A Quick Look at What We're Working on in Omaha

I just wanted to take a minute to show you phase two of the Arbor View development in Elkhorn that we've been working on. They're currently building an elementary school that's going to open here in the fall.

There are a lot of cool things going on here, and we're also getting ready to pave streets over in our second phase of Pebblebrooke in Gretna. Pretty soon we're going to have more available lots there as well.

If you haven't been to our website or seen our two new ranch plans, you can take a look here.

We model those in Elkhorn and Gretna. If you haven't been out yet, come take a look. We'd love to see you!

As always, if you have any questions for us about building a home, give us a call or send us an email soon. We'd love the chance to work 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 8 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 Prevent Water Damage

We’ve been getting a lot of rain lately, and this always reminds us that we need to check out our sump pumps. Just after a big rainstorm is the best time to check, and we’ll be showing you what we need to look at.

Your sump pump will be located in your basement, and we install one to two sump pits that allow water from the outside to drain into. It’s a collection point, and any water that falls into the pit must be removed via a shop vac or a sump pump. If your home has a sump pump, pay attention to the electrical outlet. It must be a GFCI outlet with a test button. It’s important to have a power test button so that your pump doesn’t stop functioning during a storm. You can use an outlet tester or simply plug in a night light to ensure that the bulb remains lit. You have to make sure that you’re maintaining power to the pump.

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The best time to check your pump is directly after a storm.

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Another recommendation is a flood alarm or a water sensor. This will detect when your sump pit is reaching the maximum level and you are coming close to a breach that will flood your basement. The sump pump motor floats in the water, and once it reaches a certain level, it’s activated and will start pumping again until it goes back down to an appropriate level.

You should also walk around your basement after a storm to check for any seepage around your walls and windows. Walk along the perimeter of your basement and investigate for any signs of moisture. If you see anything, investigate it further or call a professional.

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 8 new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

Manage Your Own Sprinkler Systems

When you work with Charleston Homes, you have the option to get an in-ground sprinkler system installed by Turfbuilders. Turfbuilders offers each homeowner a free walkthrough, and they’ll also go over the control box and let you know how to adjust the sprinkler heads. This system is very easy to use. 

Each sprinkler system is controlled by the Rain Bird control box. When your sod is still new, it needs to be watered three times a day. All you have to do is go to “Start water times,” and the control box gives you the option to select different times. You can water up to six times a day or you can water once a day. 

When you are on a normal watering schedule, you should set the sprinklers to go off early in the morning. I recommend watering your lawn around 5 or 6am. You can even set watering station run times. Station one is in your front yard, and stations three and four typically cover the back yard. Your front and back yards should be watered for about 30 minutes. The second station is for your parkway, and the fifth station usually covers the side yard. You can water the parking and side yard for 20 minutes because they are smaller areas. 

You can also select which days of the week to water your yard. Again, new sod needs to be watered three times a day during the first week. During the second week, water twice a day. During the third week, go back to the three times a day schedule. After that, your sod should be established and you can switch to watering only three or four times a week.

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Water 3 times a day to 

establish your new sod.

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The Rain Bird control box makes scheduling easy. Simply hit the plus or minus button to turn the water on or off. A water droplet on the home screen will indicate whether or not the sprinklers are on. Once the program is set up the way you want it, you can test each station for a couple minutes to ensure that the sprinklers are working. If they are, go ahead and set the program to auto run. 

If you know the weather's getting colder or it’s going to rain, flip the switch to the off position so the sprinklers don’t run. 

Adjusting your sprinkler heads is simple as well. Turfbuilders provides a tool for you to use, but if you can find it, a thin flathead screwdriver will work just as well. You can make the sprinkler cover a wider area and also adjust the amount of water that comes out. Ideally, the stream coming out of the sprinklers should be a bit of a spray.

This is a great, easy-to-use sprinkler system. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help 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 8 new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.