For any type of commercial renovations, Cheever Construction is a full-service general contractor who will coordinate all build-out or renovation operations.  In addition to completing raw ‘shell’ spaces, their superintendents and crews excel at renovation of existing spaces; many times while the office or business remains open and functioning.  Cheever’s staff of experienced finish carpenters can professionally install custom casework, countertops, doors and trim.  They offer a service-oriented approach that includes flexibility to work around an owner/tenant schedule, direct communication with owner needs and the ability to phase the work scope.  Whether you are remodeling for general office use, or for banking, retail or medical capabilities, Cheever has a documented history of successful performance for their clients.  The planning stage of a commercial remodel is crucial, and they highly recommend meeting first to outline the desired objectives for the project, such as amount of increased footage, what level of durability is necessary for materials, task lighting or ergonomic requirements you wish to achieve, and any issues with sound transfer.  Wes Oestreich, President of Cheever Construction, explains that the extent of a remodel or build-out will also determine the need for professional design assistance or guidance in obtaining the necessary building permits that will be required.  Among the most popular upgrade features in today’s market that a designer can help with are porcelain tiles, granite or solid surfaces and countertops, vinyl wall coverings, and LED lighting.  These all serve to extend the durability of finishes and can reduce maintenance expenses.  There are also some major factors to consider as you make an investment in improving your surroundings for work purposes, and questions you should answer before you proceed.  How long do you intend to stay at this location? Are clean-up and durability a concern for your use of the space?  Does your exterior façade need an upgrade to enhance your public image?  In addition to your public image, investing in upgrades to your existing space will improve attitudes and pride for your employees.  Additionally, improvements in ergonomics, lighting and furnishings generally translate into more productivity and positive impressions of your office or business.

Updating windows can drastically change the outside appearance of your business, as well as changing the appearance, lighting and temperature inside.  Walt Grantski, owner of Lifestyle Drapery Services, advises to consider where your employees’ work area will be located in relation to the window walls. Many commercial spaces have large aluminum storefront window areas, allowing vast amounts of heat and glare to penetrate the workspace. Owners need to be conscious of how close to the windows that employees or clients will be situated for work or meetings.  Generally speaking, the closer to the window, the more opaque you will want the shade to be.  Many modern shading fabrics also allow the view to be maintained while reflecting the heat and dispersing the glare. Other things to consider are whether you will want any areas of your new space to be private and what you are using each space for (if you are integrating technology for visual aids, presentations or lighting).  These areas will also require different types of fabrics incorporated into the shades.  Lifestyle Drapery Services offers their standard array of energy saving shading products, as well as the traditional metal blinds. If you are installing new windows that are a different size than the old ones, they can re-size your existing blinds to accommodate the change.  This normally yields a significant savings over purchasing new shades, and is a great way to be green by re-using shades that may not need to be replaced.  Lifestyle Drapery’s expertise ranges from a small lease space to large multi-story commercial building structures, and they have collaborated with private owners as well as developers in the downtown Lincoln area.

Do you have clients that visit your place of business?  Quite often, the item most overlooked or prioritized last when planning and budgeting for a commercial remodeling project is the wall décor.  The art on your walls says a lot about your company.  It can also help create a positive work environment for your employees.  To ensure the appearance of your office is helping you make a lasting impression, Hangups Gallery can assist by putting the finishing touch on your business décor. Steve Petersen, owner of Hangups Gallery, recommends getting your art/framing provider involved early on in the design phase of your remodel.  The best time to select art and framing is when you are making decisions on furniture and colors.  Framed fine art prints, limited editions, and canvas reproductions are available featuring today’s trends and themes.  In addition to fine art and prints, there may be other elements that may add a personal touch to your business.  These might include:

• Company certificates, awards, magazine or newspaper articles, and success stories

• Corporate history, building blueprints, founders’ photographs, the company’s first dollar earned

• Shadowbox framing for important memorabilia, corporate logos, or insignias

• Mounting and/or framing of presentation materials or signage

There is an unlimited selection of frame choices, and a wide variety of colors and textures in matting.  If you have an interior designer involved, they can assist in coordinating all the elements of the design and work side by side with your framer.  Petersen also employs designers at Hangups Gallery who can help you select the right art and framing. When selecting a custom framer, other things to consider are:

• Do they use preservation materials such as acid-free matting, backing, and conservation glass? (If your materials are important enough to frame, they are likely important enough to preserve!)

• Do they offer free on-site consultation?

• Do they deliver and offer professional installation?  Do they provide secure hanging systems?

• Do they offer re-framing and/or repair of framed art?  (There may be some pieces that just need some TLC and that can be reused.)

Security is another important area that many businesses could benefit from improving or updating at any time, but there is no better time to do so than during a remodel in order to remain cohesive with the other changes in your facility.  AlarmLink provides a variety of security systems that incorporate cutting-edge technology and numerous customizable features. Cloud-based camera systems and wireless IP cameras reduce the amount of hardware and cost of this equipment while providing reliable surveillance and can be easily accessed by the business owner or other authorized personnel.  By controlling your facility, you are also protecting the assets inside such as products, equipment and databases that include private company, account or client information.  You can monitor this information remotely, whether you are at home or across the country, through your smartphone, PC, laptop or tablet.  R.J. Lipert, owner of AlarmLink, adds that several popular features among businesses are cameras that have a spotlight or play a recorded alert message once activated, which not only captures an image but makes the intruder aware of this as well, deterring them from any further criminal activities during the time it takes for response.  Additionally, cameras can be placed in many elusive spots, such as inside light fixtures or can be wired into hidden areas that may be blocked or need special attention.  AlarmLink is locally owned and operated, providing technical support by phone or in person 24 hours a day year round.

ABC Electric Company plays many roles in the construction or renovation process.    For commercial remodeling projects, their primary roles include producing cost estimates, procurement of building materials in a timely fashion, providing the labor workforce and project management teams, as well as scheduling and cost accounting their portion of the work.  ABC Electric is a family owned local business with more than 80 years of continuous service to the community, spanning four generations.  They are qualified to perform any electrical service you may require and are responsive and conscientious.  John Whitmer of ABC Electric says that they prefer to be involved as early as possible to help in the building design and accurate cost estimates for the electrical portion of the project.  This also helps to ensure the specific electrical requirements of the owner are being filled with the most economical options available. Whitmer adds that there are numerous energy saving lighting options to consider when remodeling your office or business, and among the best are LED lighting and occupancy sensors.  ABC Electric can perform all facets of the electrical construction process including low voltage and data wiring, fiber optic cabling, control wiring, power and lighting requirements,  underground and overhead high voltage installations and termination, parking lot and site lighting, traffic signal wiring and street lighting. ABC Electric Company feels strongly that their success has always been measured by that of their customers’, and as the first ever winner of the Better Business Bureau Integrity Award they pride themselves on customer service, workmanship and attention to all details of any project from start to finish.

Presentation and first impressions are key in business, as it’s important to stay current and relevant to attract new customers and maintain your current ones.  Often your customers will be energized and excited about the project and will look forward to the end result as much as you will.  Remodels can be a great way to promote your business, but it is important be sure that they are completed in a timely manner and just as your home should be a reflection of you, your business interior should reflect your company’s mission statement.  The GV Kustom Kitchens staff are interior designers, and as such they often work with the tenant or building owner to come up with an overall plan for the space and specify the interior finishes.  They have cabinetry to fit most budgets and that are suitable for office spaces, multi-family dwelling units, or a custom built-in for an executive.  They also carry a number of different flooring materials that are rated for commercial use such as carpet, tile and laminate wood flooring, as well as wall coverings and window treatments.  There are so many great commercial products available to finish your interior that offer superior performance features.  Some important considerations include how you plan to use your space and how long you need things to last.  Lisa Giesbrecht of GV Kustom Kitchens says they are seeing a lot of luxury vinyl tile being introduced into multi-dwelling housing units because of the great look, but more importantly because of the long-lasting wear, easy maintenance, and the overall health impacts (doesn’t harbor dust-mites, bed-bugs, bacteria, etc.).  Hotels, dorms and apartments are all making use of this relatively new product as well.  Carpet tiles are another great product to use in commercial spaces because of the ease of replacement if you have any sort of damage to the flooring in the future.  They also make access to in-floor technology much easier.  Commercial remodels can be tricky, as you are often still conducting business out of the space during the process.  Giesbrecht advises that scheduling the work in stages can often ease the headache and minimize the inconvenience.    During the remodel, you should also work to keep the mess to a minimum and try to schedule noisy work after hours so that your staff can continue their work and customers won’t feel like they are intruding.

Scott O’Neill of The Restoration Pros, Inc. agrees that remodeling of commercial areas can often be stressful on the business owner, so the more organized and detailed the plans are right from the beginning the smoother the remodel is likely to go.  The Restorations Pros will run the whole project for you, and work with great sub-contractors who handle plumbing, electrical and HVAC projects on a daily basis.  All other work is handled in-house by their experienced staff, and they also have a design team that can assist with planning and designs along with a showroom that is an excellent source for generating ideas.  O’Neill says they can handle just about anything regarding commercial remodeling projects, starting with demo of the existing structure all the way through to the finished project.  He recommends setting a budget and sticking to it as much as possible, to consider and take a look at all options available, get more than one estimate and ALWAYS hire a contractor you can trust.

When you choose a builder for any project, it is important to have one that has experience—your business cannot afford to settle for anything less.  Lacy Construction is a design builder that can provide a complete construction package, including surveying of the existing building, work flow analysis, code and life safety analysis, structural surveying, additional planning and future casting your facility.  Future casting is the practice of trying to envision your company’s future.  While companies spend a lot of time predicting what sales will be like in the future, they spend surprisingly little time actually thinking about other factors that impact the future.  Jerry Lacy, owner of Lacy Construction, advises to consider what the organizational look to your company would be in 5 – 10 years and then allow your builder to plan the renovations to your facility for that future need.  All of the work does not have to be completed at once but in planning now for that time frame, you will reduce future building costs.  Besides the importance of future casting factors such as business dynamics, trajectory and evolution; you should consider with your builder what to expect during the construction process.  If you need absolute quiet and dust free conditions, you may want to move to a temporary location during the construction work.   Lacy notes that they schedule owner-occupied projects with the least amount of interference and interruption possible.   Nevertheless, there will be noise and dust created by the construction process and he agrees that it is wise to plan accordingly.

Nate Krieser of Krieser Drywall also emphasizes that the perfect time to upgrade insulation is during a remodel for this reason.  If your utility bills have been high or it gets uncomfortable in your business location when the extreme Nebraska temperatures are in full swing, Krieser Drywall can do blower testing and inspection of your current insulation to find areas of air leakage of under-insulated areas.  Another area they can help you with is sound barriers—if there are sound transmission issues between offices or meeting rooms they can provide you options to solve this type of problem.  Krieser Drywall offers a comprehensive selection of insulation and drywall services, including work with grid ceilings as well.  If you are considering remodeling your facility within the next few months, Krieser notes that LES currently has a rebate program that includes commercial properties for insulation upgrades this year through their Sustainable Energy Program (SEP).  SEP offers a variety of energy efficiency incentives that are available for items such as air conditioners, heat pumps, insulation, building controls, compressed air, variable frequency drives, system commissioning and custom rebates.  Specified requirements must be met in order to receive rebates under this program, and it will close for the year once all incentive funds have been obligated.

Commercial remodels often include a rehabilitation of the landscape.  After all, the entrance to the property or “curb appeal” is your customer’s first impression of your business.  If the exterior of the property is run down or the landscape is overrun with weeds and out of control growth, the potential customer will assume the commercial entity has difficulty managing projects or offering a quality product or service.  If you are considering improving your landscaping as a part of a commercial remodeling project, Ray’s Lawn and Home Care can assist you in planning and executing this portion of the job.  Many businesses request low maintenance landscaping with a great deal of color and texture, and this is easy to achieve with the help of their knowledgeable staff.  Ken Svoboda, owner of Ray’s Lawn and Home Care, says they are also finding more commercial clients are interested in finishing touches such as pondless water features and outdoor areas for employees to sit and relax in a shaded or private area.  These are features that can be added to a project without busting a remodel budget, and also offer a great deal of interest and show pride in your grounds and facilities.  It is also very important when planning to remodel your place of business that you plan for the growth of plants you wish to incorporate into the landscaping.  Svoboda says, “You’d be surprised how often we are asked to review a commercial property where trees were planted so close to the building that an entire half the tree had been pruned to keep from damaging the siding. Or shrubroses that were planted too close to a sidewalk that when fully grown would grab at every silk skirt that walked by. Simple is better when it comes to commercial landscape design. Too many plantings can be a hiding place for those wanting to break-in to the building or jump an employee.”   He adds that the landscape should always be a reflection of the business. A financial facility should show a firm yet financially prudent landscape with mature trees and a well-managed appearance. A retail operation might consider a whimsical landscape with sculptures, a variety of bright vibrant colors and grasses that bend and flow with the wind.  Svoboda advises commercial property managers and owners to include a landscape designer in the initial stages of the project review, as colors, textures and themes can be incorporated in the exterior landscape to provide a great flow from outside to inside the business.  The best service Ray’s Lawn and Home Care can offer commercial clients is peace of mind that nothing will be overlooked or neglected.  As a consultant, they give their clients a second set of eyes in what others may see in their property.

Jeff Nelson of Husker Organics also emphasizes that your commercial space creates the first impression for your clients, visitors and employees.  Having a nice, clean presentation is crucial!  Nelson advises to make sure you hire a maintenance company that will not only improve but maintain the upkeep of your grounds, including keeping weeds out of the parking lot and sidewalk cracks, regularly applying appropriate fertilizers, controlling weeds in the green space, and aerating/overseeding your grounds each fall.  While improving the outside of your business can really transform your look and presentation, the appearance will quickly fade if neglected or not properly cared for on a routine basis.  Nelson adds, “On a commercial property, consider planting durable, native plants in beds of mulch or river rock in areas that might receive a lot of reflected heat from the building or windows.  Additionally, the area next to the building is often a difficult place to grow a needy plant like turf, because you want to keep irrigation water from spotting windows or staining siding.  A mulch bed can be an excellent buffer, while providing great results for plant growth and a clean appearance.”  Husker Organics also offers an all-natural program that will have your property looking amazing—the safe way!  This program uses effective organic compounds that are 100% safe for kids, animals and the environment.  Maintaining a care regimen once you have renovated and landscaped your property is essential.  This regimen includes aeration, four organic fertilizer applications, and appropriate mowing and watering practices that will truly nourish your soil and plants.  Husker Organics uses truly all-natural, locally produced products to feed your lawn.  Rather than simply treating the symptoms of a struggling lawn with items made in a factory, they build the soil to support your lawn.  This program includes five steps to feed your lawn, prevent weed seed germination, build organic matter in the soil and increase the beneficial microbial activity in your soil.  Step one is the application of corn gluten meal.  This is a higher nitrogen product to help get that green going in the spring, and provide some natural pre-emergent effects to prevent several prevalent types of annual weeds.  Step two adds liquid compost tea.  This will help add important, beneficial microorganisms to your soil, and serve as a method of natural disease prevention as well as a mild fertilizer.  Steps three and four include applications of alfalfa meal.  These applications provide a lower amount of nitrogen for the summer, when too much nitrogen will promote too much top-growth and use water, while continuing to effectively “spoon-feed” your lawn important nutrients and add organic matter to the soil.  Step five ends with another application of corn gluten meal, ending the summer season with a pre-emergent to try and limit the amount of weed seeds that may germinate late in the season, and get you started on the next year of having a beautiful landscape presentation for your clients, customers, employees and community to enjoy!  Remodeling can be tough on your property, and can change your outside appearance significantly.  Utilizing these methods will ensure that your lawn and plants bounce back quickly, as well as protecting the investment you have made in new plants and nurture areas of your lawn that were re-seeded after being torn up or exposed after the remodel.

JL Exteriors can also offer many services that will improve the outside appearance or your building.  They can accommodate just about any project involved in the exterior portion of your remodel, including several options for siding, roofing installation or improvement, windows and doors, or even deck additions for meeting or employee break space.  As a locally owned and operated Exterior Contractor, they have earned a reputation for excellence in Lincoln.  Lance Roach of JL Exteriors emphasizes that they will always put your needs first and will do all they can to ensure each job is done in a timely matter, with attention to every detail, in order to maintain their goal of overwhelming customer satisfaction.

From the beginning stages to the finished product, Tru-Built Construction provides a variety of commercial remodeling services in Lincoln and the surrounding areas.  In the beginning stages of planning your project, they offer expertise as well as design services.  Bo Jones of Tru-Built says “starting a remodeling project without a plan is like setting sail across the ocean without a compass.  There is no clear direction and a lot of time is wasted.  When considering a remodeling project, it is necessary to have basic drawings or a set of plans to work from.  The more thorough the plan, the easier it is to get accurate estimates on the overall project cost and to help eliminate unforeseen surprises.  Tru-Built has the ability to assist in the design and planning phase of your project in conjunction with providing our services for the job itself, and will bring our expertise to the design table and help to identify potential issues and guide the project down the right path from the beginning.”  Tru-Built produces great results for both interior and exterior remodeling projects, and offer several simple recommendations for improving your business.   Tile flooring is a very common upgrade to any room, especially for high traffic areas that need to be durable while retaining their original luster and clean appearance.  This also includes tile backsplashes, as tile options are virtually unlimited and can really add to certain areas such as restrooms or an employee break room.  Decorative trim details such as crown molding, chair rail and paneling are excellent ways to add dimension and character to a room as well.  A very popular update that can be done without much disruption is to replace old, outdated trim and doors with new current styles and colors.  They have hundreds of styles to choose from, and new doors and trim can come pre-finished so you won’t have any mess or lingering odor.  If the appearance of your staircase is outdated, you can replace it with wrought iron, aluminum, or wood spindles that are sturdy and have a decorative touch.  Replacing your windows can also improve the appearance of your building, inside and out, while improving energy efficiency which will save your business money while being kind to the environment.  Tru-Built can install a variety of windows, and even skylights, allowing natural light in to improve and enhance your existing lighting.  Additionally, they can install or repair roofing and siding to improve the outside appearance of your building.

As a commercial General Contractor, Sandquist Construction provides complete new construction, remodeling, additions, expansions and repair work services for any size or scope of commercial remodel projects, most notably within the Lincoln community and a 75 mile radius.  As a professional architect as well as a contractor, they provide a unique, expanded approach to services. These added services include business development recommendations, site selection and review, design review, budgeting and cost estimating, and other various services and recommendations with respect to remodeling, building design, return on investment, and “green” construction.  Scott Sandquist of Sandquist Construction stresses that planning is always critical.  Sandquist recommends to anyone considering a commercial remodel that they first develop at least a five-year master plan for their business and related facility needs, which allows for a more accurate approach to any remodeling work that may be under consideration.  On repairs and smaller projects not requiring professional design services, Sandquist Construction has the in-house staff and necessary expertise to suggest the most cost-effective approaches to the work, while on larger projects they team with architects and engineers to recommend the most cost-effective design solutions.  Sandquist states, “In the Midwest and certainly in the Lincoln area, the ‘Great Recession’ with regard to building construction is largely over.  Fortunately, interest rates, real estate costs and construction costs remain comparatively quite low; these factors suggest that there may never be a better time than right now for both new and existing businesses to move forward with any construction work that they may have delayed or may now be considering.  Sandquist Construction is a general contractor in their 30th year of commercial construction business.  As an architect, a commercial contractor and a developer, I am proud to say that we have the expertise to recommend or directly provide the qualified advice and services that our clients and potential clients need and depend on.”

Whether you want to improve the look of your commercial building, increase your property value, improve first impressions of your facility, further brand your business or even need to bring your building current on safety and health codes, remodeling a building is not a simple task.  While many commercial property owners or landlords prefer to bring in outside help, there are still some things to consider before starting the process.  Permits are usually necessary for any additions or renovations, and also depending on where your building is located, will need to be obtained months prior to starting your project.  Obtaining a permit is contingent on whether the work is interior, exterior or both, among other factors, and you could potentially need several different types of permits as well.  Be sure to double check that you have all the permits that you need before you get started to avoid complications, legal trouble, or bad press.  Also, as previously detailed, it is crucial to know who is managing the project and their specific plans for completion.  With extensive remodeling and repairs, you could have multiple projects going on simultaneously.  Your project manager can obtain permits, as well as handle material deliveries and any disputes.  As long as you know exactly who the overall project manager is, you can keep on top of deadlines and mark your progress while staying properly informed about any issues that arise during the process.  An experienced project manager will already be aware that these duties are part of their job and know the best way to handle their contracted personnel and all tasks related to the project.  If you are both on the same page, this will ensure that your project runs smoothly and stays on track.  It may seem like a lot of the focus is on planning, and rightly so.  Creating a detailed budget, allowing enough time to successfully complete a remodeling project, and taking the proper steps to ensure your business can still operate or notifying your clients and customers otherwise is crucial.  Managing how your project will affect all parties involved can translate into a positive impression of how you conduct your business in general, while also providing the benefit of an improved building that will make these individuals happier and at the same time increasing your property value.  Make sure that you plan for everything, no matter how trivial it may seem!

