Cleaning, Maintenance, and More: How to Care for Carpet


In the past couple of months, we’ve been getting a lot of questions about carpet. Today, we’ll be going over a few key points you need to know to best maintain any carpet. 

In the past couple of months, we’ve been getting a lot of questions about carpet. To best address them, we decided to reach out to our carpet installers: Imperial Tile.

According to them, the most important thing you can do to maintain your carpet is to vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. A lot of people complain about their carpet matting down, but vacuuming at least once a week should prevent this from occurring altogether.

Also, don’t vacuum in the same direction and pattern every time. This will help your carpet stand up to foot traffic and will prevent it from becoming worn down. Using a vacuum cleaner that will work well for your specific carpet is another way to maintain it.

High-quality vacuums can be adjusted for height. If you have a thicker carpet, you’ll want to raise your vacuum to a higher height setting. The opposite is true for short carpet.

So, what about actually cleaning the carpet? First, stick to a professional cleaner and have your carpet cleaned every 12 to 18 months. Rug Doctors and household steam cleaners can actually do more damage than good, since they can de-laminate your carpet.
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The most important thing you can do to maintain your carpet is to vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.



Additionally, rugs can help to protect your carpet and keep it clean. Rugs are good for decor and for the longevity of your carpet. Placing rugs in areas where people enter your home and need to wipe their shoes is always a good option.

When a carpet does get dirty or a spill occurs, the best thing you can do is to get the stain out right away. Dish detergent and a little bit of water will go a long way. Blot at stains with a white cloth, since colored cloths can transfer pigment to your carpet. And remember: never scrub at a spill or stain. You can find more information on removing stains here.

Some wear and tear is to be expected, though. Depending on the activity that takes place in your carpet, you may start to see some rippling or relaxing of the carpet over time. If you move furniture often, this is likely to occur.

Different kinds of carpet tend to relax more than others. This has nothing to do with an installation defect. But, relaxing of the carpet is covered under our warranty for the first year.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.


Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

A Peek Into Our Villa Neighborhood: Eagle Ridge Village


Have you heard of our villa neighborhood? Eagle Ridge Village could be perfect for your next move. 

Today I want to take a little time to tell you about our villa product.

I’m not sure how many of you are aware, but we actually have a villa neighborhood in Papillion called Eagle Ridge Village. There are a lot of great opportunities in this neighborhood.

There are about 16 lots in the neighborhood, which has its own HOA. Some of the things included in the HOA are lawn care, snow removal, and trash removal.
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There’s a lot of great opportunity in this neighborhood.



These properties start from about $220,000 and are perfect for anyone who is considering downsizing.

Feel free to visit our models to get more information. Our two models locations are Pebblebrook in Gretna and Arbor View in Elkhorn.

You can also always visit our website at www.CharlestonHomesOmaha.com.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.


Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

Fall Is Here! Why Is It a Great Time to Build a Home?


Thinking about selling your home and buying a new one? This is a great market to do it in. 


If you’ve been considering buying a new home at any point in the near future, now might be the time to act. Right now, we are seeing building costs start to rise in the wake of the damage caused by recent hurricanes in Florida and Texas and the wildfires in California.

We’re anticipating that there is a pretty significant increase coming, but for now the costs remain relatively low. You can build a house now for much less than it would cost once these building costs start to rise.
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This is a great market for
move-up buyers.



If you need to sell your home in order to buy a new one, this is a great market for that too. Inventory is low, so there isn’t much for buyers to choose from. You can help your home stand out in this market, get a great sale price, and move into something bigger and better. It’s also a great time to write a purchase contract with a move-in date this spring.

These are just a few of the reasons why you should consider buying a home this fall. If you have any questions for us, don't hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. As always, we’d love for you to come and check out our model homes in Gretna and Elkhorn.


Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

We’re Proud to Be Best of Omaha


We are very grateful to have been recognized in the “Best of Omaha” competition for three years running. We’re hoping to make it four in 2018. 


Did you know that Charleston Homes has won first place in Best of Omaha for the last three years? We’re so grateful for that accomplishment, especially because it means that you took the time to vote for us and tell others to do the same.


Voting for the 2018 competition has just ended, so our fingers are crossed for four in a row!
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 We’re shooting for
four in a row in 2018!



We’ve got model homes right now in Gretna and Arbor View that are ready for showings. If you’re interested in taking a look at any of them, we’d love to show you what we have to offer.


If you have any questions for us at all, don’t hesitate to reach out and give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.


Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

How to Prepare Your Home for Fall and Winter


Colder weather is setting in with fall and winter just around the corner. At this time of year, there are a few key ways you need to be maintaining your home in preparation. 


With fall arriving soon and winter on the horizon, it’s time to talk about the ways you can prepare your home for the later seasons of the year. Taking care of your home during fall and winter months is an important part of year-round maintenance.

