THE HOMEOWNER'S YEARLY CHECKLIST - JULY

So we all make list, whether it's for groceries, chores or even making sure we have everything for our perfect backyard party. We have to face it, we live on list. They might not always be written down on a piece of paper or in our notebooks, but they are always there. So why not make a checklist for your home. Below you will find a simple checklist of items you should take care of during the month of July that helps you take care of your home.  These list are something that I will start making every month for you to help you. So I guess you can check off your list, checking for your home checklist. :) 

• Garage - De-clutter and donate items that you are no longer needing to make more space for your items that do use and that do need to be in the garage. 

• Now is the time to go ahead and clean up any artificial plants or flowers you may have around your home. 

• Clean and sharpen the garbage disposal. The easiest way is put some fruit rinds and baking soda down the drain to create a fresh and clean smell. To sharpen, it's as easy as place some ice cubes down the garbage disposal while it's running. 

• It's also a great time to check (or purchase) a small fire extinguisher. Make sure it's fully charged and it's best to place in the kitchen.  

• Check the plumbing in your home and make sure there are not any leaks, start with the supply lines around sinks and toilets. By checking these, you could help save a lot of money down the road, if the leak is caught early. 

Kitchen Organization

Sky's the Limit

According to the DIY Network when you are trying to find a place to fit all those pots and pans, don’t forget to look up. Install a hanging rack, and keep these kitchen essentials out of the way but within easy reach. It's a great way to create more cabinet space for other items and appliances. Plus what a great way to show off some your nice set of pots and pans. 

Store in the Door, Kitchen Organization

According to the DIY Network, it is easy to make the most of your pantry’s space, utilize the inside of the door to store canned goods, spices, sodas and more. You won’t believe how much extra storage you’ll add when you take advantage of this often-forgotten area. How great is this idea, if you have little ones who like to have snacks, you could create a snack shelf as well, which is easy for them to reach. 

Cleaning up your Act

Clean Up Your Act

According to the DIY Network, these are great ways to organize smaller spaces even in your kitchen. Why have a drawer if you can’t actually use it? Try adding hinges and a convenient tray to the false drawer beneath your sink for an extra place to hide cleaning essentials. I think this is just a great idea, you can add cleaning essentials or even smaller items, such as flashlights, batteries or other items. 

Easy Ways to Organize the Kitchen

According to The DIY Network, When organizing your kitchen, it’s easy to forget the dark area below the sink. Stop tossing in the miscellaneous cleaning supplies, and give them a space that’s all their own. "By adding a small curtain rod below the sink, you will be able to hang your cleaning supply bottles while also opening up the bottom of the cabinet for other items." How great is this idea. I would have never thought of that, but it's much better than having to shuffle through all those bottles to find what you are looking for. 

Investing Insights

Maximize the Financial Benefits of a New Job - Summer 2014

If you are contemplating changing jobs in 2014, there are many factors you should consider when making the transition. Maximizing the following financial benefits can help lead to a healthier, more secure financial future for you and your family.

Retirement

Find out when you are eligible to enroll in any retirement plans to ensure you are maximizing your time and contributions. Always confirm if your new employer matches 401(k), IRA or other retirement contributions. Employer contribution is a valuable benefit that you should always take advantage of to help boost your retirement savings. Also, ask about any internal retirement or pension plans that are available.

Direct Deposit

Direct deposit allows employers to electronically pay employees, send expense reimbursements and award bonuses directly to an employee’s bank account. Direct deposit offers many advantages including eliminating paper checks that can be lost or stolen, speedier posting to an employee’s checking account and reducing wait time in lines at the ATM or bank to deposit checks. Set-up direct deposit into your First National Checking Account with no monthly fees, no minimum balance and no strings attached.

Stock Options

Inquire about employee stock purchase plans if your employer is a publicly-owned company. This is a simple, convenient way to purchase stocks at a discounted price. Employees contribute to the plan with an automatic payroll deduction, and, at the end of the offering period, your employer will purchase stocks with the funds.

Tuition Reimbursement

An important financial benefit to take advantage of, if offered by your employer, is tuition reimbursement or assistance. If you are interested in continuing your education, this is a great benefit that can help lift the financial burden of getting an advanced degree. Be sure to ask about requirements and eligible programs to ensure the educational options are benefiting both you and your employer.

For more information and guidance on financial planning and investments, contact First National Investment and Planning Services today.