Lindsey Reinke of John Henry’s Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning also stresses the importance of planning.  She states, “It’s important to invest enough time in pre-planning projects to reduce change orders and also to get desired results. Some of the simple things like which way the door swings or even light switch locations can become very important. Properly planning heating and air conditioning systems will provide a comfortable building that is healthier. The bidding process is also important. Typically it makes sense to get three bids and make sure the bids are apples for apples. In other words if one contractors bid is for apples and the other contractors bid is for oranges that doesn’t work.  Some contractors bid low and set customers up for change orders at a high rate.  The three bids should be similar. If one bid is really high or low it probably makes sense to toss it. Beware of the really high or low bids and also how the contractor represents themselves. If they are late providing bids or do not respect you, odds are that will also be reflected in the project, and you will be disappointed.”  Always check for references from friends, colleagues or the Better Business Bureau.  If a contractor is not in the Better Business Bureau, it is an indication they had problems in the past and cannot maintain a good rating, or are not ethical.  Reinke advises that often times quality contractors may cost a little more, but they never have to apologize for good quality in their projects.

Reinke also offers a method of brainstorming for your remodel: “I like to use a creative thinking process that asks Who, What, Where, Why, and What If. For example, the Who questions could include ‘Who has the potential to use an area of a building?’ or even ‘Who will see that area?’ Once the Who questions are asked it’s time to go through the list and start asking What questions, etc. This process expands the number of questions that can be asked to a point new ideas can be discovered.”

Commercial construction has numerous options today that conserve energy and reduce water usage.  Since heating and cooling commercial properties can amount to 60% or more of utility bills, it makes sense to invest in higher efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment.  Reinke says the great news is there have been significant energy savings improvements in recent years in all heating and air conditioning equipment. Rooftop units are a great example of equipment that can save 30% or more over existing equipment. That payback is even greater to replace equipment that has previously not been properly maintained.  Reinke adds that another area of impressive improvements is in thermostats that can be controlled by I-phone technology. Remote access to the thermostat is an excellent feature, and it makes sense to set temperatures and even receive notifications of failed equipment online.  This new technology has transformed dramatically over the last year.

What everyone agrees on is there are plenty of ways to promote and increase energy efficiency, especially during a commercial remodel, and with good reason.  A current trend of the general population is to make a concerted effort to seek out and implement greener options in their residences, and this translates into commercial spaces as well.  As individuals, we are all invested in leaving less of a carbon footprint and being environmentally responsible.  At the same time, we are also beginning to expect the same dedication to protecting our environment on the commercial front.  Not only are implementing greener options the environmentally responsible thing to do, they can save business and commercial property owners a significant amount of money after the initial investment.  Moreover, they can convey a great image for your property and thus, your company or business.  Some improvements are more costly or difficult than others, but several easy ways to consider the environment when commercially remodeling include:

• Updating light fixtures to more economical and energy efficient incandescent fixtures

• Updating heating and air conditioning units to energy efficient models

• When it’s time to repair or replace your roof, choose materials that are made from recycled products.

• Update plumbing fixtures to those that conserve water and are made of environmentally friendly material

• Install motion responsive or daylight controlled lighting to cut back on use of electricity

• Use products for commercial interior painting projects that contain low or no volatile organic compound (VOC) products.  VOCs are solvents that get released into the air as the paint dries. (Other products emit solvents, including adhesives, cleaning supplies, and even some home furnishings.) VOCs can cause acute symptoms, including headaches and dizziness. The long-term effects are less certain, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some VOCs are suspected carcinogens.

• Install skylights or highlights.  The natural light makes for a pleasant work environment as well as conserving energy.

• Install rooftop solar collectors as a supplemental energy source

• Improve your outdoor lighting, for areas such as parking lots, by using solar powered light fixtures.

If you’re a business or commercial property owner, it is important for you to maintain a certain profit margin.  Investing in energy efficient equipment can cut your costs significantly, effectively paying for itself, and from that point will yield a return that you can allocate to other endeavors or improvements.

When it comes to experience, Jim Springer of Concrete Restoration Services advises that you should work with a company that truly knows their trade and is fully invested in your project.  Concrete Restoration Services offers a working relationship and chemistry to achieve desired results.  Springer says, “We create a relationship with our clients, understand each other, and work together to the finish line.”  He adds that to achieve this understanding, it is not uncommon for them to bid on a project two or three different ways in order to provide their clients with all of the options that are available—and often times presenting innovative approaches the client may not have previously considered.  This concept is often referred to as value engineering, or a balance between codes, what engineering your project dictates, and the overall look of the final project.  Anyone can have a cell phone and a box of home printed business cards in whatever trade they proclaim to be good at, so Springer advises to interview companies or contractors like you would interview potential employees.  If they are good at what they do, they will be able to answer your questions and provide examples from their body of work.   Springer emphasizes that they believe quality work and great customer relationships are all you need to be successful.  “At the end of the day, people need to feel comfortable about spending their money and investing in a company to help them with their needs.  I work on projects and I perform the work as if the business location was mine.  Especially at home shows, we provide hundreds of pictures of our work to show people.  We simply treat people right and perform at the highest level of quality.”  He adds, “Our work speaks for itself.  We are not the cheapest, but we do our job the best we can every day.”  Concrete Restoration Services provides a number of services for commercial remodeling projects related to concrete and associated industries.  Areas they can help with include footings, poured walls, floors, paving for driveways, parking lots and walkways, general repairs, concrete and structural demolition work, correction of water problems, retaining walls, block wall repair, I-beams, poured insulated walls, stamped concrete, and epoxy work.  With almost two decades of experience in designing and applying different functions related to concrete for a variety of projects, Concrete Restoration Services incorporates their knowledge into each endeavor to provide high quality results.

Another reason for hiring experienced, local professionals also comes down to following building codes that change by legal jurisdiction.  Local building codes involve processes such as obtaining the appropriate permits, or having inspections conducted intermittently or once the project is finalized.  Finding out about infractions after work has been done makes it much more difficult and costly to correct, as it effectively means the same job will have to be done twice.  Commercial buildings are subject to many more government regulations than residential structures, and they are more likely to receive fines when they break those codes.   Being educated on city and state regulations is part of the reason why trades are specialized, and local professionals are well-versed in their area of work as well as being experienced in legal requirements.  In addition to increased regulations, the purpose of a commercial remodel is usually broader than a residential remodel.  Instead of simply aiming to please a single homeowner or family, the commercial design should appeal to the community and reflect the image of the business.  This is why it is necessary to consider what you are trying to achieve with the remodel.  Maybe your business is growing and you need a larger, better looking space to accommodate new customers or clients.  Or perhaps you want to utilize the space you already have more efficiently, or want to add some energy efficiency updates.   Planning and designing create a partnership, and so should you—with your project manager, contractor, the companies you have hired, and the businesses that will play a role in completing your newly remodeled place of business.

JB’s FatBoy is a local business that offers a variety of barbecue sauces and seasonings.  Their customer’s benefit from keeping their business local by knowing the company and the people they are dealing with on a personal level.  More often than not, if you are dealing with someone local you can be sure that you will be provided with good customer service, and JB’s FatBoy is no exception!  If you have any questions or issues with their products, they have a local number instead of an ‘800’ number and will provide a prompt response or solution. You may even receive a call or email from the owner himself, Kirk Malzer.  Malzer emphasizes, “We are not, nor do we ever want to be a .99 cent bottle of BBQ sauce.  Our sauces and rubs are regarded as an “enhancement” in all of our grocery store chains and merchandised in the meat departments of those stores.  We feel that we provide a superior product that gets superior results.  For example, our sauces are made with a low water base.  This means that can be used during the cooking process and will caramelize on top of the meat instead of running down the sides into your grill or after cooking like most traditional sauces.”  He adds, “Buying local and supporting local companies is extremely important for our economy.  Everything is related in some way.  When you buy local you are not helping a huge corporation to buy another jet or line the pockets of a CEO.  You are helping to buy dance lessons, baseball cleats and birthday presents.  You are helping your neighbor make their mortgage or car payment.  When you do have to spend your hard earned money, your first option should always be local.  Not only did you get something that you needed you helped someone in some way and that just makes you feel good.  You never know, you may need the same from them at your business someday.”

Play It Again Sports is a full line sporting goods dealer that carries name brand items in both new and used condition.  They are a franchise, which means the Lincoln store is under local ownership and operated by Diane Hesson.  Play It Again Sports purchases sporting goods from Lincoln area residents, and are very particular about the quality of the items that they bring into their store as they re-sell them back locally.  They are a unique business based upon their used culture, and as a locally owned business they have the ability to reduce pricing on new and used items based on the customer’s needs and their trade of other quality used equipment.  This means they want your used items and they want to save you money, so there is a mutually beneficial relationship that simply doesn’t exist online or from larger corporations or retailers.  Hesson states, “We want to make sure not only that there is ‘life’ left in the pre-owned equipment, but that our customer’s safety needs are met as well.  We have trained staff on hand to help correctly fit our young athletes.    We’re concerned about how our customers walk away from their experience with us and want to make sure they feel welcome, even excited to come back for another shopping experience.  Whether it’s our store or another sporting goods dealer in Lincoln, you can’t buy that type of customer service online.  I’m a firm believer in supporting OUR economy.  I would rather send a customer to the shop down the street if I can’t fill their needs, rather than see them buy something on line.  Supporting OUR economy translates into supporting OUR community.”  She adds that sometimes people are so enamored by the Internet that they forget about the overall effects that shopping online can have on a community.  Tax dollars are a real thing, and even though we might not all agree how they are allocated, used or misused, we need them to make things happen.  The more solid a community is, the more opportunity that exists; not only in jobs, but growth for our city.  Shopping local plays a large part in keeping those dollars HERE, so that Lincoln and its surrounding communities can prosper.

When buying or building property in Lincoln, there are plenty of benefits to keeping your projects, and therefore your money, invested with local companies.  J.R. Knopp represents Third Generation Builder, which is a locally owned and operated family business that builds homes in Lincoln and the surrounding areas.  Knopp also works as a Realtor for Nebraska Home Sales, which is another locally owned and operated company.  Therefore, both of the services he personally offers to Lincoln residents, as well as the businesses he represents, benefit the Lincoln community in all aspects of buying and building local real estate.  Third Generation Builder also provides jobs locally, as they subcontract jobs to local workers in various trades.  Additionally, all of their profits stay in Lincoln, so everything is spent within Lincoln and thus benefits the people that live in Lincoln.  Knopp emphasizes that what distinguishes his companies from others offering the same services, that are owned by out of state investors and shareholders, is that very few are locally owned so they focus on their relationship with their customers throughout the entire buying and building process, as well as having a wealth of firsthand knowledge and experience of the local housing market and available resources.

Good Life Imprinting & Advertising Specialties provides promotional product services from start to finish.  Owner Mindy Lubeck can literally put your logo and business information on any item under the sun, but also offers assistance in finding the perfect items that will appeal to your target market and create brand awareness.  Lubeck offers personal, one-on-one service and can provide samples so that you can make sure the item is satisfactory before you order, which is definitely a benefit to keeping your business local with her company.  Lubeck says, “My customers benefit in many ways when keeping their business local. I provide personal service and have a personal interest in the Lincoln community. I’m a member of many local groups and organizations and give back to the community in many ways. Online retailers have no vested interest here.”  She explains that when going online, your selection of items is based upon what the internet company determines to make available.  Lubeck can offer much more than a simple product to her clients, providing ideas based on your needs, goals and budget, and also offering her experience, creativity and personalized recommendations.  These types of added value are not available online, where you are just a simple “buyer.”  Also, when you order online, you have no one to monitor your order and deadline.  Lubeck adds, “Many people think that buying promotional products “locally” and having a personal sales representative will be more expensive than doing it themselves via the internet. As local businesses know, this isn’t always true. I personally look for items on sale and browse clearance or closeout items that can significantly stretch a budget. And in rare cases, if something is wrong with an order, that person has my direct number to correct any issues. With an online retailer, you’re likely to get someone who doesn’t care about your order, or get someone different with every call.”

While most funeral homes obviously do business on a local level, some are corporately owned.  Lincoln Family Funeral Care is locally owned and provides all services associated with funeral care, including full traditional and cremation services, memorial and reception services, living funerals, celebrant services, and pre-need consultations in addition to being a local resource center for consumer education.  Vicki Newman, owner of Lincoln Family Funeral Care, says that what distinguishes them as a local business is they are more affordably priced and offer a greater variety of personalized services to clients and their families.  They listen to each family and help them create an individual service that is truly about their loved one—not just a standard service that’s the same as any other except for the name of the deceased.  They have over 30 years of experience providing services for Lincoln families, and are able to use that experience to create memorable goodbyes.  Newman is a native of Lincoln, and she has watched many businesses open and close throughout the years.  She notes that what is most important is that as a city, entrepreneurship is encouraged so that residents have the opportunity to create thriving businesses that stay local and therefore support the local community that has facilitated their growth.  They take the honor of providing services to the Lincoln community very seriously, and are thankful to the families that have chosen to entrust them with the care of their loved ones.

Local businesses can also offer a wealth of different products and services tailored to their area of business, instead of streamlining their focus based upon quantity.  Eakes Office Plus is an excellent example, as they offer office supplies commercially, but also offer office furniture and design and both sales and support for copiers, printers, multi-function printers (MFP) and business process software.  They have local sales specialists and service engineers in each specialized area for consulting, yet one check can be written for all services.  Monte Rasmussen, Managing Partner for Eakes Office Plus, highlights that local firms control how they refuel the economy with their donations, expenditures, and who they do business with; whereas national chains do not have full autonomy as to how much and where these funds actually end up.  He adds that buying local keeps the dollars recycling in our own communities.  In an Andersonville study of retail economics, of every $100 of spending with consumer chain firms, $43 remain in the community whereas if that same spending occurs in a locally owned firm, the same value of spending  jumps money remaining in the community almost 70% to $73.  Eakes thanks all businesses that think local first, and also everyone that recognizes the fact that local companies and readily competitive and can match or even offer more than national companies.

Sarah Mullins, owner of Hallow Candle Company, adds that “buying local isn’t just a way to find fun and creative products – it’s giving someone the ability to build their dream and potentially employ others while doing so.  It is very heartwarming when you realize that every purchase you make from a local company is a personal gift to those in your community!”  Hallow Candle Company is a one stop shop for locally made soy candles, goat milk soaps, reed diffusers, jewelry, accessories, and home décor.  The best part is: It’s ALL from Nebraska businesses – so every dollar stays local!  At Hallow, they’re not just supporting Nebraska by keeping their business local, but also supporting our neighbors, friends and family who work and live here.  Their products are unique, high quality and made with pride by hand.  Mullins says, “At Hallow we always use the highest quality materials for our candles, soaps and spa products, natural ingredients as much as possible and never use artificial preservatives–making all of our Hallow products good for you, for your home and safe for your family!”

Andy’s Appliance Repair, Inc. is another great example of a local business that truly cares about the community they work in.  The mission of Andy’s Appliance Repair is to provide quality customer service that restores order to their customer’s homes.  Andy’s also prides itself on providing a safe and stable work environment that their employees can be proud of, and have found success by upholding their reputation for being honest, trustworthy and dependable.  Tanner Andrews, owner of Andy’s Appliance Repair, emphasizes that keeping your business local ensures that you will have access to timely service, personal communication, additional resources and a guarantee that specifically covers all services performed.  Andrews says, “Our company utilizes technology that enables our technicians to be more efficient and better at their profession. Our technicians are electronically dispatched, which means they leave from their home and can get to their first call between 7:30-8:00 am.  This provides our customers with an early timeframe, which is more convenient for many people.  Our clients also receive their receipt via email, which saves paper and at the same time makes it easier to find if they need it later on.  Our website also provides the option to schedule online.  This isn’t just a request, you actually pick your day and timeframe and it is automatically in our schedule.  All of our technicians have laptops so they can access online resources to help diagnose and repair appliances, as well as hook the computer up to new appliances to diagnose them.  One of our biggest selling features is our one year part and labor warranty.  The local standard is 30-90 days, but we don’t feel that is adequate and we stand behind what we do, so we provide a full year.”  He adds, “All of our technicians are trained, educated and specialists in appliance repair.  Many national companies or utility companies have technicians that do a little bit of everything. With today’s appliances that doesn’t really cut it anymore.  Most modern appliances have at least one computer board in them, and many have 2-5 boards.  This requires technicians to be trained more often and to be more specialized.  We provide both.  Being a Factory Certified service provider means we have access to extra training and online resources that allows us to stay up-to-date on all of the changing technology.” Andy’s not only cares about the quality of work they do and their customer’s satisfaction, but they are also invested in serving the local community.  They give back by contributing to food drives for the Lincoln Food Bank, Omaha Open Door Mission and People’s City Mission, and also work closely with the Friendship Home and Child Advocacy Center.  Andrews says, “Being able to give back to our community is very important to our company, and is also part of our Mission Statement.”

According to eLocal.com, if the people of an average-sized American city were to shift 10% of their spending from chains to local businesses, it would bring an additional $235 million dollars per year to the community’s economy! That is a significant amount of money that could be staying local to support the Lincoln community.  We all play a part in whether our economy thrives by making conscious decisions about how we spend the money we work so hard to earn.  There are plenty of advantages to keeping your business local, and we encourage you to always consider ways to support your local economy!

Company retreats stoke teamwork and company loyalty.  Retreats provide staff with an opportunity to learn more about their co-workers than they would in the work environment, as well as the opportunity to learn something new about themselves in the process.  They also reenergize staff, providing more focus and productivity going forward.  The Strategic Air & Space Museum (SAC) is adding several new attractions this summer that will be permanent fixtures and ideal for company retreats, including a zip line, rock climbing wall and a large trampoline.  During the summer these attractions will be featured as the Summer Over The Planes exhibit, as you can zip, climb and jump over the planes showcased at the SAC Museum! In addition to these new attractions, they are extending their hours to stay open until 9 p.m. every Thursday evening starting from now until September 5th for Hops, Props & Wings.  They will have a different themed chicken wing to try each week, a different locally brewed beer each week and live music each Thursday evening.  The great line up of bands includes:

May 30 – Lemon Fresh Day

June 6 – WGO Orchestra • June 13 – Rhythm Collective • June 20 – Fish Heads • June 27 – Cactus Hill

July 4 – Cowboy Up • July 11 – High Heel • July 18 – The New Humans • July 25 – On the Fritz

Aug 1 – The Confidentials • Aug 8 – Kaitlyn Maria • Aug 15 – Fish Heads • Aug 22 – Cactus Hill • Aug 29 – Omaha Guitar Trio

Sept 5 – Mr. Hand

Angela Roeber of SAC Museum invites companies of any size to gather for a company retreat and visit the attractions and exhibits, or just plan to come out on a Thursday evening to enjoy a night of entertainment with the co-workers!  She adds that the mission of the SAC Museum is to ignite the thrill of innovation and discovery within each of their guests, including the young AND the young at heart, which is the perfect recipe for a company retreat!

Company retreats are often conducted in a place that offers a chance to have fun with a purpose, which can definitely increase morale and focus.  Low morale hurts productivity, making workers listless. Often, low morale is a problem of perspective. For example, after putting in long hours to complete a difficult project, your employees might have forgotten the more pleasant or satisfying aspects of their jobs. Company retreats remove workers from their typical contexts, revitalizing them and inspiring them to take pride in their work again.  Opening lines of communication builds connections, spurring conversations that might not have happened otherwise, allowing employees to gain new perspectives on the business.  48 Bowl centers, Parkway Lanes & Hollywood Bowl, offer a variety of bowling, food and beverage packages that can be tailored to any company’s needs. They have meeting rooms, wi-fi capabilities, and projector screens for meetings.  For team-building, bowling is the perfect activity to loosen everyone up!  They have game packages built into scoring that can level the playing field for everyone, so if you have a mix of terrible and talented players, there are plenty of options for bowling games designed to produce fun and light-hearted competition for everyone.  Jennifer Davis-Korn of 48 Bowl says, “We consider our business to be fun, and we mean that! When your team can get away from the office and participate together in an enjoyable outing, it’s rewarding, both to your employees and to the business. A company retreat is the equivalent of innovation time, which is a way for your company to solve its business problems without thinking about them directly. Your employees will be re-energized to get to business when they return to the office and they will likely come back with problem-solving ideas.”  She adds to not shy away from a bowling center to host your retreat because of the setting—their centers are bright and friendly, and they host many types of company outings, both large and small, on a frequent basis.  They are experienced with this type of event, and have very flexible options for every type of group and budget.  If bowling isn’t your thing, they have great lounge areas that can be configured to your company’s preferences and requirements.