First of all, caulking and sealing your driveway is very important—especially before winter. When this is done, a penetrating sealer is applied to the garage floor and driveway in order to prevent road salts or brine from seeping into your concrete. Winter weather means that salt and brine will collect on your tires from the road—a driveway that isn’t sealed properly will absorb these materials and eventually sustain both cosmetic and practical damage.

Caulking the control joints, especially on homes facing north or east, is going to allow you to keep moisture from collecting beneath the slab of your driveway. If too much water collects and freezes beneath your driveway, it can result in a process called frost heave.

Frost heave occurs when an increasing amount of ice grows to the point where the above layers of ground, in this case concrete, are lifted. This can cause the driveway to crack and even become unlevel next to the garage floor.

There are also things you can do to maintain your yard in the fall and winter months. September is a great time to apply a fall fertilizer as well as an overseeding of the yard. Rye, a fescue/bluegrass mix, or just straight bluegrass are all great options for most yards.

Right up against buildings, such as along the foundation of the garage, you may notice dirt settlement. To fix this, you could either pull back the sod, apply dirt, and relay, or you could simply cover it up by reseeding over the top of the problem areas.
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 Taking care of your home during fall and winter months is an important part of year-round maintenance.



Insects will also become an issue during the cooler months. Be sure to spray for any insects trying to find their way inside your home. You could either seek professional help or purchase an over-the-counter spray yourself. Spiders are the pest that people primarily look out for. One of the best places to spray is between the foundation and siding, since that is where spiders and other pests will often find their way in.

If you have access to a pressure washer, clean the siding of any spiderwebs. You can also achieve this with a regular garden hose. Remember to be especially careful when doing this on vinyl siding, since the layers could peel and disconnect. After your house is clean and dry will be the best time to do a perimeter spray for insects. You can treat your lawn to repel bugs, as well.

Additionally, make sure that all the proper areas on and around your home are tightly sealed. This will prevent larger pests like rodents from entering your home. Make sure patio doors, garage doors, and other similar features are properly sealed.

If your house is equipped with wooden fences or decks, consider sealing these as well. Gently power washing your deck before you apply any stain can help to restore the natural vibrancy of the wood. If you don’t own a power washer, you can also use a deck wash from any local hardware store in conjunction with your garden hose.

Fireplace vents are another place to check before fall and winter months arrive. Check for bird nests here and in exhaust and fresh-air intake pipes. It is important to remove any nests from areas like these. You could use a leaf blower or garden hose to help remove the smaller pieces from the vent.

Finally, clean the coils of your air conditioning unit. Rinsing out any possible debris will help them to stay in better condition.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.


Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

How to Adjust the Controls on Your Sprinklers


Today I’m joined by John Brosh of Turfbuilder Irrigation Inc, to talk about a new control panel setup for your sprinkler system.

Today I’m joined by John Brosh, owner of Turfbuilder Irrigation Inc., and I wanted to go over a few questions that some homeowners have asked me about their sprinkler systems.


This year, there’s a new sprinkler control system that we wanted to go over with you. According to John, everything on the controller is pretty basic and easy to use. This control system comes with an automatic system that will run the sprinkler on the schedule that you set. Setting that schedule is easy and can be done from the same dial.


You’re able to set your start times and which days you want to water your lawn. We always recommend that you water your lawn in the morning so that it can dry throughout the day. You can also set the start times and how long you want each zone to run.

Because there are two types of sprinklers in your system, a rotor and a stationary head, you’re going to want to run each zone a little differently and for a different period of time.


 In order to adjust the rotors in your yard, all you need is a small screwdriver.



The other feature of this control panel that we wanted to show you is the manual station. You can manually start your sprinkler system during the off-season or when you need to cool down your soil during hotter summer days. The last feature of the system is an off-option, for days when there’s rain in the forecast and an extra watering isn’t needed.


While these are the basic controls, there are some add-ons that Turfbuilder Irrigation can provide you for a fee. These additional features include Wi-Fi and rain sensors.


In order to adjust the rotors in your yard, all you need is a small screwdriver. Each rotor has two stopping points: one on the left and one on the right. To find your left-handed stopping point, you turn the entire head until you have it where you need it.


Once you have it set, then you take a flathead screwdriver and turn the knob on the top of the rotor clockwise. The more you turn it, the bigger your radius will get. You can also use a screwdriver to adjust the spray pattern as well.


If you have any additional questions for John, you can reach him and Turfbuilder Irrigation at (402) 592-7100.

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in our area, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to working with you.


Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

How to Set Your Sprinkler System for Every Season


When using a sprinkler system, homeowners should always remember that different times of year call for different settings.

Recently I had a conversation with Turfbuilders Irrigation, Inc., owner John Brosh about some of the questions homeowners tend to ask about sprinkler systems and how to use them.

After the first year or so, once a homeowner has an established yard, there are a few things John says people need to consider when setting their sprinklers throughout the year.