NEW LISTING ALERT: 5029 S 54TH STREET

Beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in the Weir Crest subdivision, just waiting for you to call it home. From the moment you walk in you will see this home was well cared for, with newer carpet, windows and some fresh paint.  The finished lower level offers a second kitchen and large family room that would be great for friends and family to gather.  The main floor offers great light & bright spaces.  The large fenced backyard offers space for you to relax. You don’t want to miss this home. Contact me today to visit this truly amazing home. It will not be on the market long. 

June Trendgraphix Report

If you are looking to buy or sell your home, contact me today! I would love to help you out. 

Saving & Budgeting 101 - Five Ways to Save Smart

Saving & Budgeting

If you think your personal finances are in need of an overhaul, you aren't alone. According to the US Census, the average American household is falling short of their savings goals. I, along with First National Bank  hope to give you some basic tools to help you establish and achieve your personal financial goals. If you have any questions or concerns about saving and budgeting contact Nick Zwiebel with First National Bank and let him know I sent you. Follow me for the next six Mondays for some great tips, tricks and ideas to keep your savings and budgeting on track.

Last Monday, we discussed The Six Element of Savings – Today we will share the Five ways to Save Smart. According to First National Bank, these 5 ways can help you get back on track for savings and budgeting.  It is important to remember to be strategic in your savings to maximize results.

1. set a realistic goal

2. pay yourself first

3. start now

4. start small

5. use separate accounts…why?

Use accounts like buckets for different expenses and goals. An average household should have a minimum of seven accounts: Household, Husband, Wife, Medical Savings, Short Term Savings, Emergency Savings and Child(ren) Savings

Saving and Budgeting

Saving & Budgeting

If you think your personal finances are in need of an overhaul, you aren't alone. According to the US Census, the average American household is falling short of their savings goals. I hope to give you some basic tools to help you establish and achieve your personal financial goals. If you have any questions or concerns about saving and budgeting contact Nick Zwiebel with First National Bank and let him know I sent you. Follow me for the next six Mondays for some great tips, tricks and ideas to keep your savings and budgeting on track.

According to First National Bank there are Six Elements of Savings.These thoughts/ideas are not something that will cause any extra hard work on your part, but maybe able to help you get that savings account back up and budgeting on track.

1. shop with a list

2. coupon, coupon, coupon

3. pack your lunch

4. buy reliable, not cheap

5. use daily deal sites

6. buy in bulk...sometimes

  Why… buying in bulk can be a money saver or a money pit. Before you supersize your spaghetti sauce, check the price per unit or ounce to determine if it’s really a good deal. price per unit or ounce to determine if it's a good deal. It may also not be ideal for small 

NEW LISTING ALERT: 4511 KRUG AVE

 

 

You will be delighted when you step into this inviting 2 bedroom, 1 bath home in the Robin Hill Subdivision. Beautifully - refinished hardwood floors through-out the main floor, including both bedrooms and ceramic tile in the kitchen. The lower level offers a finished family room that is ideal for gatherings. The fenced in backyard features a well manicured lawn. The home has been updated with new furnace and air conditioning in 2012, new roof and siding in 2013. Home also has a security system. You don’t want to miss out on this great home.  Contact me today for your personal showing.

14541 Mormon Street-

Congrats to my clients on the successful closing of their new home! It was a pleasure to work with them and had a great time helping them find their new home. If you are looking to purchase or sell your home give me a call. I would love to help you with your real estate needs. 

30 DIY Ways to Make Your Backyard Perfect for Summer

Summer is coming, or in the case of Omaha in the last few days, it’s here. Summer is the time in which everyone wants to enjoy in their own backyard in the beautiful days. Over the next 30 days I would like to share with you “30 DIY Ways To Make Your Backyard Awesome This Summer”. These amazing ideas will ensure that you can relax and enjoy the dog days of summer. According to Your Amazing Spaces, these tips and ideas will be sure to help you enjoy summer. 

Okay so do you have a pool that you are wanting to spruce up or add a new element of fun this summer. Why not trade out your previous diving board with a trampoline. Yes a traditional backyard trampoline as your diving board. How fun would that be. A lot of newer styles are to make your pool look less like a pool and more like a pond or river bank. So adding a trampoline as a divine board could just add to the visual features of your backyard. I am sure the neighbors will be lining up to try a chance at the new diving board. 

Don't have your own backyard to make all these fun DIY project on. Contact me today to start searching the marketing for your home. Interest rates are great and the market is looking awesome for you to buy. 

30 DIY Ways to Make Your Backyard Perfect for Summer

Summer is coming, or in the case of Omaha in the last few days, it’s here. Summer is the time in which everyone wants to enjoy in their own backyard in the beautiful days. Over the next 30 days I would like to share with you “30 DIY Ways To Make Your Backyard Awesome This Summer”. These amazing ideas will ensure that you can relax and enjoy the dog days of summer. According to Your Amazing Spaces, these tips and ideas will be sure to help you enjoy summer.