Food is an important part of any company event or retreat.  Meals are not only necessary, they provide a great time for conversation and it can be a treat to try food that you may not usually consider or be able to prepare on your own.  Getting to know your co-workers outside of an office setting can be a very positive experience, and having a meal together often enhances community spirit.  Round-Abouts is a local restaurant that also specializes in catering for large events, with options for entrees, sides and desserts.  Owners Bev and Nate Kellison and their team can provide their signature fare for a large amount of people, and can deliver.  This is a huge asset if there is no way to prepare the food onsite.

Venue Restaurant & Lounge is another local restaurant that is great for hosting a company event.  They offer two private dining rooms that can accommodate up to 80 guests.  Venue offers full-service catering as well and can provide catering services for any type of event off-site.  Cherie Anderson of Venue says no matter whether you are scheduling an event or retreat that will require breakfast, lunch or dinner, the staff at Venue can work with you to create a menu that fits within your budget, suggestions or preferences, and concept ideas.

Greta’s Gourmet is a full-service caterer, providing Chef-created meals for any type of company event, which makes them a great choice to cater your company retreat!  They can create a custom menu based on your culinary desires, dietary needs and budget.  Additionally, they offer team building events for groups up to twelve people in which they teach their Wurstmacher 101 class, a class that teaches participants how to make sausage.  This class gives groups an opportunity to do something fun, educational and hands-on while still spending time together as a team.  It also doesn’t hurt that you are learning from experts, as Greta’s Gourmet is also a full-service deli and butcher shop.  Kevin Mandigo, co-owner of Greta’s Gourmet, says that these classes are relatively inexpensive and can really deepen the engagement of employees by showing them that their employer is willing to do some things to benefit them that are “out of the box.”  You may even get close to the proprietary secret recipes, as Kevin’s father Roger has spent 45 years working at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a professor of Meat Science, and Roger and Kevin work together every day to perfect the procedures and recipes for all of their specialty meats.

If you are looking for someone to set up and operate bar services at your company retreat, Top Shelf Beverage Service & Wine Concierge offers many great options.  Top Shelf utilizes top of the line mobile bars equipped with draft systems, liquor dispensers, and margarita machines in addition to being fully stocked with all of the essentials—effectively bringing the bar to you!  They can also help you customize your event around a particular theme or color scheme, offer assistance with sourcing decorations, and can provide tables and seating if needed.  Their bar staff are hand-selected from the local hospitality industry to ensure quality service and up-to-date knowledge of the hottest drinks and newest trends.  In addition to Top Shelf’s liquor license, every bartender is certified under the TIPS responsible bar training program which ensures that they will be able to monitor responsible consumption, or privately alert you to any issues that arise.  Top Shelf also offers non-alcoholic options with all of their packages, including Pepsi products, a selection of juices and bottled water.  Jeremy Schafer of Top Shelf Beverage Service highlights that they are a mobile bar service offering beverage catering, and much like food catering, they can set up a fully operational bar that is well staffed and tailored to your specific requests, wherever the destination or location of your company retreat may be.  He adds that their wine tastings are also a popular option for a company event, as well as whiskey and scotch tastings, depending on the preference of your group.

The Corky Canvas offers a variety of team building packages that allows companies to unwind and uncork their creativity! From working on better communication and cohesiveness to exploring their artistic side, a team building event at The Corky Canvas will provide companies with unique artwork as well as an exceptional bonding experience and memories. Angie Lewis, owner of The Corky Canvas, says that company retreats are an extremely important investment because harmony and happiness within a company leads to increased productivity and a more positive work atmosphere.  Employees that get along and actively work together have better communication and can problem solve more effectively as well as save everyone unnecessarily long hours and headaches. If employees don’t have that sense of community, they’re less likely to go to each other for help–be it brainstorming or delegating tasks. Lewis adds that something as simple as a few hours away from the office, while enjoying wine or beer with a paintbrush in hand, allows employees to not only get to know each other, but also discover a creative side of themselves that can be utilized within the company.  The Corky Canvas offers four varieties of team building activities at both Lincoln and Omaha locations, and they would be happy to discuss those options with your company or business!

James Arthur Vineyards is a wonderful destination for a company retreat, as you can enjoy the natural beauty of the estate as well as their delicious wines! Their facilities offer a warm and relaxed atmosphere ideal for breakthrough thinking and highly effective meetings.  James Arthur Vineyards is the largest winery in Nebraska, located near Raymond about 10 miles from downtown Lincoln, which makes it a close enough trip to be able to get out of the city without breaking the bank on travel expenses.  Jim Ballard, owner of James Arthur Vineyards, says that they are happy to host groups of all sizes.  Hosting a retreat at James Arthur Vineyards also allows time for touring their grounds and facilities as well as the opportunity to sample their wines or scheduled tastings, and a chance to unwind with your co-workers.  Furthermore, they have several private party spaces with comfortable furnishings, rich dècor, and spectacular views.  One of the winery’s latest additions, The St. Croix Room, is a meeting/party room overlooking both the St. Croix grapevines outside and the wine production area inside.  This beautiful, sunny room features a stone fireplace, wine tasting bar, catering kitchen, and French doors leading to a private deck.  Underneath this versatile room lies JAV’s bottling line, where all the vintages are filled before finding their final resting place.  The St. Croix room also provides multiple power outlets to meet your audio-visual equipment needs.  Their meeting rooms are complemented by natural lighting, individual heating and air conditioning controls, access to a private deck as well as direct access to the covered deck and gazebos, and high speed internet is available at no additional cost.  James Arthur Vineyards can provide a personalized menu of food options, and will work with their clients to offer custom-catered meals paired with their award-winning selection of fine wines.  Whether you plan on spending a full day in one of their private party rooms, or just want to get your employees together or out of the office for an afternoon of fresh air and relaxation, James Arthur Vineyards can certainly accommodate and help you plan for your next company retreat!

Company retreats that include team activities serve to build camaraderie by training you and your workers to identify and incorporate the personal strengths of individuals to achieve group goals.  The cooperative skills gained at a retreat will improve the performance of your workforce by showing employees how to work together effectively.  As an owner, you might feel separated from your employees and find it hard to fit in during group activities.  In this case, hiring an outside facilitator instead of running the show yourself (as you are certainly accustomed to) allows you to participate on the level of your employees.  Also, when your employees stop having fun at work, they are more likely to leave.  In this way, a company retreat can improve staff retention.  Having fun also stimulates creative thinking, which can also lead to improved productivity.  You can also have an agenda for the retreat in addition to relaxation.  For example, if employees are communicating openly during other exercises, this can foster effective brainstorming sessions for new company strategies.  The key is to define a reasonable agenda that doesn’t overload the employees with work during the retreat. After all, the goal is to stimulate future productivity by helping your employees reconnect and relax. Asking them to do too much will decrease the retreat’s beneficial effects.

An essential facet of planning a company retreat is having a goal. Without a goal there no point to conduct a retreat, as there is nothing that sparks a shift in momentum or gives it a significant purpose. Company retreats should motivate or inspire employees to achieve the goal framed by your retreat, whether it is to de-stress in order to have a better focus, to plan for an exciting project, strategize to attain a milestone, or to foster unity among co-workers.  All participants should feel welcome to collaborate, whether there are ten or a hundred employees involved.  You may want to consider the dynamics of the group, such as if you have more introverted or extroverted people, and choose an event or activity that best serves the interest of the group as well as the individuals that it is composed of.  Choose a time of the week when you know your employees will be able to focus and enjoy the time they are investing, instead of around a deadline or on Monday when they have thirty-six other things they need to do to start their business week.  Also, whether your business location is small or large, you should always host a company retreat off-site.  Retreats held on-site can appear like a cheesy office party, or are just another way to say “meeting.”  This should be a place with minimal distractions from the outside world for an acceptable amount of time to expect from your employees, unless it is within their regular working hours or they are being compensated for their time.  You are conducting a company retreat for positive growth, and it will certainly not be received well if it is imposed or has undesirable conditions.  However, since the retreat is an investment in the company and the well-being of employees, it is reasonable to expect that they will be focused on this event and not disengaged by using their phone or checking out the latest posts on Facebook or the Internet.  As an employee, it is important to respect what a company retreat aims to accomplish.  Look at it as a positive experience, with many short-term and long-term benefits, that helps you to understand your co-workers, boss, and maybe even your bosses’ boss.  What is good for them is good for you, and vice versa, so improving the existing structure of your operations or fine-tuning communication and teamwork is well worth the investment of time and resources.  When planned and utilized in the correct way, company retreats enhance many aspects of the work environment and are a contributing factor in cultivating the future of your company or business.

There is a strong relationship between your age and the probability you will have some hearing loss.  According to Dr. Sandra Miller, Audiologist for Complete Hearing Solutions, P.C., 30% of adults 65-74 years old and 47% percent of adults 75 years old or older will have a hearing impairment.  The goal of Complete Hearing Solutions is to educate their patients on the impact of untreated hearing loss and offer personalized solutions to ensure memory loss, depression and social isolation do not become an issue for them.  Through educational seminars, in and out of office demonstrations of today’s best technology, and supporting such Senior Groups as the Senior Adults for Greater Education (S.A.G.E.) program at UNL, Complete Hearing Solutions strives to keep their patients informed and engaged in everyday life.

At Complete Hearing Solutions you will work with professionals who are educated in the science of hearing.  As a practice operated by Doctors of Audiology, they set ourselves apart by knowing not only how to diagnose hearing loss, but what potential factors have led to its cause and other medical conditions that can indicate how a patients hearing loss may change over time.  With 25-years of experience they also understand that each of their patients is an individual with individual needs.  Hearing well has a direct correlation to your quality of life, and everyone’s daily listening tasks are different, requiring personalized solutions.

Transitional rehabilitation is designed around the concept of bridging the gap between the hospital and the home.  The goal of transitional rehabilitation is to assist the patient with reaching his/her goals for recovery, which in most situations involves a transition to a lower level of care upon returning to their own home or an independent or assisted living community. Skilled care provides 24-hour nursing care for individuals with extensive medical and/or rehabilitative needs.  These services might include: aggressive therapy, IV therapy, oxygen, or wound care.  The goal is to return the patient to his/her prior level of functioning and independence.

For three decades, The Ambassador Lincoln has specialized in short-term transitional rehabilitation. Short-term transitional rehabilitation is provided on an in-patient basis by a certified skilled nursing facility.  There are definite advantages to receiving in-patient rehabilitative care after leaving the hospital and prior to returning home.  When an individual has been hospitalized for an illness, injury, or surgery, he/she requires a level of care that is focused on recovery and stabilization.  At the time of discharge from an acute hospital setting, many individuals still require some form of rehabilitation to return to their pre-hospital level of independence and functioning.  This care will be provided by a transitional rehabilitation program.  If a patient returns home too quickly following a hospital stay, he/she runs the risk of re-injury or illness which could result in a re-hospitalization.  Transitional rehabilitation cuts down on the possibility of re-hospitalization by providing therapy and skilled nursing that allows the patient to regain his/her strength and improve his/her overall condition.

For the majority of individuals, independence is something highly valued.  Stephanie Farmer of The Ambassador Health System emphasizes that children of seniors need to recognize how difficult the loss of independence can be, and must remain mindful of the difficulty that goes along with making the decision to receive transitional rehabilitation.  Children play a vital role in encouraging their parent to consider short-term rehabilitation and should emphasize that such programs are designed to assist the patient with regaining his/her independence and ultimately returning home.  By utilizing transitional rehabilitation, the senior is reducing the likelihood that he/she will be re-hospitalized for the same condition once again.

Since The Ambassador Lincoln specializes in short-term transitional rehabilitation, its physical building has been designed around this concept and fosters an environment of healing and recovery.  The rooms are all private, which allows short-term patients to recover in the privacy of their own room.  Private rooms also allow families to spend time with their loved one during the recovery process.  Rehab patients spend their time working with physical, occupational, speech, and/or respiratory therapists to return to their prior level of independence and functioning.  Daily therapy sessions not only work on strengthening parts of the patient’s body, but also help the patient engage in activities of daily living so that they can transition back to their “normal” lifestyle at home (i.e. cleaning, baking, driving, etc.). Nutrition is also a key element in the recovery process. Food is extremely important in our culture and it is crucial that our patients enjoy their meals during their stay.  The Ambassador Lincoln has a chef and a dietician that customize each patient’s nutritional plan to also assist in his/her recovery and rehabilitation.  Short-term rehabilitation services not only improve a person’s physical health, but it helps them to regain the confidence needed to go back to living independently once again.

Seniors and their adult children should consider what is most important to them now, while recognizing how their needs might change in the future.  Very few people enjoy the process of moving, so it’s important to select options that will accommodate changes in their needs including their overall health needs, social needs, and financial support.  As Lincoln’s first retirement community, Gateway Senior Living offers a full continuum of services including independent living, assisted living, and Medicare-certified skilled nursing care–all under one roof!  This provides assurance that seniors will not have to move even as their care needs change. Furthermore, their continuum of services also offers flexibility and convenience for couples who can live together under one roof regardless of their individual needs. In addition to the comprehensive services available, the staff members at Gateway Senior Living are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet!  Amy Fish of Gateway Senior Living says she often hears comments from visitors about how warm and welcoming their campus feels. Several of these staff members have worked at Gateway for over 30 years, and it shows in their commitment to those they serve.  At Gateway Senior Living they strongly believe a senior living campus should offer all of the services you need, no matter what the future holds.  Gateway is not a part of a large national chain, but prides itself on its residential, friendly approach to service.  This year Gateway Senior Living celebrates their 50th anniversary serving Lincoln’s elders, and this milestone will be celebrated in conjunction with the opening of their new Skilled Nursing tower.  When complete, this new four story tower will provide 80 private suites, in neighborhoods of 20 suites per floor.  This expansion will offer both short term skilled rehabilitation and more traditional long-term care services, and the new tower is expected to open in the late fall of this year.  Fish adds that a key to their 50 years of success is the commitment of their entire team, from the owners to the direct care staff, in being responsive to the needs of all residents.

Homestead Rehabilitation Center, located in the peaceful neighborhood at 54th and LaSalle, serves adults 55+ in a neighborhood setting with short-stay therapy, long-term care, memory support, respite stays and comprehensive social services. Homestead is licensed as a 163-bed facility, offering both private and semi-private rooms. Additionally, they are Medicare/Medicaid Certified, have a contract with the Veterans Administration and accept Managed Care, Private Pay and Insurance. Admissions and therapy are accepted seven days a week and holidays, and the therapy assessment is made within 24 hours of admission to ensure that recovery begins right away. Homestead also provides nurse practitioner services onsite and does free home evaluations and assessments prior to admission. Homestead is expanding to add a new short-stay therapy community which will open this summer. The addition includes twelve private therapy rooms, an expansive sunlit gym with a training kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, as well as private dining, library and lounge areas. Eldonna Rayburn of Homestead Rehabilitation Center says that renovations are occurring facility-wide and will provide a more inviting and home-like atmosphere upon completion.  Rayburn advises that in order to accommodate the unique needs of seniors, Homestead’s professional staff meet with the resident to listen to their needs on a regular basis. Additionally, Homestead involves the resident and family member(s) in frequent and consistent communication through Care Plans. As needed, Homestead consults with specialists or utilizes other community resources to meet the needs of their residents.  In addition to their services offered in-house, they also have a very active speakers’ bureau which is free and available to the public, covering topics that can be customized for any audience such as healthcare, wellness and advocacy, as well as a variety of volunteer opportunities.

Most people prefer to be with family and friends instead of an institutional setting, especially when nearing their time to go.  We prefer to live out our last days at home-alert and free of pain–this is what a hospice team will try to help the patient and families achieve.  Hospice is a supportive home based service, committed to pain and symptom management for individuals with a life limiting illness.  The hospice focus is to treat the whole person (body, mind and spirit) and not just the disease.  Hospice helps patients remain alert and carry on a symptom-free lifestyle.  Hospice affirms the human spirit and allows the patient dignity, comfort, and support when aggressive medicine is no longer desired or appropriate.  Hospice supports the entire caregiving unit.  Visits by the hospice team are provided and based on the needs of the individual and family.  This includes medications, supplies and equipment related to the life-limiting illness.  Routine visits can be provided in private homes, extended care facilities, assisted living and skilled facilities.  The hospice team consists of the following disciplines: Physician, Professional Nurses, Hospice Aides, Social Worker, Spiritual Care, Bereavement Care, Massage Therapy, and Volunteers.

Hospice services are available to individuals who have been diagnosed with a life limiting illness and have a desire to receive comfort measures rather than aggressive therapies.  The Medicare Guidelines state that individuals are eligible for hospice services if their physician determines that their prognosis is six months or less if the disease takes its normal progression.  This is only a guideline, as many people remain on hospice services much longer, provided they continue to meet the Medicare criteria for their illness.  What many people do not realize is that hospice is fully reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance carriers.  When the time is right, hospice is a wonderful benefit to serve people, loved ones and family at the end of life.  Hospice is about living life to the end, not about waiting for the bitter end to life.  HoriSun Hospice can help you meet your desires/wishes when it comes to end of life cares.  HoriSun Hospice is available for free consultations with patients, family, and/or health care providers at your convenience and preferred destination–they will come to you or you can visit their offices.

According to Dr. Bob Bleicher, Medical Director at HoriSun:

“Hospice is a fearful word…no one wants to hear that that he or she, or a loved one is close to end of life.  Here is the problem…we all die, it is inevitable.  Everyone wants his or her death to be comfortable and not prolonged or involved with unnecessary suffering.  Unfortunately, this is often not the case.  Many folks die in the hospital with aggressive life-prolonging therapies that often do not improve quality of life, and often impair quality.  Often, dying in the hospital poses an impersonal situation for families who would like to spend more time with their loved one. The solution is to educate everyone on the benefits of hospice care, a program developed by Medicare in the early 1980’s to assist people with life-limiting illness.  It is available to all no matter what their ability to pay.  Hospice is for people who are not seeking a cure–who are comfortable with dying in their home, assisted living, or nursing home setting and simply want comfort at the end of life.  It requires only that their physician estimate that they have six months or less to live if the disease follows its normal course, that they are a no code, and that they plan to stay at home rather than going back to the hospital if something should come up.”

Bleicher recommends to always be vocal about your desires at the end of life.  Be sure your living will indicates that when it is time, you wish to be comfortable, not prolonged with artificial means or therapies.

The end of life can be a stressful season, but also a rare opportunity. As a hospice and palliative care nurse, Jackie J. Bates has walked through important conversations with hundreds of families. She has compiled her observations and practical advice into her book, “Conversations: Living Through the Process of Dying.” This handbook and journal will become an indispensable companion during the precious end-of-life journey, and can be used as a tool to help you and your caregivers engage in important conversations when faced with the process of dying.  Through her new venture, Conversations, Bates is also available to present engaging, informative programs to groups about health care issues, when and how to talk about your wishes, and other end-of-life concerns. She approaches these topics with a graceful mix of tenderness and heartfelt laughter, and can also offer great recommendations for other community resources.  The programs can be tailored to each specific group, and the goal is to help individuals and families to get those important conversations started.  Bates also offers Living Room Discussions, which are private consultations to assist people in taking the next step for caregiving needs in the privacy of their own homes.

Planning for a funeral service and burial arrangements is something that you can look into far before death is a real concern.  Wyuka Funeral Home and Cemetery is a centrally located fixture in Lincoln, as well as being on the National Registry of Historic Places.  The use of Wyuka’s Funeral Home Chapel is offered to families for funeral services, and is open to all faiths and religions.  Additionally, they have a Garden Room that can accommodate family and friends for gatherings after the funeral service.  They also offer several different options for burial onsite in Wyuka Cemetery, which can include ground burial or above ground burial in their new mausoleum.  When making arrangements, it can be very beneficial to include others in the process.  Phil Roewert of Wyuka Funeral Home and Cemetery encourages individuals to take advantage of their expertise in arranging funeral services to relieve the burden placed upon family members.  He adds that there are also many cost savings when prearranging for services, caskets, vaults, cemetery property and monuments.  Wyuka’s mission is to celebrate a person’s life and unique personality by providing customized care with a personal touch.  Roewert invites, and welcomes, seniors and their family members to stop in and visit one of Lincoln’s most beautiful places for a chance to look around, ask questions and meet their wonderful staff.

It is always beneficial to know your options for health care coverage, especially with respect to Medicare.  Bryan Oswald, LUTCF and Senior Health Insurance Advisor, educates seniors on their rights and options with the Medicare program.  Oswald emphasizes, “Because there are several parts of Medicare–A, B, C and D–it is very important that seniors understand their options and entitlements so that they get into the right program.  Unfortunately, if they don’t get into a good plan initially, they might not be able to change.  As a credible educator, I explain all of these options so that seniors make the best decisions right from the start.”  With several years of experience working with the top insurance and Medicare carriers, Oswald is very passionate about helping seniors understand all aspects of the Medicare program.  It is imperative to have a local, trusted advisor that you can count on for honest advice, as well as a real, live person to call with any questions or concerns.  If you or someone you know is turning 65, or even already on Medicare, give Bryan a call to get a second opinion or to get a better understanding of the Medicare program.  It will be well worth the phone call!

