer was?”.  With auction, it is so transparent, not only can you see what the other offers are, you can eye ball the other buyers that you are bidding against.  For my next post I will be talking about what strategies work when marketing your home at auction.