Do you have that one place in your backyard where you could use something to give that WOW factor, what about a giant swing? You know the kind that all will make all the neighbors jealous and want to hang out in your backyard. It could be a traditional Hammock between two trees kind of swing or you can get super creative with another idea.  A giant/over-sized swing would be the perfect addition to a pond or pool area as well. What could be any better than spending those summer nights watching the stars, reading a book or just relaxing on an awesome swing. 

June 2014 Newsletter

                   

First National - now offers grant programs for 1st Time Home  Buyers Great news! First National Bank is now offering grant programs geared towards first time home buyers. This great product focuses on the first time homebuyer that does not have a down payment, is unable to receive a gift or for those who cannot or do not qualify for the additional NIFA HBA loan payment.  With this program first time homebuyers will be eligible to receive up to $7,500 to use towards their down payment and/or closing cost. Borrows are required to take a homebuyer education class. The great thing is class can be taken online or in person, either option will take about 8 hours to complete and cost you $99. The grant is a five year forgivable loan, which means payments are not due during the five years, and after the five years the money that is owed would be forgiven.  The grants are approved by a 3rd party and it can take up to 45 days to close on the buyer’s new home with this grant, once the accepted contract has been received by the First National Bank Mortgage Officer. There are a few requirements that the borrows will have to meet which are as followed: Buyers have to make below 80% of the Area Market Median Income: For the Metro area, the maximum household income is as follows: 1-2 Person                  3+ Person $58,000                       $66,800 If you are looking for a Mortgage Office, I would suggest you contact Nick Zwiebel with First National. Nick offices in my building, located at 16909 Lakeside Plaza #119 and is more than happy to answer any questions for you.   If you or someone you know may benefit from this grant program please contact me. I would love to help you build the foundation to your dreams. Please contact Nick with any questions you may have in regards to the Grant Program. Nick can be reached at   Phone: 402-602-5363|Cell: 402-301-7098| Email: nzwiebel@fnni.com or you can visit his website here  May Trendgraphix Is Real Estate a Better Investment than Gold? Both real estate and gold are considered good hedges against inflation and market fluctuations. As long-term buy-and-hold investments, they both offer price stability - meaning their prices are less volatile than stocks. From an appreciation perspective though, real estate has more than held its own. Real estate far outperforms gold in: tax benefits, stability, equity buildup, cash flow, leverage, and control. It's a great time to buy or sell in today's market. Contact an NP Dodge agent today with any questions you may have about your real estate goals and investments - rismedia.com "Teamwork makes the dream work" Be sure to contact me today with any real estate questions to buy or sell a home.

30 DIY Ways to Make Your Backyard Perfect for Summer

Summer is coming, or in the case of Omaha in the last few days, it’s here. Summer is the time in which everyone wants to enjoy in their own backyard in the beautiful days. Over the next 30 days I would like to share with you “30 DIY Ways To Make Your Backyard Awesome This Summer”. These amazing ideas will ensure that you can relax and enjoy the dog days of summer. According to Your Amazing Spaces, these tips and ideas will be sure to help you enjoy summer.

Day 6:

Do you love playing board games and being outdoors as well? Why not combine the two with a giant scrabble board or even a giant Jenga game. These giant outdoor games are perfect for the summertime and can add a lot of fun and laughter to the outdoors.  If you are tired of playing games in your rental, give me a call and we can help you find your perfect backyard. 

10 Tips for Increasing Your Home Value - Tip 10 - Pay down the principal your loan

Over the last week we have been posting about 10 Tips to help increase your home’s value. We are already at tip #9, if you have missed the first few tips you should be able to find them in the blog archive area just to the right of this post. The thought of increasing the value of your home may be easier than you think By following these tips found via the Home and Garden Network, your home may be worth more than you think.

Tip 10: Pay down the principal on your loan.
“This may be the most important tip we can pass along to you is, as you make all those home improvements, don't forget the cash. Your financial strategy can boost your home value in a big way. Many different loan features can be added together to give someone a loan that is comfortable for them; give them an opportunity to do home improvements and to invest in their future.

Don't overdo your down payment. If you spend all your money in a down payment, you may not have enough to do the improvements you want. The rule of thumb is if you are moving into a fixer upper, go for 10 percent down. 

Don't rush into your home loan, as there are dozens of types. The strategy that you develop for the type of loan you want depends on where you see yourself in five or 10 years. Managing your debt payment with an interest-only payment will give you an opportunity to save that money for retirement or save it for a college fund.