For those who need a higher level of specialized care, The Waterford at Wilderness Hills specializes in dementia and Alzheimer’s care.  Their staff members have completed training to become “Certified Dementia Practitioners” which means they are trained to deal with the unexpected situations that can arise while caring for someone with dementia.  They provide day services, respite care and long term stays, with care provided by on-site Nurse Practitioners and a Geriatric Psychiatrist.  Pam Carlson, Administrator of The Waterford at Wilderness Hills, emphasizes that “At the Waterford at Wilderness Hills we live on our residents’ time frame and help them to celebrate all they ‘can’ do, instead of focusing on what has been taken away.  Perhaps they can’t bake a cake and run the oven but they can pour the batter in the pan and frost the cake.  Maybe they can’t build a hutch but they can sand the wood and help stain.  Our job is to help create a sense of purpose for our residents, which is so frequently taken away from seniors as they age.”  You can visit their website at www.theWaterford.net to learn more about all of the services available at The Waterford Communities.

As we age, we don’t always realize how simple tasks such as bending over to grab something out of a cabinet become increasingly difficult or can be affecting our health, or how thick carpet may cause us to trip and fall.  For 20 years, Carlson Projects has been enriching the lives of their clients by creating homes that use innovative ideas coupled with the owner’s preferences, creating a home that works well for them.  According to Stefan Carlson of Carlson Projects, “A simple fall can cause serious health and independence issues. However, the great part is 80% of falls can be prevented by adding small things to the home such as extra lighting, grab bars in bathrooms, handrails by stairs and level flooring. All these things are very small but have a huge impact on your everyday life.”  Home for Life is a brand of Carlson Projects devoted to seniors, and Carlson Projects believes “a safe home is a barrier-free home.”  The staff at Carlson Projects are experienced at assessing the potential dangers to your health and safety that exist in your home, and modifying them in a way that allows you to navigate and experience your home the way you used to, while at the same time adding beauty and elegance.  Carlson adds, “Think about the last time you searched for a light switch in a dark room. You could’ve easily found it with an illuminated light switch but instead you search endlessly on the wall for the switch, all the while being disoriented and off balance. When we age, our eyesight and our equilibrium are more easily offset.  Poor lighting can also make it difficult to read labels on medications, possibly resulting in taking the wrong medication or dosage amount. Cabinets can be too high or too low to use safely. We want to make everything easily reachable so you don’t have to get on your knees or use a ladder. Pantries and cabinets with rollouts make cabinets easily accessible. All of these things can help a senior live longer in their own home. A safe home is a barrier-free home that works for you.”  Most seniors have done the right things all their life, they pay their bills, have raised their kids and made plenty of sacrifices along the way. So the sticky cabinet or the leaky faucet or the worn flooring that was sufficient at an earlier age has now become a barrier for safe living. Now is the time to focus on being safe in the home and able to live there as long as possible. A barrier-free home combined with great in-home care provider can keep seniors healthy and happy in their homes for much longer. Carlson Projects wants you or your loved one to be Home for Life.

Health at Home Consultants provide their clients with the opportunity to receive in-home nurse practitioner care when they are unable to make it to their physician’s office.  Health at Home Consultants is a nurse practitioner owned business specializing in home-based medical care and can also work with your residence facility to ensure that you are able to get the best healthcare when you need it most.  They realize that illness may strike at any hour and are available to see you in your home, wherever that may be, even when the hours are not 9-5.

Roxanne Clark of Health at Home Consultants says their nurse practitioners realize that both the quality of medical care and the quality of life for individuals can be improved when healthcare is provided in the home.  Clark states, “The expenses, stress and discomfort of transporting to and from the office often pose great obstacles, resulting in denial of access to medical care. For this reason, we provide the opportunity for you to receive high-quality, cost effective and compassionate care right in the comfort and safety of your home.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions we would be happy to visit with you more about our services and explain more about how this type of care may benefit you.  We realize family support is very important and we encourage them to be part of your healthcare team. Health at Home is happy to set up a consultation with you and your family to discuss your options for healthcare.”  Medical ailments and issues can often be magnified by stress, lack of access to health care, and by economic pressures and insurance constraints.  Even though they are a wonderful supplement to our knowledge of aging, technology and medications can’t solve every problem.  Ask yourself what you are doing, and can do in the future, to protect and improve your health.  Some simple suggestions include incorporating more green vegetables into your diet, making 7-8 hours of sleep a priority every night, and most importantly having realistic goals and a way to chart your progress to see if and how your lifestyle improvements are benefitting you.  We are often times results-oriented, and the more positive results you realize the more you can be confident you are moving in the right direction.  It is also vital to acknowledge the importance of a support group, whether it is family, friends, or a faith community.  As adults, we are often so busy with our daily activities that surround and immerse us in our community that we fail to realize one day this atmosphere may change.  It is important to be proactive in seeking out activities where you can be involved in the community and maintain interaction with other people, such as the gym, church, art classes or hobby groups, and volunteering opportunities.  These will not only enrich the quality of your life but are sure to be a positive influence on your overall health—physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

While community interaction is a vital part of satisfying our needs as social beings, maintaining independence is also a major concern for many seniors.  Legacy Retirement Communities offers a gracious, active lifestyle they call “Legacy Living” that caters to each of their residents.  Legacy is proud to be a local, family-owned company serving the seniors of our community.   They do this with the same passion for excellence that moved Jerry Joyce to create a community for his mother in 1994, when she decided to move from the family home in Weeping Water after the hassles of maintaining that home became too much for her. After searching throughout Lincoln during that time, Jerry couldn’t find the right fit for his mother.  It was then that he made the decision to build The Legacy, with Berenice as the first resident.  Now nearly two decades later, Jerry’s dream has become three communities, each boasting its own unique blend of residents and services.  Following Jerry’s death in 2011, leadership of the Legacy Retirement Communities passed to the next generations of the Joyce family, who continue to lead the company with the Legacy values of Family, Compassion, Integrity, Community and Quality as their inspiration. Currently, they house 619 apartments on three campuses located throughout Lincoln (The Legacy at 5600 Pioneers Boulevard, Legacy Terrace and The Arbors Memory Care Community at 5700 Fremont, and Legacy Estates at 7200 Van Dorn).  Legacy communities include both Independent and Assisted Living apartments, and their award-winning services include fine dining, weekly housekeeping, a full activities and wellness calendar, scheduled transportation, on-site 24-hour-a-day nursing, and most importantly, a friendly caring staff ready to help you experience the finest retirement living possible.  John Kopetzky, Executive Director of the Legacy Terrace, says they always focus on the individual needs and requests of their residents.  The Wellness staff creates individualized fitness programs for each resident, the Enrichment staff not only helps new residents quickly feel at home but also offers theme dinners, Lincoln community service opportunities within the community (Cedars, Salvation Army, Lincoln Literacy Council to name a few), spa nights and fun trips to the Royals baseball games, casinos and local attractions such as the Lied Center.

Savannah Pines, located at 40th and Pine Lake, is surrounded by spacious grounds with lovely landscaping which connect to Williamburg’s walking paths. This scenic area allows residents to enjoy the many flower gardens, ponds, parks, and fountains of the village.  Savannah Pines is the perfect choice for independent people who are looking for comfort, security, a friendly community, and convenience. The large one and two-bedroom apartments are pleasant, beautifully designed living spaces with fully-equipped kitchens, luxurious baths, and many smart details. Light housekeeping is also provided regularly.  You can even take care of your personal business in-house at City Bank, Stockwell Pharmacy and Gift Shop, their hair salon, and Via Van Bloom travel agency. Or, the Savannah Pines bus can take you where you need to go. There are guest suites available to accommodate visitors, and children will enjoy spending time in the video game room.  The stunning main dining room is the setting for taste-tempting meals prepared each day by their chefs in the first-class commercial kitchen facilities. Common areas are ideal for gathering with friends and neighbors, and a large state-of-the-art theater provides movies live performances and other varied entertainment.

The Lexington Assisted Living Center provides a residential setting for seniors 62 and older who need supportive services to maintain their independence.  Their services include medication administration, bathing and/or dressing assistance, three daily meals, transportation, laundry, housekeeping, and a full activity calendar.  Sara Engelhaupt, Marketing Director at The Lexington Assisted Living Center, emphasizes they are a beautiful community that allows residents to maintain as much independence as possible while providing these supportive services to make their daily activities easier.  All services are price inclusive, which means there are no point systems or care levels for the various services that they offer.  This takes the focus away from monetary concerns and places it on the participation and enjoyment of all activities and services available.  The Lexington does accept both private payment and Medicaid Waiver payment.  Engelhaupt says this combination allows residents to minimize spending and likely never have to leave their apartment based on financial status, which is a real concern for many seniors.  The Lexington is a very vibrant and active community, where something fun is always happening!

Daily attention to basic needs of the human body can also prevent future medical problems and aid in recuperation from illness and hospitalization.  As far as mobility is concerned, regular movement helps to maintain proper circulation, strength, balance and stamina.  Additionally, internal organs function best when we are upright.  During the day, older adults should not lay down or sit for longer than 30 minutes at a time.  Between those intervals, walk if possible but at least stand up and stretch out.  You can also develop good habits of moving your joints even when you are sitting, such as clenching and releasing your fists, making circles using your wrists, ankles and shoulders, or even wiggling your toes.  Hydration is also vital to our bodies, as the human body is composed mainly of water.  All body systems need water to function, and water is essential to removing waste properly.  Unless instructed otherwise by your health care provider, all adults should drink approximately eight cups of plain, unflavored water daily.  If this is difficult for you, try a more gradual approach such as taking several swallows every half hour for the first eight hours of each day.  After practicing this for a few days, your body will become accustomed to having a greater water intake and thirst will prompt you to drink more.  Keeping the body hydrated well involves regular trips to the bathroom, and normally this occurs every 2-3 hours.  Regular elimination keeps fluids and waste moving while prompting you to get up and move.  Another simple recommendation is to use extreme caution with medicine, whether prescribed or over-the-counter.  Always take prescriptions exactly as instructed, and talk to your health care provider if you notice any problems after taking any medication, especially nausea or confusion.  If you are offered a new prescription, ask if it can be safely incorporated into the regimen of medication you are currently taking, even if they are over-the-counter.  A valuable approach with respect to medicine is first asking if there are any other options besides the recommended medication that you can do to improve or treat your condition.  This may require more effort on your part than just popping a pill, but in this case less is NOT more.  You should also discuss the cost of medication to make sure it will fit into your budget, especially if you will be taking it for a long period of time or even permanently, as your physician may have samples to give you or there may be less expensive choices available to you.  As an added precaution, try to buy all of your medications through one pharmacy so the pharmacist can be an extra guide to help you monitor what you are taking, and the safety of the combination.  Sometimes the simplest things are the ones we overlook, and even though drinking water, moving around every 30 minutes and regulating medication sound like common sense, they often contribute to declining health if they are ignored.

Mike Hall of RHD Financial adds that among health concerns, seniors also face financial and emotional challenges, especially after retirement.   As the baby boom generation continues to move towards retirement there are several challenges they may face. Many people have no plan for retirement and therefore have no idea of how much money they will need.  Furthermore, they many times have no idea of how to manage the money they do have.  These are some priorities that need to be dealt with before and during retirement.  There are several factors that affect people’s retirement security.  The first of these is inflation.  Fifty years ago gasoline was selling for twenty cents per gallon now we see prices around four dollars.  A hospital room in 1980 cost an average of $18.96 per day and last year the cost was around $3,612 on average.  What we are dealing with here is the effect of inflation as it erodes our buying power.  That is why it is important plan for the effects of inflation in any financial situation.  The next factor is longevity.  According to mortality tables, if a couple is age 65 today there is a 1 in 4 chance that one of them will live to be age 97.  What many people do not realize it that the survivor loses part of the couple’s Social Security benefits when the other dies.  Losing this benefit, along with inflation, may reduce the buying power of the couple significantly.  The third factor that influences planning is uncertainty in the market.  Although the stock market has been a great place to invest money in the long run, the daily volatility and swings in values can cause people serious problems in planning for security.   Taxes can also influence a person’s financial future.  With taxes moving back up from all-time lows it is important for a person to plan for that as well.  The final factor that influences the financial security of seniors is the cost of medical care.  A 2011 Employee Benefit Research Institute study found that a 65-year-old married couple would need in excess of $240,000 during retirement to pay for the cost of unreimbursed medical costs.  In addition, long term care and medical care expenses continue to inflate as medical science lets us live longer but sicker.  The team of advisors at RHD Financial help people plan for their futures and reach their goals.  They help seniors decide what is needed for insurance coverage, set up a secure investment program, and overcome the challenges seniors face as they move through retirement. The RHD team has over 50 years combined experience working with seniors as the primary focus of their firm.

People in the U.S. are living longer than ever before, and many seniors live active and healthy lives.  However, there is no avoiding the fact that as we age, our bodies and minds change.  An important part of targeting discourse with your physician is gaining an understanding of what you should expect.  Some changes are likely a part of normal aging processes, while others can be a warning sign of a medical problem.  Knowing the difference can allow you to be proactive while maintaining peace of mind.  Some issues that start out as simple inconveniences can end up compounding into major medical problems.  For example, difficulty swallowing as a result of age-related physical changes, side-effects of medication, or certain other illnesses may lead to malnutrition.  As a result, malnutrition can lead to vital nutrient deficiencies, such as calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12, which can lead to other problems like weakness, bone damage or disorders and diabetes.  As you can see this snowballs quickly, so sometimes small concerns are just as important as larger medical issues for this reason.

We live in a time where there are plenty of resources to help you age in a healthy and graceful way, as long as you take advantage of what each has to offer.  It is never too late to make healthier lifestyle choices, as those steps will help to ensure that you enjoy your golden years!

When building a new home, people like to spend money on things they can see every day such as better cabinets and countertops or carpet.  They do not think about some of the comforts that will make their home more cost effective and save them money in the long run such as higher rated insulation and windows or higher efficient heating and air conditioning equipment.  When building a new home you should take the time to research the savings on installing higher efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment and speak with their heating and air conditioning contractor.  Heating and air conditioning contractors can calculate the amount of money you would save per year with different efficiencies of furnaces, heat pumps or air conditioners.  Another thing to consider is the indoor air quality options available such as high efficient air cleaners, humidifiers or ultra-violet lights.  These products help with allergies as well as preserving the wood in your new home which can dry out in the winter and warp your floors or crack your cabinetry.  Another product new home builders might consider is an electronic damper system, which creates zones in your new home that controls each room or a specific area with its own thermostat that opens a damper and only conditions that room or area to what specific temperature you might like in that room or area.  This damper system can create exact comfort in each room or area, such as a babies’ or child’s bedroom that might need to be a little warmer than the other bedrooms.  The damper system also creates a savings for the home owner by having better control on areas that do not require as much heating or cooling in rooms that are not used as often or only at specific times during the day.  Darren Kauk, owner of Absolute Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning, says the biggest questions or complaints he hears from customers after they purchase a two-story home is that the upstairs is too hot in the summer and the basement, lower level or rooms located in the extremities of the house are too cool during winter.  His most important piece of advice for anyone building their new two-story dream home is to sit down and talk to your heating and air conditioning contractor to discuss installing more than one system or a damper system so that your new dream home is absolutely comfortable.  Absolute Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning installs Goodman heating and air conditioning products and is the largest Goodman dealer in Lincoln.  Goodman has one of the best warranties in the business for their heating and air conditioning equipment.

Though John Henry’s Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning is not generally involved with the process of new home building, they have a lot of experience over the years with improving the quality of systems that were installed incorrectly from the beginning or were not what the client had initially expected.  Lindsey Reinke, of John Henry’s, says that there are always ways to fix problems but it is optimal to do it right the first time.  A recent trend with the rise of costs associated with building a new home is to go cheap, but this is the opposite of what you will really need in the long run.  You usually get exactly what you pay for, so Reinke advises to stay away from the cheap theory and utilize professionals to install quality equipment.  Your health and comfort should ALWAYS be the most important consideration, with energy savings trailing at a very close third.  Reinke also advises to avoid fancy faucets that are difficult to find parts for because at some point those faucets will need to be repaired. There have been over 6,000 types of faucets available through the years which means many parts are not available long-term or may be more difficult to locate as time passes. Moen faucets historically have been a great choice as the quality is excellent and price is very reasonable.  It seems the Moen commercial says it the best, “Buy it for looks. Buy it for life.”  It’s important to make good decisions in choosing all plumbing fixtures.  Through the years, John Henrys has found Lennox and Trane equipment to be an excellent choice for their customers. Lennox and Trane equipment holds up well during challenging Nebraska weather extremes and their factory support and warranties are very user-friendly.  If you build a new home, Reinke recommends making sure to get all equipment serviced so it operates efficiently and lasts. Moreover, manufacturers typically require routine maintenance to keep from voiding warranties. Our community is blessed with an exceptional City of Lincoln Building Codes Department that has done an excellent job of protecting us. The weak link in building new homes is in other areas when the major reason to make decisions is to cut costs. If you decide to build a new home, do your homework and check out references. Also make sure your contractor has a good rating with the Better Business Bureau. Truth is a patient hunter and in time the results of our decisions always seem to catch up to us.  Reinke has found through the years that they have never had to apologize for good quality. That’s an important concept when you are building a new home!

If you are building your dream home, you want it to be an extension of yourself and to communicate your style through your design and the appearance of the products and services you choose.  This not only goes for the interior space of your house, but the exterior as well.  JL Exteriors provides installation of a full range of their exterior products to accommodate all tastes, including siding, stucco, roofing and gutters, windows, doors, and deck options.  Lance Roach, owner of JL Exteriors, advises to use a variety of products and textures, such as mixing up some stone, siding and stucco to make your design interesting and stylish.  He adds that you can achieve style while incorporating products that are durable, create clean lines, and require minimal maintenance.  With the growing cost of building and maintaining a home, picking the right exterior features and products should involve an investment in aspects that serve the functions of beauty AND protection.

As far as planning the details of building your new home prior to the actual construction process, J.R. Knopp of Third Generation Builders says the first thing you should figure out is where you want to be.  One of the hardest aspects of building a new home is finding the perfect lot. After you have an idea of location, lot size and available spaces, your next step is figuring out what type of home you want. Some things to consider:  style of home and square footage (e.g. two-story, split-level, ranch), style of floor plan (e.g. open or sectioned, number and size of rooms), what kind amenities you want in the house, and if you want a finished basement.  Knopp takes his clients around to several different styles of houses and floor plans from a variety of builders in order for them to have a well-rounded idea of what’s out there and available, while he takes notes on what they like and do not like, and the reasons for their preferences. Third-Generation Builders prides themselves on being hands-on and constantly interacting with their clients throughout all the proper steps of the building process.  Knopp says that communication is very important, and he likes to sit down with clients to initially gauge what they really like, want and need in their next home, or revisit these ideas after touring other homes in order to build a custom floor plan that reflects the information his client has provided.  This also includes providing clients with suggestions based upon his experience in order to make it as easy as possible for them to make final decisions and get the best value out of their home.  Another good starting point when designing your dream home is to find out where you spend the most time in your current house, begin with that area as a central location making it the nicest point in the house and flow out from there with the floor plan. For some people that’s a nice covered porch or a huge master bedroom with the big walk-in closet and bathroom, while for others it may be a giant man cave in the basement or a nicely finished recreation room or play area for the kids, and it may even be the garage and how many stalls or the space and function desired.

Bo Jones, of Tru-Built Construction, also emphasizes the importance of the planning phase in building your future home, as it is a process that you can’t just jump into.  Jones estimates that a home build can require seventy or more different trades for completion, which requires significant budgeting and coordination.  He also recommends consulting with a lender in the very beginning to see your qualifications, and adds that this allows you to be disciplined when you are visiting existing homes to ensure that you are not visiting homes outside of your price range which can be very frustrating once you fall in love with features that aren’t realistic for your budget or needs.  When visiting existing homes within your price range, it is helpful to create a priority list of desired features, and then translate those onto paper in a working blueprint format.  Jones advises to not be alarmed if the design and planning phase takes as much or more time than the actual building phase, because the time you invest in planning also work to help eliminate confusion and frustration with fewer last minute decisions that will need to be made, and thus coordinated, with all parties involved.  When choosing a builder, you are also choosing the team that they have formed, so it is important to thoroughly research their company and who they source for certain projects ahead of time.  When visiting homes and evaluating your finances, consider a home’s total cost of ownership.  The mortgage payment is a big part of the equation, but certainly not the only thing to consider.  Spending a little extra money up front on energy saving features such as windows, insulation, appliances, and efficient lighting, heating and cooling will repay you every month with lower energy bills.  The Energy Star program is a great way to ensure a home is built the highest energy saving standards, and Jones points out that some of their Energy Star homes are seeing estimated heating and cooling costs of only $250 per YEAR!  With other aspects, you may want to consider how long you plan on staying in the home you are building as well as the amount of necessary maintenance.  For example, installing lower quality windows, siding, and shingles may cut your costs initially, but they are items that wear easily and will need to be repaired regularly or replaced altogether if they are not durable which will end up costing you far more in the long-run.  Jones says that if you are considering whether to include an option during the build or to hold off until a later date, you should always keep in mind that there will never be a better time to install it than the initial build, as it will never be easier and probably never be much cheaper.  However, with this in mind, try not to max yourself out so that you have some space in your budget for fun stuff once you are ready to move in, like new furniture or decorations.