One of the main factors homeowners should keep in mind is the changing of seasons. Sprinklers should be used differently depending on the time of year. In spring, for example, John says they should be set to a more moderate watering schedule—starting with three or so days per week, as grass and soil tend to be much cooler than they may be in later months.

Also, as a general tip, it’s important to always water your lawn in the early morning so that it can dry throughout the day. Avoid watering later in the day or in the evening, as doing so can lead to mold and fungus in your yard.


 Sprinklers should be used differently depending on the time of year.



In summer, though, yards do require a little more attention. “Each yard is a different beast,” John says, but a good place to start is by setting the sprinkler to four times a week for those hotter months. On days that are especially scorching, five times a week can be acceptable as well. In some instances, homeowners will simply have to use their best judgment.

Additionally, because the grass is prone to becoming warm and drying more quickly during the summer, running your sprinklers again for a few minutes at the hottest point of the day—around 4 or 5 p.m.—can help alleviate those high temperatures.
But over-watering can damage your yard and lead to poor-draining soil. Water should be absorbed into the soil rather than simply rolling off of it.

Once fall arrives, watering should be tapered back in preparation to winterize. The process of winterizing can be tricky to do just right, but Turfbuilders Irrigation, Inc. can help. John recommends people start calling in for winterization services around mid-September so that there is plenty of time for things to be done correctly.

John also says not to worry about the weather warming up again after you’ve winterized your sprinklers. If this happens, all you need to do is water the yard manually with a hose sprinkler.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.


Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

A Thank You to Those Who Serve Our Community


We realize the importance of those who serve the public 
and want to honor them by offering them a discount.

Here at Charleston Homes, we realize the importance of those who serve the public: the military personnel, police officers, and firefighters who put their lives on the line every day to serve our community. We want to honor them by offering a $1,000 discount on newly purchase homes that will be applied at the time of closing.


 We realize the importance 

of those who serve the public.



We hope you will appreciate this gift, as we appreciate everything that you do for our community.


If you have any questions about this discount or you’re looking to buy or sell a home, give us a call. We’d be happy to help!


Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

How Can You Keep Your Garage Door Running Smoothly?


There are a few tips and maintenance items you can do to make sure your garage door runs smoothly as long as you live in your house.


When it comes to your garage door, there are a few maintenance items you need to take care of to ensure that it runs smoothly and properly.

First, we want to clear up the misconception that garage doors are weather-tight. We try to make them as tight as possible, but no garage door is waterproof. High winds and a combination of snow or rain can cause a small amount of water to seep through the bottom corners. A little bit of caulking along the bottom where the sides meet the concrete and the weather stripping can help, but there’s no way to keep 100% of the water out during such adverse weather conditions.

The most important task is to make sure the weather stripping at the bottom of your door makes a tight seal against the concrete. Ideally, you shouldn’t be able to see any daylight creep through.


 No garage door is waterproof.



The same rule applies to the weather stripping on the sides of the doors. If your stripping is lighter in color, sunlight can sometimes penetrate that material and emit through the other side and give the illusion that the stripping isn’t making a tight seal. If you check the sides and don’t find any gaps in the stripping, though, you have nothing to worry about.

One of the jokes we like to tell homeowners is that their walkthrough is the quietest their garage door will ever be. Over time, dust and debris collect inside the tracks of your door’s rollers and cause the door to squeak and pop when it’s in motion.

After the first year of living in your home, you should regularly check that the tracks and the brackets attaching the door to the foundation are tight and sturdy. You should also lubricate the rollers with an approved spray so they slide with ease. You also want to spray and lubricate the door’s hinge points from time to time. You can usually find sprays made specifically for this application at your local hardware store.

If you have any questions about garage door maintenance or any other real estate topic, give us a call or shoot us an email. We’d be happy to help.


Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

Get a Glimpse of Our Newest Development Phase


Our newest development site, Pebblebrooke II, has many open lots waiting for people to start building on. See for yourself!


We’re happy to be able to give you a quick overview of Pebblebrooke II, a new phase we’ve developed within the last year.

As you can see in the video above, there are about 75 lots in this development, and we have homes going up already. It’s located on the southeast side of Pebblebrooke, right along highway 370.



 We have many lots waiting for someone to start building on them.



We encourage you to drive out here and take a look for yourself. We have many lots just waiting here for someone to start building on them.

If you have any questions or you’re looking to build a new home, don’t hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email. We’d be happy to help.


Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

We Don't Mess Around With Carbon Monoxide


Carbon monoxide is a dangerous, odorless gas that can cause health problems and even death if it's present in your home.


In our homes, we actually install carbon monoxide detectors on all livable levels. These devices are combination detectors that also act as smoke detectors.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can cause health problems or even death if it's present in a home.



 Our homes have carbon monoxide detectors on all livable levels.




These detectors are one of the many features we have in all Charleston Homes designed to keep you safe, and just another reason to buy a Charleston Home!

If you have any questions about our homes or about the features we include, just give us a call, send us an email, or come visit us at one of our models. We'd love to hear from you!


Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.