Refinancing is a chance to switch up your loan and try something new. Avoid using refinancing as a financial crutch. Are you doing it to lower your interest rate, or are you doing it because you want cash? If you are moving in a year, refinancing probably isn't a good idea, as it costs between $1,900 and $2,600.”

10 Tips to Increase your Home's Value - Tip 9 - Hire a certified home inspector

Over the last week we have been posting about 10 Tips to help increase your home’s value. We are already at tip #9, if you have missed the first few tips you should be able to find them in the blog archive area just to the right of this post. The thought of increasing the value of your home may be easier than you think By following these tips found via the Home and Garden Network, your home may be worth more than you think.

Tip 9: Hire a certified home inspector.
“ Think of it this way, you go to the doctor for physical exams and take your car in for checkups. Why not do the same for your house? A home inspection can be a valuable thing, whether you are selling your home or not.

If you are deciding to sell your home, get your own inspector before you put your home on the market. This is sometimes known as a pre-inspection. The last thing you want is to have a contract on the table, only to hear the inspector has found issues with the home, this can cause a contract to fall through or can end up meaning more money out of your pocket. If you know in advance, you can take care of it. If a home inspection turns out well, it is likely the buyers will feel good about their purchase and not ask for costly fixes or concessions.

Why bother having an inspection if you're not worried about selling? Right….Wrong. Having your home inspected, even if you are not planning to sell today or tomorrow can help you in the future. Keep those records to show future buyers that you have maintained your home all along. Also, time is on your side. You can fix problems on your terms for far less than you will likely spend if you wait. Think of it like a physical that will only keep your home healthy and more valuable.

If you get a clean bill of health, it helps you make decisions. You can pick your home projects and spend your money with confidence.”

10 Tips to Increase Your Home's Value - Tip 10 - Benefits of upgrading vs selling

Over the last week we have been posting about 10 Tips to help increase your home’s value. We are already at tip #8,  if you have missed the first few tips you should be able to find them in the blog archive area just to the right of this post. The thought of increasing the value of your home may be easier than you think By following these tips found via the Home and Garden Network, your home may be worth more than you think.

Tip 8: Weigh the benefits of upgrading versus selling.
“Should I stay or should I go? It's a question many homeowners are trying to figure out. Here is how to tell if there is more value for you in fixing up, or moving on.

First, estimate your costs to buy a new home. Add up the realtor and home selling costs (packing, moving and the new loan financing). Don't forget hidden items, the buyer may ask you to replace the carpet before you sell or any other fixes to the home that you were not aware of or just didn’t have the time or budget to fix earlier. Make your best effort to include everything it will cost in time and money to sell your home and buy a new place. Then, you will want to estimate what you may get for your house and how much money you can potentially walk away with, with the closing of your current home.  When deciding on a new home, make sure you write down a “must-have” list, these are items your new home must have in order for you to make the move, does your current home already have these?

If you like your neighbors and your school district, consider remodeling. You can get exactly the home you want and you won't risk any buyer's remorse. Estimate the cost of making the most essential renovations needed for you to stay in your current home. Decide what you would like to do and go price shopping at your home improvement store. Contact contractors and get estimates on the projects that are not sure you will be able to tackle yourself. This is especially important if you need to add on extra square footage.

Look at what it would cost to move, then what it would cost to remodel. Add in the X-factors such as friends, schools and neighbors, are you close to shopping, restaurants, or even a bus line. When all is said and done, you may find you get more equity by staying in your home and remodeling.”

10 Tips to Increase Your Home's Value - Tip 7 - Beautify your bathroom

Beautify your bathroom.
Of all the rooms in your house, the bathroom is the workhorse. There is lots of wear and tear, so you want to keep it functioning well and make good looking upgrades along the way.

• Focus on your faucet. Bathrooms are not utilitarian anymore. People like to feel relaxed, like they are in a spa. Drop-sinks are old news, people want the under-mount sinks.
• Go granite or marble with your countertops. If you are toying with the granite idea, your bathroom counter is most likely smaller than your kitchen counter and less expensive. This is a great place to start your first granite project.
• Nix the overhead lighting in favor of wall mounts to add warmth and value to your bathroom. Make sure that around your mirror you have even lighting with no side shadows.
• Heated floors attract buyers like bees to honey.
• Upgrade your bath area. With an 85 percent return, install a shower with body sprays and stone surround tile. If you are not selling right away, you will feel like you are in a Zen garden every time you step into your bathroom.
• Keep it clean. Dirt and grime can become embedded in bathroom surfaces very quickly. Freshen it up with new grout.