A new home requires so many items, options and decisions that it can be sometimes overwhelming for even the most well prepared people.  Ray’s Lawn & Home Care is a great addition to the team you will be assembling, as they can provide you with their extensive landscaping skills and expertise throughout all phases of the planning and construction process.  The most important service they provide in the early stages of building a new home is that of a consultant who can answer any questions that may arise.  Once the home design is complete and the layout of the home on the site, including the orientation of the home with respect to the entire lot as well as the yard space available, is set, the consultant role turns into a designer role.  This is extremely important because an experienced landscape designer can help direct future homeowners away from costly oversights.  Aside from the design work, Ray’s Lawn & Home Care can also implement the landscape plan which might include retaining walls, patios, outdoor kitchens, and of course, plants.  A great landscape plan recognizes that plants take time to mature.  For most perennials and ornamental grasses that may be a single season, while for most shrubbery, it may take three to four seasons to mature and for trees you’re looking at many years–maybe even generations.  The proper spacing of this plant material is also very important.  Small plants and shrubbery can be transplanted after several years in the ground with great success and not much effort. Trees, on the other hand, should be planted with great vision and care. Planting a tree too close to your new home or a neighboring structure can cause damage during the trees’ growth further down the line. Ken Svoboda, co-owner of Ray’s Lawn & Home Care, suggests that you utilize a professional to help with the proper location of all landscape plants to ensure their health and long term benefits.  Additionally, he recommends the inclusion of a reputable, experienced landscape designer as early as possible in the design process.  A home builder is very qualified in the art of construction, and in many cases design aspects as well, but there are so many new products introduced in the landscape market each year that it’s tough for even landscapers to keep track of them all.  An experienced landscape designer can help the phasing-in of a master landscape design. Sometimes the add-on costs of construction can stretch a budget to the limit, and a master plan and thoughtful phasing can give a new homeowner their ultimate design without breaking the budget.

The exterior appeal of a new home is just as important as the interior, and Sue Crawford of Precast Products also emphasizes the importance of planning landscaping ahead so it can be completed in stages.  Planning ahead is crucial whether you hire a professional or will be doing the work yourself, as many facets of the exterior are partnered with or will factor into what is going on with the building process inside.  It is amazing how many options are available for each product you may be considering, for example, there are a number of different color choices and sizes for flagstone and bulk landscape rock mulch.  Precast Products is a material supplier, but do not do installation, so they will work with you or your contractor throughout the project to guarantee you know all the available options in order to make educated decisions on what you like, need, or will be the best fit and will tie into the rest of your design.  Precast Products offers all types of quality landscape material from brands such as Versa-lok and Anchor retaining wall products, as well as pavers for patios.  Crawford also recommends considering egress window wells for your basement.  You may not finish your basement right away, but when you do in the future, you will need egress for the rooms such as a basement bedroom to meet fire regulations.  They are an important part of turning a basement into a livable space, as they provide an additional exit in case of a fire or other emergency, are a great source of natural light and improve both ventilation and air quality. It is best to have this type of feature taken care of during the initial building process, and to take into account how you will manage drainage.  The ScapeWEL is a great way to add light and living space to your basement area, and meets building code requirements for emergency egress in finished basement areas.  There are also innovative step designs that, in addition to the emergency feature, can be landscaped with plants for added visual enhancement.  ScapeWEL features maintenance free high-density polyethylene construction and is available in a number of sizes to accommodate virtually any foundation height or window dimension.

As most experts will tell you, the first step to take when pursuing building a new home is looking into financing the project.  Starting the process of financial planning for building a new home, or even asking the questions as to how the process works, should be done as soon as you begin looking online at plans or talking with architects and builders.  Once a person dedicates time to planning the home or researching a new home, time should be made to meet with a lender.  That meeting will help the customer with any misunderstandings or unknowns, reduce time-wasting activities and hopefully clearly define the path for moving forward.  This is incredibly important to do right away, as all of our featured experts stress that this will set the tone for your entire project and furthermore, this will give you accurate expectations to set you up for success!

Wade Johnson, of Midwest Bank (MWB), says that you should first sit down with a mortgage banker to explore your options and determine what size home you can afford to build. It is important to have your banker explain the construction process and how their financial institution handles disbursements between the builder, title company and yourself to ensure everyone is on the same page. Secondly, have your banker explain the fees associated with obtaining construction financing and how those will carry over to permanent financing along with their institutions lending guidelines. Finally, understand your allowances given to you by your builder, and how any overages will affect your financing process.  Johnson adds that establishing a good relationship with a financial institution and reputable builder is very important because it takes time to understand each individual customer’s needs as no one situation is the same. Ultimately what is best for the customer will be the best for all parties involved in the process.  Midwest Bank’s service for the construction loan process first starts by understanding a customer’s financial plan and how MWB can help them achieve success. During the building phase, Midwest Bank will work closely with your builder and title company for handling monthly disbursements to ensure no unforeseen liens are placed on your property and your dollars are being handled with the utmost care.  Midwest Bank will also provide on-site inspections to ensure the items you are paying for are being placed in the home. Finally, upon nearing completion Midwest Bank will ensure you get into a great long-term mortgage, thus making the process from start to finish seamless for the borrower.  In planning for new home construction, Johnson advises borrowers to allow themselves at least two months to finalize plans with their building and obtain construction financing.  Midwest Bank has been in business for over 60 years helping families across Nebraska create memories in their dream homes, and they invite you to visit one of their nine banks to experience community banking at its best.

Wayne Kreikemeier of The Nebraska Bank of Commerce (NBC) stresses to never assume anything.  It’s important to set an appointment with a bank that offers construction financing and long-term financing options to ensure that each phase of lending can be accomplished.  You should set this appointment before drawing the plans and talking to builders because understanding the process will help to keep you on budget when it comes to overall price and changes along the way.  When looking at financing, Kreikemeier advises to pay attention to experience and options.  Some banks aren’t actively engaged in the construction lending process, and having a bank that presents options for the construction financing can often times make the process easier on the customer and builder alike.  In addition to the options, an experienced bank will help to answer questions, provide direction and inspect the home throughout the construction phase.  NBC takes an active role in the construction process to ensure the loan advances reflect the level of completion of the home.  By performing site inspections of the homes and disbursing funds through title companies they are working to protect the homeowner, the builder and the bank from future lien issues.  This active participation is not always fully appreciated until you’ve spoken to a homeowner who is trying to clear the title of their newly constructed home from something that could have been prevented.

Taylor Ashburn, Manager & Assistant Vice President of Construction Loans with Union Bank, also suggests that anyone interested in building their own home should find out what they can afford early on in the process.  His initial consultation with a customer centers around pre-approval for all three stages of the process: the Land Loan (if necessary), the Construction Loan, and the Permanent Mortgage Loan.  Every situation is different, and not only is it essential for the potential homeowner to know what is in their budget but it is also prudent for any financial institution to make sure the customer qualifies for the mortgage loan they desire (ie., 30 year fixed) before starting construction.  The mortgage industry is constantly changing.  Ashburn says this approach helps answer any questions the customer may have, but it also ensures the financial institution providing your loan for the project has covered all bases and has been pro-active to avoid any potential surprises with the final mortgage loan.  Obviously interest rates and closing costs are important, and shopping around to find the best deal isn’t a bad idea.  The closing costs can vary tremendously from bank to bank.  However, in Ashburn’s opinion based on his experience, the most important step is to find a lender and a builder who work well together, and who can communicate effectively with each other and with you.  Years down the road, you won’t remember what rate you had for your construction loan. You will, however, remember any “speed bumps” along the way, due to a lack of communication or any general difficulties during the process. Construction Lending is one of the main areas of business for many lenders; they know it inside and out and realize most people only build one or two houses in their lifetime, if any.  It’s important to have open, honest and effective communication throughout the entire process, and it’s vital to work with an expert construction lender and reputable builder.  Ashburn says, “Customers who seek financing for a construction loan from Union Bank are typically approved within 24 hours.  We want to keep the project moving and on-time.  Because we’re family-owned and have decision-makers right here in Lincoln, we provide prompt, timely communication to keep the process moving.  Additionally, we want our customers to relax and let us handle the numbers.  During construction, we monitor monthly draws from the builder, conduct on-site inspections and reconcile costs with the original bids, all free of charge.  Finally, we pride ourselves on the speed in which we pay out the monthly draws.  In most cases, we’ll pay the builder within 24 hours, keeping the project moving forward.”  Again, getting pre-approved for your loan as early as possible is optimal, and during this time it is also a good idea to consult with your financial planner and/or accountant, or begin working with one or both, to make sure the decision to build a home is right for you at this point in time.  Ashburn adds, “I can’t stress enough how important it is to take your time when selecting a builder.  You will be entering into a long-term relationship with this builder; from the initial planning stages, through the months of construction, and finally the one-year “warranty” period after you’ve moved in.  The sign of a good builder is whether or not he/she stands behind their product after it is finished.  Some suggestions for selecting a builder include asking past customers about their experience, visiting different builder’s websites, and touring homes during the Home Builder Association of Lincoln’s “Parade of Homes” each spring and fall.  The Parade is a great opportunity to walk through several houses and meet a few different builders.  Additionally, I always encourage customers to take their time when designing their floor plan and determining the location where their home will be built, as those are things you cannot change once the home is built.”

Mike Barrett, Vice President and Manager of Mortgage Lending at Cornhusker Bank, agrees that it is incredibly important to begin with setting a budget based upon pre-approval for your loan.  From there, you can determine where you want to build and begin to look for a lot or acreage in that area, and you will want to do this before you select a floor plan or any other details.  It is important to choose the location first because you and your construction team will need to investigate factors such as soil condition, drainage, zoning, and covenants in the development.  Afterwards, it is wise to interview a few builders to see who fits with you and your project goals the best, and then you can decide on the floor plan and negotiate a written contract.  A contract for new home construction will describe the project in detail and include a listing of all the parts to be included in the house, usually referred to as specs. Also, remember to amend the contract with change orders if you or your builder makes any changes to the project along the way.  Cornhusker Bank provides both construction loans and end financing when the house is complete.  Furthermore, they offer extended rate lock options for the permanent financing that will give you the peace of mind that your permanent financing is in place, as well as the knowledge of what your payments will be once the project is complete.  Barrett advises that it can take some time to put together all the pieces, especially if you are building a custom home.  Building (or even buying) a home is one of the largest financial transactions you will probably ever be a part of, so planning ahead and being diligent with your research will pay off when it comes to your budget.  Being able to build your dream home is a goal for many homeowners, and working with a team of experts that you have personally selected based on your unique criteria will ensure your success and a positive experience.  You can’t get to the last step without beginning with the first step, so again, make sure you take the time to plan ahead, set a budget, and personally interview and select your team.

Building your dream home will mean that you will be making decisions about every option of your new home, inside and out.  GV Kustom Kitchens provides design services to customers building a new home, as well as all of the interior finish materials that you may need to complete your project.  Not only do they provide cabinetry design and estimates in addition a number of different cabinet lines available to suit various needs, they also offer countertop materials, tile for floors, backsplashes and showers, hardwood and engineered-wood flooring, laminate and vinyl flooring, carpet, rugs, and window treatments.  GV Kustom Kitchens even provides furniture layouts and often helps with new furniture selection.  Building a new home can be daunting, even if you know exactly what you want.  Having a designer help you to narrow down the decisions and guide you through the process makes it much easier.  Lisa Giesbrecht, a designer at GV Kustom Kitchens, says that since the staff are all trained and educated interior designers, they can really help customers put many elements together, taking some of the guesswork and legwork out of building a home.  Additionally, they feel that their job is to take your ideas and turn them into great design by showing you the possibilities.  The staff work very hard not to leave their fingerprints behind, but to truly have your new space be a reflection of you, your family, your lifestyle, and your personal design.  GV Kustom Kitchens can also work to help make decisions when it comes to budgeting, as it is often wise to price out some items you like before beginning the building process to make sure you are including things that you want up-front.  This also includes helping customers determine areas that are okay to cut back and where to spend extra attention.  Giesbrecht adds that when considering building a home, think about your current lifestyle.  Do you spend a lot of time cooking, do you entertain, or are you away a lot?  Then think about what you would change in your current home.  Do you want to learn to cook, entertain more, or spend more time at home?  Working with a designer as you answer these questions can help determine a good fit for floor plans, cabinetry design and furniture layouts, as well as where the focal points should be in your new home.  Giesbrecht also stresses that you should always look at the kitchen layout before building begins; even if you don’t cook often, the kitchen truly is usually where the hub of the house is and where everyone gathers.  Even in small kitchens the staff at GV Kustom Kitchens can create a sense of space through a variety of design elements.  It is never too early in the process to think about where your things will fit, and if they will fit, in your new space.  GV Kustom Kitchens can really help you get the vision for how you will live in your new dream home.

At Vistar Homes, their philosophy is simply to design and build unique and affordable houses that people will love to call home.  Vistar Homes proudly builds homes to fit your lifestyle, and strive to make all of their homes just a bit different than an average home while still incorporating all of the features you are looking for.  They specialize in a variety of styles, including new-urbanism, two-story, townhome and ranch.  The professional sales staff at Vistar Homes can enhance your home buying experience with insight and counsel on home designs, architectural and decorating options, contract details, and information on your neighborhood and community. Additionally, their innovative construction techniques help deliver a quality home with efficiency and value, and trained warranty personnel are ready to assist you so you get the most out of your new home. Vistar Homes also offers a complete appliance package for your new home, including a refrigerator, washer and dryer, which they have found to be a great added convenience. Lois Hartzell of Vistar Homes says a few of the special features that many of their customers have included are painted woodwork, window sills and an orange peel drywall finish because it gives the home a light and fresh look.  She recommends that you don’t go with a builder that doesn’t listen to what is important to you or your personal wants and needs, as most likely the reason you are building is to get the home you want–not the home someone else wants to build you for whatever reasons.  Hartzell also recommends that you consider the “now” and build to fit your lifestyle today, but remember tomorrow always brings change and in the future you may consider selling your dream home and moving on to other possibilities.  This makes the potential resale value and how the home will grow with you important aspects to consider, even during the building process.

For anyone building a new home, Jeff Nelson of Husker Organics offers several recommendations based upon his experience.  First, it will save you money in the long run if you can ensure whoever you hire or enlist to do the finish grading installs at least approximately six inches of high-quality top soil.  He recommends hiring a reputable landscaping company to do this, and it will save you in fertilizer costs, weed control efforts and most importantly, water.  This up-front investment in good top soil will very quickly pay for itself, both in your lawn’s appearance and in your wallet!  Secondly, make sure that you hire a professional irrigation company, and also check their references before committing.  Many companies do not design in such a way that provides good head-to-head coverage or matched precipitation.  This leaves you with uneven coverage and in a year like we had last season, dry spots.  Husker Organics spent a large amount of time last summer re-nozzling sprinkler heads to try and even out irrigation coverage on several properties that were designed poorly.  Nelson, in addition to the other experts mentioned, also stresses that you only get one shot at a quality design.  Your dream home is for you to enjoy, not labor for hours maintaining.  He offers a couple easy ways to reduce your maintenance efforts, with the most important being to install an irrigation system.  Husker Organics encourages a restrictive, “as-needed” use of groundwater, but if you let your lawn and landscape dry out and die, you will be spending more money in repair work, will use more water trying to re-establish plants, and you will be very dissatisfied with the appearance of your dream home.  Additionally, make sure all areas of your landscape are easily accessible for maintenance.  For example, if you are installing a fence around a large turf area, be sure to request a double gate so your mowing crew can access it with larger machines because if they can do it faster, your mowing costs will also go down.  When landscaping your dream home, Nelson advises doing your best to select native plants as they are going to be much more tolerant of our conditions and require less maintenance.  You should always do your own research on any trees or larger plants that show up in your landscape design.  Too often, Nelson and his team sees larger scale trees placed way too close to a home or other structure, which will lead to much greater expenses down the road.  That 15’ tree may look great there now, but what about when it is 40’ tall?  Finally, he recommends a lawn that is a mix of bluegrass and turf-type fescues.  Professional blends of these grasses will generally repair themselves, should minor damage occur, which is a great feature for less maintenance.

Krista Rickman of True Value Hardware Store in Bishop Heights says that even though they are not affiliated with builders in order to give construction advice, they do see many of their customers, who are also homeowners, experiencing problems with their homes as a result of being poorly built.  Accordingly, she recommends installing quality plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, appliances, carpet and flooring in order to minimize many future problems commonly associated in these areas.  Rickman recommends priming and prepping all surfaces correctly before you paint or stain them, and that you should pay a little more for high quality paint, brushes and rollers.  This ensures that the job with be done with no, or very minimal, imperfections and in her opinion, is well worth the investment.  Also, choose the sheen of paint depending on the use and location of the surface being painted.  The shinier the paint sheen, the more wash ability and durability it will have; however, the shinier it is the more it will show imperfections on a surface.  For example, if you are painting a bathroom, kitchen, trim or a child’s room pick a satin or semi-gloss paint.  If you are painting a living room, master bedroom or front hallway a flat or eggshell sheen will work just fine.  Always use exterior paint if you are painting an outdoor surface because exterior paint is designed to expand and contract with changes in the weather.  A local, neighborhood hardware store like Bishop Heights True Value can be a great resource for all your future home projects and repairs.  The True Value stores offer many products for your home, such as interior and exterior paint, all of the painting supplies you will need, cabinet hardware, door locks, kitchen and bath faucets, plumbing materials, tools, and all kinds of lawn and garden supplies.  Rickman also offers several tips that will preserve the investment you have made in materials and labor for your dream home.  First, purchase a quality vacuum cleaner, know what type of filtration system or bag it uses, and change the bag or filter often.  Second, know what size furnace and air conditioning filter your system need and change it often.  Both of these will reduce dust and allergens in your home in addition to preserving your investment in those items.  Finally, a simple but important item that you should always have on-hand is a plunger, as drains and toilets don’t choose business hours or convenient times to clog.  Bishop Heights True Value welcomes all current or future homeowners to visit their store and see for yourself the products and assistance they have to offer for all of your home building and improvement projects.

When doing research on what you will need to assemble your team and your dream home, insulation should definitely be considered.  Nathan Krieser of Krieser Drywall & Insulation says that when working with clients who are building a dream home that they will be in for many years, he always discusses upgrade options—especially on insulation.  There are many things you can upgrade down the road with little disruption to the house, but one thing that is impossible to upgrade later is the insulation in your walls.  As with upgrades, some take only a couple of years to pay for themselves, while others take a bit longer, but insulation will begin to pay for itself instantly once you begin living in your new home.  Krieser Drywall & Insulation is a full service company that focuses on all aspects of drywall and insulation, and has been in business since 1993 with an emphasis on quality and exceptional customer service.  They can insulate and drywall the smallest of remodeling projects all the way up to the building of multi-million dollar homes.  For drywall, they offer a variety of custom ceiling and wall textures that will transform the appearance of any room, as opposed to plain walls that may feel a bit sterile.  They also offer a variety of insulation products and options, from typical batt insulation to blown in blanket system (BIBS) insulation.  BIBS insulation is a technique where netting is stapled to the stud facing with dense fiberglass packed behind, and adds an extra 2-4 R-value depending on the depth of the stud cavity.  Krieser also offers spray foam insulation, and one of their most popular features for upgrades is applying spray foam on the rim joist area between the basement and main level of a house.  Another option is a Hybrid flash and BIBS system, where they spray two inches of closed cell foam on the exterior walls and follow it with a densely-packed netted cavity, and in a 2×6 wall you can expect an R-value of approximately R-28, which is optimal.  In order to insulate attics, they use fiberglass, cellulose, spray foam, or their Energy Star air sealing package.  This involves caulking all framing penetrations, using special baffles above the top plate and air sealing the attic space before they blow the insulation.  They also offer complete home audits with blower door testing by an experienced auditor with recommendations on what is needed to make your home, newly built or existing, more energy efficient.  However, as previously mentioned, it is always better to have your home insulated, with quality and energy efficiency in mind, sooner in the process than later on after the home is built and lived in.

If you are considering building outside of Lincoln, but close enough for convenience, Oak Prairie Estates is a great option.  While enjoying the country setting, it is great to know the excitement of downtown Lincoln is only ten minutes away.  Oak Prairie Estates offers 3+ acre lots with many unique qualities that you will not find with other developments.  The developer is close by and will help with any issues in the building process and the development itself is smaller than most which gives buyers ultimate privacy and a real sense of ownership, unlike larger more commercial developments.  There is a man-made stream that runs into a beautiful lake with two docks and a sand beach.  This gives owners the opportunity to enjoy their own private area in many ways, such as hiking around the creeks and prairies, fishing, swimming, or kayaking in the lake.  Oak Prairie also offers a number of mature trees on each lot.  T.J. Beck, a representative of Oak Prairie Estates, says it is important to find a Realtor and then a builder in that order, or to find a Realtor that represents a builder to make the communication process as smooth and effective as possible.  There are many different builders in the Lincoln area that are more than capable of building a quality home.  The important thing is to find one that you feel you have a positive connection with.  Have your Realtor set up times to meet with multiple builders, even ones they may not represent.  This will give you a chance to go over blueprints, price options and get a feel for what kind of company you are dealing with. Building can be like riding a roller coaster–fun but a little scary and overwhelming at times.  That is why it is so important to find a Realtor and builder that you are comfortable with and you feel are working for you.   Beck also suggests visiting the Spring Parade of Homes or other homes on the market to get ideas on layout, styles and different finish options that is a tangible presentation, as opposed to a test swatch or online resources.  An experienced Realtor or builder will be able to show you all of the many different options that are available.

If you don’t have access to your own lake, you may consider adding a pool or spa. Think of your backyard as an extension of your home.  A well-designed backyard space adds more than square footage and value to your home, it gives your family and friends a place to spend quality time together outside.  Swimming pools and hot tubs are perfect gathering places to relax or entertain.  Jeff Bonsall of Bonsall Pool & Spa advises that the ideal time to install a swimming pool or hot tub is during the construction of your new home.  The staff of Bonsall Pool & Spa includes ten full-time and four or more part-time pool and spa professionals with over 100 years of combined experience, some of which are also qualified engineers.  Several employees have over 20 years of experience in the pool and spa industry! Bonsall Pool & Spa employees also travel all over the country to attend the latest industry technical training seminars available, and have received an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau.  This all assures that you will get the very best advice, service and products available and that you will be able to enjoy and relax in your Bonsall-built pool or spa for many years. Bonsall emphasizes that they are happy to offer design help as early as possible in the building process, and can consult with you over the phone or at their store location.  By allowing for your pool or spa to be planned and coordinated into the building project, this facilitates a much smoother design and installation process.  Spending a little on design during the construction of the house can save you a lot of money, time and hassle–as with many other features–as opposed to making the decision to add a pool or hot tub later on down the road.  There are plenty of aspects to consider with respect to coordinating your installation of your pool or spa with the construction of the home, and a good designer will also consider things like utilities, electrical, gas, plumbing, irrigation, sod and landscaping.  The last thing you want to do is pay to move the underground electrical service because it was installed right where the pool is going to be.

Building your new dream home should not (and cannot) be a passive exercise. A myriad of decisions have to be made, by you. Where you are unable, or unwilling to make decisions, you will force the builder to make them. To make sure your new home fulfills your own vision, follow these guidelines:

It is incredibly vital that you fully understand the terms of your building contract.  You will be party to a contract involving a massive amount of money when you sign on the dotted line for the construction of your new house. By doing so, you abdicate NONE of your basic legal rights; therefore, know them and exercise them!

Start by reading the contract and understanding it. You are paying (or will pay over the next 25-30 years) for the knowledge of the builders — their experience and ability.  Additionally, you are paying your builders a profit above their expenses. What do you expect in return? How do ensure that you get what you expect?  Are your expectations clearly outlined within the prospective contract?  All of the professionals we have highlighted can offer a wealth of guidance, information, reliable contacts that they have done business with already, and services that are well worth the investment you are making in them.  There are some general guidelines to keep in mind with the overall cost of your new home.  First, the total labor cost will generally run a little higher than your total material cost.  Many builders are also passing along a discount on materials that they have recommended based on partnerships with companies that they regularly do business, so that is a nice advantage to working with these types of professionals.  Secondly, it is not unusual for a builder or general contractor to charge a fee based upon a percentage of the combined labor and material costs for managing the overall project.  Finally, don’t forget to add the cost of site improvements such as utilities, sidewalks, and landscaping when calculating the overall cost of the project.

Additionally, as mentioned by many of our experts, communication is the key to successfully building your dream home.  The process should look something like this:  COMMUNICATE – WRITE IT DOWN – COMMUNICATE- WRITE IT DOWN – COMMUNICATE – WRITE IT DOWN.  Anything you add to the house after the contract is signed, the builder will keep track of; conversely, anything you delete or reduce, YOU should diligently keep track of.

Consider how much space you will actually need and occupy, and plan accordingly.  The average house contains approximately 1,500 to 2,000 square feet, so if you are contemplating more or less space you should also consider your reasoning behind this.  You pay for each square foot of space in your house, whether it is occupied, has viable uses, or otherwise.  Whatever that cost may be, make sure everything has a purpose—or several.  When doing research, you will find that there is a good balance to be found between the cost of options or materials and the quality.  Do not go too cheap, but also do not go too opulent unless that is your main goal.

While you can control just about everything with a building project, some things are okay to estimate.  Don’t expect to control the number of nails or shingles used.  Do expect a substantially built house, free of defects, and in accordance with all applicable codes and regulations.  Moreover, require proof of this compliance at the closing of your mortgage.  Always question anything that just doesn’t look or seem right, as most of the time they are not right, and seek a reliable source of outside, impartial advice—other than your father or uncle, even if he is a builder!  You should pay attention to as many aspects of the process as you can, and during the building process it is beneficial to keep your own checklist of to-dos or concerns so that when the project is done you can review this list to make sure that everything has been attended to and completed properly.  You may also want the contractor to keep a list of things they feel are important to remember or be completed in order to manage different viewpoints and cover all angles.  Have your contractor make their list first, so that you are not micro-managing too much but rather offering more of your focus on what may have been missed.  Experienced builders often have a better eye for things that need to be corrected, so before the builder ultimately leaves your new home for the last time make sure you have done a final walk-through and that everything is as you wanted it to be.  It is also a good idea to consider having an independent home inspector look over the project to offer an outside opinion.  The National Association of Home Inspectors can provide resources and contact information for home inspectors near you, and you can access their website for more information at www.NAHI.org.

You should be prepared to resolve any situations and problems that arise by compromising.  Be aware of what you may be giving up in this process, and be able to examine and understand both sides.  Your builder will be fully capable of doing anything you wish, or finding someone that can, but this will all come with a price.  Consider whether your requests are feasible or unique as opposed to far-fetched, outlandish, or utilize new technology or materials and equipment that have not been thoroughly tested.  Construction can be an imperfect science at times.  Combining natural elements such as site conditions, weather, human error and potentially defective materials means that things could—and will—likely change, so be understanding and open to the process.  Be pragmatic, and absolutely businesslike in all of your dealings with the builders. They are working FOR you; you are not seeking them as new friends (although you will likely be closer after the process, and most are wonderful people).  Also, if a friend or relative performs part of the work, treat them in exactly the same manner and always have a contract, no matter what, who or why.

It is also beneficial to do business with local experts whenever you can, and this can include larger companies as long as they have operations set up in Lincoln.  There are plenty of highly capable, talented professionals that have made home building in Lincoln their main area of expertise.  They will be there for you before and during your building process, but also down the line to help you answer any new questions or assist with problems that may arise.  You will be much happier having local access instead of following the communication trail to track someone down in a year.

The more time and effort spent up-front in programming, planning, designing, and understanding, as well as in establishing specifics of the project, the better the chance for a smoother construction period and a satisfactory result.  Building your dream home is an exciting undertaking full of options and decisions, and can be a great experience if you put together a great team of professionals to help you each step of the way.

Parkway Lanes, located at 2555 S. 48th street, and Hollywood Bowl, located at 920 N. 48th street, both offer the Kids Bowl Free Program, which is open to every youth ages 5-15 in the Lincoln area.  Each child that is registered receives TWO FREE games of bowling, every day from May 1st through September 1st.  Both bowling centers also offer youth leagues for children ages 8-18 that begin in June.  Jennifer Davis-Korn of 48 Bowl says that youth leagues are a great way to introduce your child to a lifetime sport and be involved with their peers.  She also stresses that preparation for any youth activity is key.  Parents are encouraged to register their kids early, before the first day of any program, so that they are guaranteed a spot.  This also helps the program coordinators prepare correct ratios of staffing, assign youth to teams or groups, and plan appropriate curriculum among other factors.  You can find more information on both programs offered through 48 Bowl at Parkway Lanes and Hollywood Bowl by visiting their website at 48bowl.com.

Learning a new skill or hobby takes time, and summer break is the perfect amount of time for laying the foundation of a new skill or hobby your child has been interested in, or improving on an existing talent, while it won’t take the focus away from schoolwork and other school-related functions.  Tim Woosley, Music Director for the Lincoln School of Music, points out that there are wealth of different instrument lessons and music classes that accommodate many different age groups, interests and skill levels.  The Lincoln School of Music offers guitar lessons covering the introduction to basic guitar, which is always very popular. There are genre specific classes, such as “Learning the Blues,” “Intro to Lead Guitar,” “Learn Guitar for Worship,” and even “Songwriting Basics.”  They also offer a “Demo Workshop,” where you write, record and release you own song on a CD or even iTunes if you like. This year they have also included “Building Your Own Electric Guitar” classes and “Learn to Play the Ukulele.” Woosley notes that despite the unique nature of the new classes, they have already sparked a lot of interest from kids, parents and grandparents of all ages in the Lincoln community.  Kids can try out any class that they are interested in, or you could consider taking a class with them and learn a new musical talent together or incorporate it as a family activity!  However, summer is great when you are a kid to just relax and enjoy. As adults we sometimes forget that. Woosley advises parents against scheduling too many activities for their kids, and recommends sitting down as a family to present them with choices and discuss which activities are the most important to them. It is always important to make sure they have time to just hang out and be a kid. You can visit the website at www.lincolnschoolofmusic.com to register for classes and/or receive more details. Everybody always says that there are limited spots, but in this case, it is true.  If you think you are interested in one of the summer camps or classes, Woosley’s best advice is to contact them soon to ensure your spot for the summer.

There are going to be plenty of opportunities and activities to involve you kids in this summer, and Angie Lewis of Corky Canvas adds that since there are so many options and each class or camp is different you should make sure to choose wisely.   Try to pick a few with activities that your kids love, instead of overloading them with many activities that they may not necessarily be interested in.  While being exposed to new things is always beneficial, your child will most likely already have a good idea of what appeals to them and what does not.  Corky Canvas is offering Camp Color Splash from June 17-19, which offers a different art project every day!  Lewis says that if your kids love arts and crafts, they will LOVE this camp.  The cost is $85 per painter for all three days, and the camp is a collective experience so there are no partial date sign-ups offered.  There will be two age groups, the Red Group which is K-3rd graders and the Blue Group which is 4th-8th graders.  The fee includes materials such as canvas, paint, smocks and also includes a light snack.  Once they receive your reservation, Corky Canvas will also send a confirmation email with a questionnaire to gather more information about your child in order to offer them an amazing experience that highlights and fosters their individual talents and interests.  For more information, check out the Kids Tab on their website at www.corkycanvas.com.

If you are in the mood to take a mini road trip with the whole family or want to get your child involved in a great and highly educational summer program, you should plan to visit the Strategic Air & Space Museum, located off of I-80 near Ashland and Mahoney State Park.  The Strategic Air & Space Museum (SAC) is committed to providing guests with engaging experiences that will inspire the young – and the young at heart – as they explore the worlds of aviation, history, science, and technological innovation.  The Strategic Air & Space Museum takes great pride in their unique aircraft restoration program, and are one of the few museums nationwide to have an on-site restoration facility which provides museum guests the opportunity to watch first-hand as SAC’s collection of historically significant aircrafts are brought back to their original glory.

Igniting the thrill of innovation and discovery begins with exciting educational and outreach programs.  Each year, the Strategic Air & Space Museum serves thousands of school children through variety of field trips, overnight programs, and school and community presentations given throughout the region and the state. SAC also strives to present interactive exhibits throughout the summer, and over the course of the year, that enhance focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These temporary exhibits keep the museum experience fresh every time you return. Examples of these special exhibits in the past have included “Robots: The Interactive Exhibition” and “Suited for Space”.  If your summer is already full of activities, you can still plan to attend the upcoming MathAlive! exhibit opening September 21st.  Along with the exhibits, when you visit SAC be sure to stop by their Simulator and MAT (Multi-Axis Trainer) rides and all ages will enjoy the variety of space-themed programs offered in their Planetarium.  SAC also has a different activity every month in their Science Zone and feature one aircraft per month that the public can climb inside and experience history come to life.  Both of these experiences are included in the price of admission – at no additional cost.  The museum hosts annual events as well, such as Helicopter Day & Wings Under the Wings on May 18th and the Family Fun Carnival on August 3rd.  Wings Under the Wings is a high-octane BBQ wing-tasting event under the wings of historical aircraft.  You can start the day with the One-Day ONLY Helicopter Day exhibit, and then fill your afternoon and your stomach with wings from some of the tastiest places in the area.

The Strategic Air & Space Museum’s Education Department is committed to fueling the curiosity of children across the Midwest and educating them with special emphasis in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). SAC believes that STEM is a direction of great significance for our youth and the future of our country and world, so they strive for excellence in all of their STEM-centered educational programs.  You can find more information or sign your kids up for one of the many super science summer camps by visiting their website at www.sasmuseum.com.

Research from Johns Hopkins National Center for Summer Learning has shown that children can lose 2.6 months of grade-level equivalency in math and two months in reading on the “summer slide.”  Educators in the fall typically spend four to six weeks getting students back to where they were at the end of the previous academic year according to the National Summer Learning Association.  Kathy Hanrath, Executive Director of Bright Lights, says that this problem can be addressed by encouraging your child to participate in summer learning programs.  This gives your child an opportunity to take learning beyond the nine-month classroom, engage in other learning styles and activities, avoid summer learning loss, all while developing good habits and life-long learning skills.  Bright Lights has over 25 years of experience providing summer enrichment programs from K-9th grade students in a safe, nurturing environment.  Bright Lights is an ideal way for students to maximize the fun of summer vacation while increasing their confidence and potential success for when they return to school in the fall.  They offer small classes with hands-on opportunities in focused areas of interest or to explore a new interest.  In addition to their summer classes and camps, at the end of each program week Bright Lights provides a list of extended learning activities as a resource to keep students engaged if they have found something that they really love.  There are also different scheduling and content options available, including half-day classes or full-day camps.  Most classes are held at Randolph Elementary School, located at 1024 S. 37th street, and registration is now open with a full class listing at brightlights.org.

When looking for a summer activity for your child, it is very important to make sure it is a good fit for your child’s developmental level and individual needs and interests.  Nebraska Cheer Center offers multiple activities for children ages 2 to 18 years old. Regardless of experience, anyone is welcome to join their programs! NCC has classes for beginner through advanced level athletes, and their certified coaches teach tumbling through a safe progression of skills and maximize the amount of time spent in the gym by getting to know each child personally. In doing so, each child’s needs and goals are assessed early on. NCC offers Recreational (non-competitive) Cheerleading, Tumbling Levels 1 (Beginner) through Level 5 (Elite/Advanced), Stunting & Flexibility Classes, Jumps & Conditioning Classes, as well as Birthday Parties and Open Gym sessions.  Nicki Baker, owner of the Nebraska Cheer Center, stresses the importance of meeting the staff and paying close attention to their teaching or coaching techniques.  Are they speaking to the children on their level?  Are they interacting with the athletes while they work?  Does it appear that the children in the class are enjoying themselves?  If you can’t be present for all of the sessions, try to be present for the introductory session or observe when you can to get a good understanding of the interaction that is taking place.  The MOST important aspect to facilitate your child’s learning process is to make sure that you choose a program that pays attention not only to the needs of each specific child, but also a place where your child will be respected, feel important, and where they are cared for as a person, rather than a name filling the class roster.  Nebraska Cheer Center is Lincoln’s only ALL CHEER program, where they specifically focus on Cheerleading, Tumbling Safety & Technique, Stunting, Flexibility, and so on, without having to ‘share time’ with other programs such as dance or gymnastics.  NCC is dedicated to giving each athlete the ultimate cheerleading experience, and also offers the most affordable prices in the area.  As their staff gets to know each athlete they will help them set and reach goals, learn the value of commitment and teamwork, and lead by example in teaching children the importance of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle!

Phil Burcher, owner of Precision Skateboards, says that skateboarding is a great way for kids to be active and learn a new skill this summer.  Skateboarding is popular among kids of all ages, and Precision Skateboards provides a wealth of equipment in a range of sizes that accommodates different skill levels.  They carry a large variety of boards, and it is important to make sure the board you choose is actually made for use with the bushings individually tailored to the size and weight of your child.  If the board is cheaply made, your child will suffer as it makes it very difficult to learn techniques when you can’t perform fundamental skills, such as steering.  Burcher also stresses the importance of having the proper safety equipment, including a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards that fit right in order to provide the correct protection.  If a helmet is not adjusted properly, it will impede learning by being a nuisance and will not serve the function it was designed for.  Also, children outgrow almost all fitted items quickly.  Precision Skateboards offers a solution to this problem by custom fitting helmets with different sizes of pads that can be replaced, for free, as your child grows.

Tiger Rock Martial Arts Academy offers two summer sessions or a combined “train all summer” option for kids and adults to train over the summer break.  These sessions begin June 14th and July 15th.  Registration is open until June 8th for the first session and until July 10th for the second session.  However, each year this program quickly fills to capacity.

Jeff Dousharm, owner of Tiger Rock, says in his experience working with families there are three critical areas that great parents use to evaluate summer program options for kids:

Is it safe?–Not just the activity, but the people facilitating it.  Is it just a bunch of 16-year-olds hired to stand around?  Are the staff trained, certified or qualified in whatever they are teaching or leading?  Are they first aid and CPR qualified?  These are all factors that go into making sure that your child will be safe.  There are many stories of kids being hurt because of poor planning and unqualified program leaders, so parents should do their research and not just assume everything will be fine.

Will my child LEARN something or really improve an area of their life?–There are tons of activities out there.  The question is, what gives you the best return on your investment of dollars AND time.  Kids can have fun AND learn or develop at the same time.  Activities that help build skill sets such as focus and confidence can really give them the edge when they go back to school.

Will my child have FUN?–Besides learning, kids need to have fun!  Why?  Because if it’s not fun they won’t want to go and will get burned out.  You will be dragging them to the activity or worse yet, settling for them quitting.   And if they quit, not only are you out the money, but you also start the trend of telling your child that quitting is ok—not a good lesson in life.

With over 18 years in Lincoln, Tiger Rock Martial Arts has become a very popular option for summer activities for kids and families.  University studies prove the impact that Tiger Rock has on kids.  From confidence and reduced fear of failure to focus and listening skills, Tiger Rock delivers in a very fun and safe environment.  Multiple locations in Lincoln and Omaha make it easy for families to be a part of it all.

Sporting activities are very popular year-round, but summer is a great time to learn fundamentals by participating in a summer camp or can be a great chance for family time if you just want to toss the ball around.  Your child may know what sport they like, but if they have not experienced more than one sport they may not be aware of their options or find out what sport they are talented in.  This makes it important to allow your child to experience or participate in several different sporting activities.  Diane Hesson of Play It Again Sports says this is so important because it allows them to learn skills, exercise both their minds and bodies, and gives them the opportunity to make new friends.  Starting a sport when your child is young is beneficial as they will develop social skills and learn to make exercise part of their daily routine.  While allowing your child to experiment with a sport they excel in, don’t forget that they most likely just want to have fun.  Also, it’s okay if they’re not GREAT at one sport.  There are plenty of sports out there to try, and Play It Again Sports can help make that happen without it breaking your bank.  Play It Again Sports is a full line sporting equipment dealer.  They attempt to stock new and used items in all sporting categories, and a highlight of their business is they work to trade in quality used equipment for other new or used items.  For those children starting their sporting endeavors, their price conscious equipment allows parents to outfit their children for each sport accordingly, and for less money.   You can trade in equipment when your child has outgrown items OR if they decide that soccer just isn’t for them and they’d like to try baseball instead.   Play It Again Sports carries name brands and their trained staff members are always prepared to answer your questions, make recommendations and assist in properly fitting your children with the right equipment.

So many kids are losing their ability to think for themselves, with the instant access that technology has offered.  In fact, studies have shown that attention spans are actually getting shorter due to this instant gratification.  Engaging in activities that involve art on a regular basis can loosen up the right brain and create an opportunity for non-linear thinking.  Urban Legends Art Studio, operated by Anna Alcalde (former art instructor/graphic artist) and Cindy Schroeder (Lincoln business owner/crafter), is a family friendly, “enter-active” art studio that offers a variety of affordable and exciting classes and camps.  Urban Legends mixes art with education, which results in FUN!  One of the more popular classes offered this summer is “The Art of Becoming a Superhero,” where kids will design logos, capes, and story-comic strips in order to define what it takes to be regarded as a hero in real life–such as developing manners, dignity, self-pride and community involvement.  There’s an art to bringing it all together into one awesome young person…KER-POW!  Additionally, for the last class we will order at a local eatery using our new super skills and manners.  Some other classes Urban Legends offers include “If I Had a Hammer,” “Stitchin’, Bobbin’, Weavin’,” and “Bling-It Jewelry.”

You should always consider safety when planning summer activities.  With safety in mind, ask yourself questions and contemplate your answers.  What activities are appropriate for your child’s age? What safety equipment should be on-hand?  For example, if you are swimming do you need to provide a lifejacket?  If your child will be biking or skateboarding, do they have a helmet or knee and elbow pads?  Is there a responsible adult or staff member, or as many as the group dictates, available at all times?  Another important thing to consider is your goals for the summer activities that you choose.  Beyond simply keeping them busy, you will want to keep their development in mind.  Developing social and emotional skills are ongoing for all age groups, and it is a good idea for your child to be involved with peers their own age, as well as kids of other ages.  This enables them to understand their own age with respect to others, encourages extroverted thinking, and gives them the opportunity to have role models as well as to be a role model for other children.  Finally, remember that there is only so much time in the day, so be careful to avoid overbooking yourself and your kids so that summer vacation doesn’t include some down time to rest and enjoy.

Summer activities give your child the opportunity to spend their time engaged in creative projects that offer educational undertones while emphasizing fun and making friends.  This promotes physical and mental activity, and also encourages creative thinking as an approach to life.  In this way, you are preparing your child to be willing to take risks as they learn new skills, and creative thinkers also have the ability to understand that problems have many solutions—so when they encounter an obstacle, they are able to find a way around it rather than giving up.  Summer activities will give your child an opportunity to learn and practice these skills, as well as experiencing what the outside world has to offer firsthand.  For example, even if they follow a project guide exactly, they will still have to make decisions about the shades of colors they prefer, where to place items, or how to correct technical mistakes they have made.  Additionally, since repetition is one of the ways we retain information, once they have been exposed to one type of project they will learn the editing process.  In becoming more comfortable with the skill they are trying, they will also become more creative with the choices they make and more comfortable with exploring their imagination.  Summer activities also encourage children to find the resources to make what they want in order to solve their own problems.  If a tool is already in use, they will be negotiating with their peers and scheduling their place in line for it, as well as exercising patience during the waiting period, all while allocating their time to other aspects of the project.  These lessons are all being presented in a working manner, without your children being distracted from the excitement of their new experience.  You can take an active role in this process by attending a summer activity with your child, or reviewing what they did during the day in order to reinforce what they have learned, thus facilitating their emotional growth and understanding as to why each activity you both have chosen is great for them instead of simply something to pass the time.  Kids absorb everything, so why not position them in the best atmosphere to absorb positive ideas and influences.  Summertime is a great opportunity for your child to enjoy the world outside of the classroom and try something new, so make sure to take advantage of the many wonderful options available in our community!

Ashley Pavlish, owner of Body Nouveaux Spa, offers plenty of great gift ideas that are always popular treats. Among their most popular pampering services are massages and facials, and even if you have given this as a gift before they really don’t ever get old! The staff at Body Nouveaux loves to spoil their clients, and will cozy them up to a nice warm bed and release all of their stresses away. May is a big month for Body Nouveaux, and they offer many specials on a variety of services, including packages if you want to go big. They are a full-service day spa, so you can choose from massages, facials, their incredibly popular Slender Body Wraps, spray tanning services, and other specialty services. Pavlish and her staff like to show their clients that taking time out for themselves is not a selfish thing to do, and she emphasizes that if you take care of yourself you will be able to take care of others even better. If anyone should benefit from this understanding it’s all those fantastic, hard-working mothers out there! If you are a mother buying a gift for your mother, consider making a trip to Body Nouveaux together and create an opportunity for a little bit of quality time. Body Nouveaux wants all of their clients to be new and be YOU, and their staff always looks forward to providing their services to very deserving mothers who almost certainly don’t have much free time to spend on themselves.

Charm bracelets and necklaces offer the chance to personalize a piece of jewelry that will look great on your mother, while accenting fond memories to serve as a constant reminder of how much she is loved and treasured. They also serve as a conversation piece that she can show off and take with her wherever she goes. Cherie Travis, owner of Rachel’s Boutique, offers several different options for building your own charm bracelet or necklace. Rachel’s Boutique carries Brighton and Pandora bracelets, necklaces and, of course, charms for both which come in a variety of styles and each is uniquely crafted to convey a special meaning. Pandora offers a charm made especially for Mother’s Day, and Brighton will also be featuring a special Mother’s Day promotion that will be available at Rachel’s Boutique. Rachel’s also carries a selection of Brighton handbags and sunglasses which are also a highly desirable and functional gift for any woman! In addition to these special ideas, Rachel’s Boutique offers plenty clothing, jewelry and accessories in an assortment of styles and brands, which makes it easy to find something for any taste. Another popular set of items that Travis recommends is the Vera Bradley line of quilted handbags and travel pieces that offer quality, style and function, all of which are components that your mom probably already has on her list of important features. The staff at Rachel’s Boutique would love to help you pick out a special Mother’s Day gift for your loved ones!

Another personalized and meaningful gift idea is a custom framing project. Steve Petersen, owner of Hangups Gallery, says that a popular service they offer for a Mother’s Day gift is creating a framed collage with kid’s art, family portraits, sports pictures and awards, and other photos or items tied to special memories such as vacations or family pets. For grandmothers, you can beautifully frame a family photo or portrait, or custom frame special keepsakes in a shadow box that will serve as a great hand-me-down heirloom. These items are commonly stored away when they could be displayed for your enjoyment. Hangups Gallery also has gift certificates available if you would like to give your mother or grandmother options on what they would like to include instead of surprising them with the finished product. Petersen says that most projects can be completed within a week, but he advises planning ahead on what you want the finished product to look like or what items you want to include for optimal results. Preservation is a key element in custom framing, and not only is it a great gift idea, but also extends the life of your precious items and offers protection so you can display your memories proudly for years to come.

For a great selection of specialty home décor items that will look great as an accent in your mom’s house, Plum Creek Gifts has plenty to offer! Ruth Ann Carpenter, owner of Plum Creek Gifts, recommends several popular items that are perfect for mothers including plaques and pictures with uplifting or personal messages, special floral items that add an extra touch to any space, or their special photo art that can be personalized. Plum Creek Gifts is a decorating shop specifically tailored towards women, so the gift possibilities for Mother’s Day are endless!

If your mom is truly one-of-a-kind, you can capture that with a unique, personalized gift from the locally owned and operated Hallow Candle Company. Hallow Candle Co. carries the WHIFF product line of scented oil warmers and bricks that are the perfect way to accent a space and fill it up with a great fragrance for hours in a safe, flame-free manner. Sarah Mullins, owner of Hallow Candle Company, has recently announced that during the week of Mother’s Day, Hallow Candle Co. will be selling all WHIFF scents for a promotional rate of buy 2, get one free and all gift wrap is 50% off! Their staff is ready to help you design the perfect Mother’s Day gift, whether you have planned ahead of time all the way up to the last minute. Come into Hallow Candle Company early and you can design your mom her own custom candle with personalized colors, fragrances and a Mother’s Day message! Hallow Candle carries their own line of 100% soy candles, bath salts and goats milk soaps, in addition to their huge line of KD Designs jewelry, home décor and accessories. You can visit their store location at 3302 O Street, Ste. C, or website at HallowCandle.com, to view the many options they have to offer. Hallow Candle Company has everything you need for your mother to celebrate her special day in comfort and style.

Edible Arrangements has their own Mother’s Day gift collection that offers truly unique and thoughtful gifts every mom will love! The collection includes fruit arrangements with favorites like pineapple hearts and daisies, gourmet chocolate-dipped strawberries, and you can even include a “berry” special teddy bear and custom balloon bundle to make your gift extra sweet and wonderful. Ali Henrichs, co-owner of Edible Arrangements store locations in Lincoln and Omaha, says that their stores will carry many new and exciting products uniquely designed for Mother’s Day gift giving. The Mother’s Day Bouquet is traditionally a part of their Very Lovely Celebration collection, and is offered in a beautiful ceramic keepsake pitcher that is specially decorated for Mother’s Day. This is a special berry trio with half-dipped strawberries and a new add-on of eight different “swizzle berries.” This option is only available for orders placed and fulfilled by Thursday, May 9th. The Sweet Like Her Bouquet is their existing Sweetheart Bouquet designed in a new Sweetheart/Heart Mug. Another great idea is Lovely Indulgence Strawberries, a completely new item that comes in a pretty box and features strawberries dipped in miniature chocolate morsels, micro drops and lovely sprinkles! Finally, the Brighten Their Day Bouquet includes their regular Delicious Fruit Design with all pineapple daisies being replaced with bright pineapple stars, and also includes fresh strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew and grapes. To order you can visit the local Edible Arrangement website, give them a call, or stop by and see what they have to offer in person!

For those that can’t be present to spend time with their mom on Mother’s Day, you can look into options for delivery of your special gift. Remember to include a personal message to convey that you are always thinking about her, which is the reason for the gift itself. We live in a time where it is easy to call, text or Skype so you can enjoy her reaction once she has received her gift, or you can incorporate your communication with the gift in order to make it really special even though distance may be separating you from physically enjoying time together. While your mother may be excited to receive a Mother’s Day gift, she is probably just as excited to have the chance to catch up with you as well, and vice versa. If you are sending a gift by mail, remember that a lot of other people are doing the same thing. Try to coordinate with a family member to make sure your mom receives her gift around Mother’s Day, but don’t wait too long to send it as there is a higher volume of mail going through the Post Office and your gift may not make it in time. Consider proper sized packaging and correct packing procedures to avoid any damage if your gift is breakable, and avoid sending anything that is extra fragile or food items that may spoil or be exposed to various contaminants unless proper precautions have been taken. Clothing and jewelry items travel really well, but you should definitely consider insuring those items. The best way to send a gift is to utilize a local company where your mother is located that provides a delivery service for the item you are purchasing, and to schedule this service as far in advance as possible.

If you are racking your brain about what your mother would absolutely love, or need a last minute gift idea, flowers never get old (even if you think they do, again, they REALLY don’t!). There are many different colors and varieties, they are fresh and smell great, you can spend a little and pick up a bouquet at a store or a bit more on an arrangement from a local florist, and they simply brighten up wherever they are displayed while reminding your mother of her wonderful child. Additionally, you can buy her a plant, as the process of caring for a living thing is an instinct that typically stays with moms long after their children have grown up and out of her house. Most plants last many years and you can also choose a pretty pot or flowering version that will fit in with her existing home decor. Clothing can also be a great gift as long as you pick the right type of item. You will want to stay away from sized items that may be difficult to judge, but there are many items that you can choose outside of this. You can pick out a cute and comfortable pair of pajama pants or a luxury bath robe, providing you have not already done this around the holidays and you don’t go frumpy or give her something cheesy, like a print with teddy bears, unless that is what she really likes. Scarves are really on trend for spring and are available in a variety of colors, textures and prints. Another gift that seems impersonal but can really have a great purpose is a gift card. This isn’t the type of gift that is always recommended, but in the case of moms who spend the majority of their time shopping for others, receiving a gift card to their favorite shop may retire their selflessness for a couple of hours while they shop for themselves. So really, the gift is more of offering this type of opportunity as opposed to the monetary value. Furthermore, have you ever visited your mother’s house and been bothered by an old throw rug or well-used household items? Go out and purchase her a new version, and make sure it is amazing so that she won’t think twice about replacing the old items with the new gift she has received (or your ulterior motives)! This will also remind her that you pay attention and care that she is always cared for; even in small, everyday ways. Keep in mind that even if you find the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, there is no excuse to neglect your mother the other 364 days of the year! However, showing her that you care the best way you know how on Mother’s Day certainly doesn’t hurt.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you amazing ladies out there, enjoy your day!

Many practices devoted to specialized areas of health care have staff members that have a focus in women’s health.  Dr. Corey Dousharm, of Mosier-Timperley Chiropractic, specializes in women’s health.  This includes women prior to, throughout, and after pregnancy, as well as overall health and wellness for women of all ages.  She stresses that by taking care of the spine and nervous system, women have a better chance of fewer fertility issues later down the road.  Additionally, maintaining a healthy nervous system can provide better immune function, fewer headaches, and more energy.  Any one of those components is a welcomed health benefit, let alone all of them together by simply getting an adjustment to maintain the correct structure of your spine. Dr. Dousharm says “I design my treatment recommendations to be specific for each individual woman that seeks my care. Everyone’s body reacts to stress differently so plans of care should be different for each women. I love getting to know my patients and their family and building a trusting and open bond with them. If you don’t feel comfortable with me, or feel that you are getting the results that you expect, I am more than happy to find you a better fit. As a woman myself, I feel that comfort and trust in your doctor are keys to great care.”  She is always happy to sit down for a free consultation to discuss how Chiropractic care can benefit your individual needs.

Women’s Clinic of Lincoln, PC is a great resource for women’s health because that is their main focus.  They strive to successfully meet the ever changing health needs of women, and their integrated system of care is designed to promote optimal physical, emotional and spiritual health for women throughout their life span.  Routine gynecological exams are a key part of a women’s total health care. On your first visit to Women’s Clinic, a personal health history will be obtained which includes background information, medical history, family history, and lifestyle. A routine exam starts with your height, weight and blood pressure and a review of your medical history and current concerns with the nurse. Your physical exam includes listening to heart and lungs, breast exam, abdominal check, internal and manual pelvic exam, and a Pap smear as needed. After your examination, the results of your visit are evaluated in order to decide your course of care. Women’s Clinic of Lincoln provides a friendly and comfortable atmosphere, and their goal is for each patient to feel that her gynecological health care needs have been met.  Their Nurse Practitioners strive to provide a relaxed, secure atmosphere and to meet the special needs of women from teens to mid-twenties, who may be visiting for their first exam. Because many young women are more comfortable being seen by a woman for their first gynecological exam, they provide care and education FOR and BY women. Women’s Clinic of Lincoln’s well-qualified Nurse Practitioners also provide a non-threatening environment for discussion of such concerns as lifestyle issues, eating disorders, prevention of sexually-transmitted infections, and other questions common to this age group.  Women’s Clinic of Lincoln offers many in-office procedures to diagnose and treat common medical conditions that affect women of all ages, including Colposcopy, LEEP procedures, Cryo-Surgery, Cystoscopy, and Essure, which is their newest permanent birth control procedure.  By performing these procedures in the office, patients benefit by receiving care from professionals that they already trust, and avoid the expense of hospital admissions or the risk of general anesthesia in most cases.  They can also perform a variety of minimally invasive surgical procedures for women of all ages, and are proud to have been the first gynecological office in the area to offer gynecologic robotic procedures for patients.  Dr. James Maly has been recognized as an experienced surgeon with the da Vinci Surgical System, which enables surgeons to perform delicate and complex operations through a few tiny incisions with increased vision, precision, dexterity and control.

Women’s Clinic of Lincoln also offers counseling and supportive services, as they are aware of the connections between our minds and bodies and know there are very effective treatments. Medicine to affect brain chemicals is a choice, as is “talk therapy” or counseling. For most people, combining medicine and talk works best.  Life can be very stressful and chronic, long-term stress affects our health in many ways–most of them harmful. Their on-site counselor, Barb Morton, RNC, APRN, (Nurse Practitioner) can help you evaluate your symptoms and develop a treatment plan tailored to you. Personal, confidential, and safe, she will help you build on your strengths to solve life problems. Morton also helps people deal with serious illness and changes in life situations.

Proper nutrition, a balanced diet and exercise are all equally important for women to achieve optimum health.  Now Vemma Nutrition can help!  The Vemma Bod-e line debuted in January 2012, and is a first-of-its-kind healthy weight solution program.  It combines result-orientated Bod-e products (20g Protein, 7g Fiber) with the sustainable Vemma Bod-e Transformation Plan, designed to help you shed those hard-to-lose pounds without sacrificing wellness.  The Plan and Bod-e products were developed in collaboration with TV Celebrity Transformation Specialists, Chris and Heidi Powell (Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition), who have over 15 years of experience in weight loss transformations.  Their knowledge helped shape the Bod-e Transformation Plan, which reprograms how your body uses food through alternating two low-carb days and one high-carb day for six days, followed by one guilt-free day on the seventh day to reward yourself.  With the purchase of any Bod-e products, the consumer gets access to the FREE website and the award-winning Vemma Bod-e Mobile App to track their progress.  Local brand partner Anne M. Cook is happy to provide more information about Vemma Nutrition as well as free product samples.

Among the top health concerns for women are heart disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer, depression, and autoimmune diseases.  These conditions are not necessarily specific to women, but affect women with a much higher frequency than their male counterparts.  Heart disease stands alone as the leading killer of both men and women; however in women this condition is responsible for approximately 29% of deaths as reported by the Center for Disease Control.  There are many women that suffer from heart disease without even knowing it, are underdiagnosed—often to the point that it is too late to help them once the condition is discovered, or die prematurely because the condition has gone untreated for too long.  This is mainly because the symptoms for women are also typical symptoms of aging or other minor health issues, and are often even missed by the patient herself.  Symptoms like minor chest pain are often associated with heart disease, but other symptoms such as shortness of breath, jaw pain, shoulder aches, nausea, and vomiting could easily be related to many other conditions.  The American Heart Association lists risk factors for heart disease as being a problem associated with the male gender, and it certainly is, but almost one third of women dying per year from heart disease is still very significant.  The AHA also lists risk factors such as increasing age, smoking, heredity (including race), high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes.  Women with any of these risk factors should pay extra care and attention to see a physician regularly for testing and dialogue.  The earlier you modify your lifestyle to include healthier behaviors, the more you will reduce your risk for heart disease.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and is second to lung cancer as the leading cancer-related cause of death for women.  However, the scare of this often has the opposite effect on women in terms of preventative health care.  Many experts note that fear of breast cancer can sometimes deter women from going to their doctors for screening, or may even push women to make rash decisions about mastectomy when it may not be necessary.  With an always increasing amount of research being conducted, more treatment options are also becoming available and range from minimally or non-invasive to surgical options.  As we all know, breast cancer is not always a death sentence.  In this case, women are urged to keep their emotions in perspective and to educate themselves about the issues and their options.  The American Cancer Society lists risk factors for breast cancer as increasing age, genes, family and personal history of the disease, race, earlier abnormal breast biopsy of chest radiation, early onset of menstruation or menopause after age 55, not having children, use of certain medications, high alcohol consumption, and obesity.  Some easy lifestyle changes you can incorporate to decrease your risk factors are controlling your weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and talking to your doctor about your risk and undergoing appropriate screening for breast cancer.  However, risk factors are just suggesting that a correlation has been made as a result of evaluating the results of research.  Just because your mother did not have breast cancer, or you had some fun nights in the bars during college, does not mean you will or will not suffer from breast cancer.  Always keep these risk factors in mind, but also in perspective.  Some women that have one or more risk factors may never get breast cancer, or they may be indicating another health problem.

Osteoporosis has been affecting women far before it was on the radar of medical professionals.  Frailty, hunched over progression, or back pain historically were not considered symptoms of bone deterioration, but were things that older women had to accept as their aging process.  We are now living in a time where women and girls can take steps to easily avoid such ailments, as osteoporosis is largely preventable.  The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports that osteoporosis threatens 44 million Americans, and 68% of those affected are women.  It is never too late to keep bones strong, and research suggests the earlier in life the better.  Our bodies are building up most of our bone mass until we are approximately 30 years old, and then new bone stops forming and our bodies focus on maintenance of the existing bone structure that has been built up until that time.  This means that your body will do what it can to repair any bone damage suffered, but you have to provide the tools.  Two of the most successful tools are adequate calcium consumption and weight-bearing physical activity.  Many women are apprehensive about weight training in their fitness routine because they want to maintain their figure and like to be toned, not ripped.  Simply incorporating any type of resistance training once or twice a week can reduce your risk for osteoporosis.  Risk factors for osteoporosis, other than being female, include increasing age, smaller or thin-boned frame, ethnicity, family history, anorexia, diets that are low in calcium and vitamin D, use of certain medications, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Depression also appears to affect more women than men.  The stigma attached to depression has made it difficult for some people to address as it is not considered desirable and can be offensive, such as detracting from men who suffer or saying that any emotional imbalance in women makes them “crazy.”  The National Institute of Mental Disorder reports that about 12 million women are affected by depressive disorders each year compared to 6 million men.  So while many men and women are affected, 50% more women than men experiencing depression make it an issue that women need to address proactively.  Hormonal changes can often trigger the condition, particularly postpartum depression that occurs after pregnancy or changes around menopause, but there are many other factors we deal with emotionally that our body responds to physically by producing more or less hormones.  The risk factors for depression include previous depressive episodes, family history of depression, history of heart problems, serious chronic illness, marital or relationship problems, substance abuse, stressful life events, recent surgery or serious illness, childhood history of physical or sexual abuse, having an eating or anxiety disorder, and many others on a case by case basis that we may not be aware of.  Sometimes use of certain drugs for other conditions can contribute to depression, such as medicines for high blood pressure or seizures.  Additionally, some diseases have been found to trigger depression such as vitamin deficiencies or thyroid disease.  You know your own body the best, so if you don’t feel right chances are good that something is actually going on with your body that is affecting you both physically, and in turn, emotionally.  There is no shame in getting this checked out, even if there is nothing major it can take away anxiety, and in doing so, eliminate a risk factor that could contribute to depression in the future.  It is important to be educated on eliminating these risk factors to be proactive about your mental and emotional health, as it may not be easy to eliminate depression but it can certainly be managed so it doesn’t drag you down—often without medication as a primary option.  One easy way to reduce the risk of depression is to find a great reason to get up in the morning.  Things such as work, community, love, pets and volunteering are great reasons.  The healthiest adults are people involved in significant, caring relationships.  This does not necessarily mean romance; you can reach out to your community or family to build these relationships as well.  Exercise can also reduce many of the risk factors, and release endorphins and hormones that can balance your bodies’ natural functioning.  Taking a quick walk, even on a break at work, is a great way to quickly escape stressors while increasing your activity.

Finally, according to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, about 75% of autoimmune diseases occur in women.  Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which the immune system attacks the body and destroys or alters tissues.  There are more than 80 serious chronic illnesses in this category, including lupus, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes as the most common.  As a group, autoimmune disorders make up the fourth largest cause of disability among American women.  The scary part is that we don’t really know what causes the body to turn on itself.  Since autoimmune diseases are not very well understood, pinpointing specific risk factors is difficult but genetic, hormonal and environmental factors are all suspects.  Symptoms can also be non-specific which can be distracting and hamper proper diagnosis.  This is an area that requires support and a pro-active approach, similar to depression.  If you know something is wrong with you or a loved one, insist that someone take your symptoms seriously.  It is very common for women to make multiple visits to multiple doctors for a diagnosis to be made, and sometimes it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time for something to appear diagnostically.  A great way to promote continued awareness of autoimmune disorders is to support causes that enable more research, since they have such an enigmatic nature.

Bridget Green, a Physician Assistant with Urgent Care Clinic since 2009, has two years of experience specific to women’s healthcare.  This enables Urgent Care to offer services tailored to women, such as annual exams and health screenings including pap smears, birth control consultation and prescriptions, breast screening and education including mammograms, STD testing and consultation/treatment, and other issues commonly affecting women, such as anxiety and depression consultation and referrals.  In conjunction with these services, Urgent Care Clinic has an on-site digital laboratory that allows them access to quick testing and results for many screenings, such as pregnancy, as well as offering digital x-ray and prescription services.  Additionally, since they commonly provide emergency care, their hours of operation are expanded to make it more convenient to be seen outside of traditional office hours.  Green’s focus on women’s health serves to enhance Urgent Care’s capabilities as a complete medical facility that pays attention to the unique needs of all patients.

It is very important for women to take a pro-active role in their own health as well as our society supporting the collective health issues that impact all women.  Awareness is vitally important, and the more we know the more we can share with others in order to influence better outcomes against many of these health issues.  Though it may not always be the solution, preventative care measures should always be your first method of defense.  Know your risk factors, and do what you can to minimize them.  Staying active and eating healthier are two ways that you can reduce your risk factors for most any condition.  In the morning, try to expose yourself to sunlight as soon as you wake up.  This helps jumpstart your production of Seratonin, a brain chemical that tells your body all is well.  Sunlight is also a great natural source of Vitamin D.  Also, drink plenty of water and add in some fresh fruit to infuse your water with a great flavor with the added nutrient benefits.  It may sound too simple, but staying positive is important for maintaining good health.  Negative emotions are also physically damaging to your body and trigger the production of Cortisol, which is a chemical that depresses the immune system, attacks lean muscle tissue and negatively affects blood sugar levels.  Use whatever method works to eliminate negativity, whether it is deep breathing, laughter, listening to music that you like, or visualizing something that makes you happy.  Getting enough sleep can not only help you live longer, but also sharpens your memory, lowers your stress, and reduces food cravings during the day.  Sometimes after a long day at the office, it feels like you have no time to unwind and in turn you stay up later doing things that you think will nourish this lack of relaxation.  Lack of sleep and an inconsistent bedtime really do put a strain on your system, so set a time to go to bed and stick to it as often as possible.

Women’s health is an important topic, and we can all benefit from a greater understanding of issues and diseases that are gender specific in nature.  Women often assume the role of caretaker for others, while neglecting themselves and their own health and wellness for the benefit of those around them, or to live up to society’s pressures.  Additionally, we are learning more every day about how we are alike and different based simply on gender; while women have many of the same diseases as men their symptoms and treatments may not always be the same.  A woman’s health relies on her total well-being, and is not determined solely by biological factors and reproduction, but also by the effects of other factors such as work load, nutrition, stress, and activity level.  Basic health care, family planning, obstetric and counseling services are essential, and should be available, to all women.  Maintaining a healthy lifestyle isn’t always easy; but it IS a fundamental part of leading a happy, productive and long life.

During pregnancy, there are many planned doctor’s visits at specific intervals for those nine months that help you prepare for being a parent and caring for a newborn.  Chiropractic adjustments throughout pregnancy are very beneficial and should be included to complement other medical care and check-ups.  Dr. Corey Dousharm of Mosier-Timperley Chiropractic Clinic sees patients throughout the process of birth, including expecting parents or parents and their newborn babies once they have made their debut into the world.  As a woman’s belly grows with the baby, the spine is put under intense stress. By keeping the spine adjusted and moving, mom is better able to handle all these new stresses, making the growth and change as comfortable as possible. If the spine and pelvis are properly aligned, there is no reason that pregnancy should be overwhelmingly uncomfortable.  The birth process is one of the most traumatic experiences we will have in life. Multiple strains are placed on the cervical spine throughout delivery, especially if vacuum extraction, forceps, or C-section procedures are used. A subluxation (misalignment in the spine) in the cervical spine of a newborn baby can lead to torticollis, difficulty nursing, chronic ear infections, and many other issues if left untreated. Dr. Dousharm utilizes a VERY low force technique when adjusting infants, as their spines are still forming.  She has seen many infants, even as young as one day old, and in correcting their subluxations early, they are less likely to develop the above issues. It is never too early to get adjusted!  As with any other time where stress is present, everyone responds to stress differently, and the staff at Mosier-Timperley strive to provide care that is specific for each individual patient. They have many patients who are in two times a month just for maintenance, however when the stresses of life appear they will come in more frequently.  Chiropractic is a safe and effective way to take charge of your health, and to maintain your health so you are ready for anything life has in store.  Dr. Dousharm enjoys working with women and kids especially, but loves when entire families decide to take the step towards better health for all. She is always happy to provide a consultation so that you can make the best decision for what is right for your family and their health.  The sooner you start taking care of yourself the better off you will be in the future!

Another thing an expecting couple should consider is taking classes that will help you plan and prepare for childbirth accordingly.  Most childbirth classes are 8-12 hours long and cover what will happen during a few days of your life. Laura Anderson of Elite Lactation Professionals, LLC says that it is a standard recommendation for all babies to be breastfeed for at least one year, yet few people prepare properly for this. In general, many think that breastfeeding will be natural–and it is, just like labor and birth are natural, but it is not always easy. Learning what to expect and what is normal is very important. Our culture has many misconceptions regarding how newborns feed. It is important to remember regardless of what we think, biologically our bodies are expecting to breastfeed and our babies are expecting everything that comes from being breastfed.  Anderson stresses that you should know your resources and seek help, and be aware that having a baby is a major life change and many things about it will be scary and unpredictable. It’s OK to feel unsure and awkward, but it is not OK to feel alone. ELITE Lactation Professionals, LLC offers access to private practice Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). Families who access their services are provided with prenatal education and postpartum breastfeeding support, available in individual and group consultations, and Anderson notes that they can also develop a Custom Individual Lactation Program. Also, a main component of their business is geared toward making a mother’s return to work smooth. They contract with corporations to improve, maintain and set up a Custom Worksite Lactation Program, and provide Management Training Seminars throughout the country that focus on Corporate Wellness.  In March of 2010, the Fair Labor Standards Act included an amendment that requires all employers to provide nursing mothers with reasonable time and space to pump their breast milk for up to a year after the baby is born. Elite Lactation Professionals, LLC provides corporations with the tools needed to make their Worksite Lactation Program successful.

Parenting a child does not necessarily mean that you have given birth.  Foster care provides an opportunity for children and potential guardians to find one another and create a family.  Christian Heritage believes that foster care is a calling, and in the beginning most people may not feel totally equipped to do foster care, but they feel called to that mission.  That calling does not seem to be tied to any particular stage of life, and is different for every foster parent.  Christian Heritage offers foster care training classes involving a variety of participants such as young married couples, empty nesters, singles, parents with no children, and parents with many children.  Brian Berrier, the Recruitment Supervisor for Christian Heritage, is always very excited to see people in all stages of life with different circumstances share a common passion to help foster children.  Foster care is a very exciting journey and for some, the journey of pursuing foster care lasts for months while for others it may continue for years. Children in foster care have been removed from their parents because of abuse, neglect, or other family problems.  The first goal when a child enters foster care is to re-unite them with their biological family, however in situations where the children cannot return home Christian Heritage looks to adoption, as their organization believes that every child deserves a family.  Christian Heritage assigns a family specialist to the foster parent(s) and the child/children in their care, who will call on you and the children at least twice a month.  Family specialists also attend school, team, and court meetings to help support both you and the child, and Christian Heritage has someone on-call 24 hours a day.  Anyone interested in becoming a foster parent is invited to begin the process by contacting Christian Heritage.  They will be able to answer any questions that you have and provide you with an idea of the children they have that currently need temporary or permanent homes, and can set up a home visit, which is the next step in the process.  At the home visit, they will make sure your home meets all the standards to be licensed, and visit with you in more detail about foster care and what is involved.  In order to help children in foster care you need to be trained and become licensed, which would be the next step.  Christian Heritage partners with local churches to offer training sessions throughout the year.  This training will help prepare you to care for children in foster care and gives you the opportunity to develop a support group with others that share a common passion to help children.  During training you will also have a licensing specialist walk you through the process of becoming licensed.   After you become licensed we discuss with you what type of placements will work for your family, and Christian Heritage is very intentional about placing children with the right family.  Not matter what stage of the process you are at, Christian Heritage would love to speak to you about foster care possibilities.

At CEDARS, as a foster parent you become an integral part of their professional team.  This means you have access to support at any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Michaela Young, Foster Care Program Manager at CEDARS, emphasizes that fostering a child can mean you will experience a big change in your current lifestyle.  The CEDARS Foster Care team makes themselves available to offer support and assistance anytime they are needed.  Youth in Foster Care come from an abused or neglected home and often show signs of trauma.  Maintaining a calm and positive attitude helps these youth thrive and grow in your home.  As a foster parent you can expect to deal with many new things, such as taking a child into your home at a few hours’ notice, working with a case manager, and scheduling your day out to include this child’s activities.  Once properly acclimated, this can be an extremely rewarding experience for foster parents and CEDARS is there to help along the way.  Young notes the great significance and need for foster parents, and considers foster parents as members of the CEDARS family. Fostering should be a positive, meaningful experience for your family in helping children grown and reach their permanency objective.  CEDARS offers monthly support groups and quarterly gatherings for their foster families, to ensure that they are aided and encouraged.  In addition, they offer regularly scheduled training opportunities.  These support systems serve families by providing a forum to share ideas and get tips from peers who are navigating the same foster care path.  Among the services that CEDARS ensures foster families receive are team members and family resource partners with low case loads, many avenues for support, assistance with transportation, immediate response to phone calls and requests, guaranteed respite every month, competitive monthly stipends, convenient individualized and ongoing training throughout each month, and are always strong advocates for the foster parents and children.  CEDARS provides their foster families affiliation with an established organization that has provided services for foster families in Lincoln for 65 years, and their staff has a combined 147 years of experience that enables them to assist you with the transition to a new family life with care and as seamlessly as possible.

There are many aspects involved with buying a new home, business location, or any other type of property; however, there are just as many resources available to assist you with each of the necessary steps to planning and executing any type of real estate transaction.  Sandra Larsen, a Realtor® with BancWise Realty, offers several tips on each step of the process.  First and foremost, connect with an experienced, active Realtor® who will act as a buyer’s agent to represent your best interests.  This agent will offer contacts that will be of value to you, whom they have already done business with and can recommend based on past successful experiences.  A buyer’s agent can also show you any available property and guide you as to the pros and cons of each property, all while the commission cost to a buyer is $0.00.  Larsen recommends that when choosing a lender you should go with a local, reputable lender who can provide you with a pre-qualification letter.  She notes that in our local culture, when an offer is presented to a seller with a pre-qualification letter, it gives the seller some sense of security knowing their potential buyer has connected with a good lender and can afford to follow through on the purchase and closing of the property.  Larsen also suggests utilizing Neighborworks, which is a program in Lincoln that provides assistance with down payment and repairs for first time home buyers after taking several informative classes that they provide.  You can access their website at www.nw.org.  Having sufficient information is essential, and Larsen has formed a process through experience to find the right fit by using the criteria her clients provide, as well as taking note of their input during the process, being present for tours to gauge reactions, and staying on top of what is available in the market.  This enables her to negotiate the best price and terms on behalf of her client by using her knowledge about what similar properties in the area have sold for, or to provide an accurate cost estimate of the property ahead of time.  Price and condition play key roles in making a property attractive to the potential buyer in order to minimize large out-of-pocket costs in the first year of ownership.  For home buyers, this can also be mitigated by negotiating to have a home warranty included in the transaction.  Larsen has established a reliable, trustworthy referral base to help come along-side her clients to solve any problems that may arise, and stresses the tremendous value that a professional, experienced advocate can provide to any buyer, whether it is their first or tenth time purchasing property.

Joe Courtney, a Realtor® with BancWise Realty and a colleague of Larsen’s, adds that the property buying process can often times be overwhelming.  Courtney suggests interviewing several Realtors before committing to one, as this will be someone that will be present in your life for three to six months in order to take care of you every step of the way.  With this in mind, you should make sure they are someone you can effectively communicate with and trust, is knowledgeable of the market, and experienced with contracts and negotiations.  You can always ask you friends and family for a Realtor® referral as well.  Chances are if they had a good experience, then so will you.  If you are buying your first house, there are several steps that are crucial.  One of the most important is to make sure the house is right for you! Courtney also speaks to the importance of getting pre-approved for financing right away, or as soon as it is possible, as it is crucial to know all the costs involved with buying property before you get too far into the process.  Your budget will likely shape all the decisions you make for the future of the buying process, and it is difficult to shop if you don’t know what you can afford.  One of the most important things you can do during the entire process is to ask plenty of questions! Your Realtor® is one tool of many out there to educate you on any and all aspects of purchasing property.  You aren’t expected to know everything, and that’s one of the reasons why you have hired your realtor as your educated ally.  Remember, your agent is working for you!  For most Americans, purchasing a home will be the biggest investment of their lives, and the process should reflect this by covering all bases properly due to the gravity of the situation and the impact it will have on the rest of your life.  In addition to new buyers, there are also move-up buyers, who are looking to buy a better property than they already own.  This process can be a challenge if you need to sell your current home before you can purchase your new home.  Your first priority should always be to sell your current home, as it is the only thing that may be holding you back from getting into the new one.  You can also move the process along buy searching for properties on your own in addition to what your Realtor® sends you.  Courtney finds that when buyers look on their own they adjust criteria more often, as they come across properties that they may not have previously considered.  In addition to new home buyers and move-up buyers, there are buyers in the market that are looking to downsize.  For example, when the kids are gone you may not need 4,000 square feet of space for one or two people.  This process can be frustrating as there may be many times during your life that you will be changing the style of living that you are accustomed to.  Courtney recommends having this conversation with your Realtor up front to see if your needs and wants for your new home are realistic.  Also, if you are downsizing, it is a good idea to de-clutter, sell, or donate all items that you don’t use or wish to take with you, so you have a better idea of the actual space that you want in order to get a perfect fit.  BancWise can accommodate a buyer at any stage of life, as they are a locally owned company specializing in residential real estate sales, and offer Realtors® that have experience with the local market and work with both buyers and sellers.

J.R. Knopp, a Realtor® and team member at Third Generation Builders, points out the importance of really considering what you are looking for in a home whether you are building or buying, including how you want the kitchen, living room, and all the rooms to lay out. The best way to start is to contact your Realtor® and have them set up tours of a bunch of newly constructed homes or ones that are currently being built, or if it’s in the spring or fall a home parade or trade show are great resources to pull ideas from. This will give you a good idea of different types of homes and some ideas for layouts, qualities, and designs for the inside of the house. The next big step is to find the perfect lot to put your new house on and that is usually the most difficult task when it comes to building a house. Some things to consider when looking for a lot is the area of town and features of the lot, such as views, neighbors, daylight and the position the home will face, and the grades of the land.  Knopp recommends choosing a Realtor® and builder that are straightforward, honest, and have a timely approach to business. When doing successful business with clients, he relies on being very straightforward, easy to talk to, and using his experience to explain everything out in full detail. The end goal is to find the best quality for the best price, and to have a positive working relationship with each client throughout the process.

As with the planning of any life change, your financial situation plays a major role in the decisions you make.  Matt Egge, a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, has plenty of advice from his experience with financial planning.  If you are looking to finance a new project or major investment, Egge recommends taking an overall look at your current financial situation as a great starting point.  Important topics to address include what your current budget looks like, how much the project you are looking to finance will cost you, and how these coincide with the timeline of when the project needs to be completed.  There are many options to save for a project, and it is important to find a way that best fits your specific situation.  For example, if you have enough in your budget and enough time to save the amount you need, a basic savings account is probably the easiest and less stressful way to finance the project.  However, a drawback to using this method is that you could otherwise be investing this money in an investment that could provide you with a higher rate of return.  If you do not have the ability to save the necessary amount of funds in enough time, you may need to take a look at getting a loan to finance the project.  There can be some benefits to going this route, as you may be able to find a low interest and/or fixed interest rate loan that is tax deductible, which could be a better option, especially for those who could really utilize the tax deduction.  Some other options to consider when financing a project could include utilizing cash value from a life insurance policy, withdrawing assets from an individual investment account, or taking an early distribution from a qualified plan.  Each of these options can have some tax consequences and therefore should be discussed with your financial advisor and/or accountant.  If you are looking to finance your first home, you may qualify to take up to $10k of earnings from your Roth IRA without paying the 10% premature withdrawal penalty.  However, you must have held the Roth IRA for at least 5 years.  Contributions made to the Roth IRA may be withdrawn free from tax and penalty at any time for any reason.  It is normally not ideal that you make an early distribution from a qualified plan due to the tax consequences as well as the disruption to your overall retirement goals.  Overall, each situation is different and meeting with a professional to gather clarity would be beneficial when weighing your options.  Egge, who works mostly with people who are looking to do financial planning for life changes, stresses that it is never too early or too late to begin financial planning.   He has found that a good starting point is when you are on your own and begin your career, but notes that everyone’s vision of being financially secure looks different.  Getting a good financial foundation early on can give you peace of mind and confidence in your financial security.  You will experience a lifetime of changes, so it is important for your financial plan to remain flexible to adapt to changes over the years and for you to revisit it often.

Financial planning is essential throughout one’s life and never can be started too early.  Brad Ewerth, a financial planner with Ewerth and Associates, says that it is important to educate clients on the rules of finance as this is knowledge that will be valuable a countless number of times over the span of an individual’s life.  However, financial planning involves much more analysis than merely determining which asset allocation model to use with investment dollars. Financing a new project, whether personally or in a business environment, requires analysis of the cost of the project, possible amount to finance, interest rate (which can be shopped around), term length of debt and monthly cost.  Once this is determined, then a cash flow analysis should be completed to make sure there is adequate cash flow either personally or from the business to meet the monthly debt obligation payment. Making the determination whether the monthly payment can be easily met on paper is critical before making a long term commitment to finance any project.  Additionally, compounding interest versus simple interest and the impact of taxes short-term and long-term are areas that Ewerth helps his clients fully understand, as this knowledge is extremely valuable for retirement and college planning.  Along with income tax planning, these two areas address some of the biggest financial obligations and concerns that many families face.  Unfortunately, it is easy to defer the planning process in these two areas; however, wasted time is difficult to make up, as every financial decision made can have an impact on retirement.  Accordingly, Ewerth strives to educate and strategize with families and businesses, as well as presenting several efficient financial options to consider with regard to retirement, college and tax planning. The rules for college planning are complex and completely different than the rules considered for tax planning.  Understanding both is critical, as again, funding incorrectly can impact how you live out your retirement years.

For those who are retiring and ready to enjoy their golden years, there are plenty of activities that serve to keep you busy and having fun while trying something new.  The Lincoln School of Music offers many types of classes and activities to supplement your schedule and expose you to a new passion or skill involved with music.  Their most popular lessons are private lessons, especially for piano and guitar, which are designed to help tailor each session to an individual’s specific and personal goals.  Private lessons are appropriate for students of all ages, and provide a great place to meet like-minded individuals working towards a common goal or learning an instrument.  These lessons also include a recital at the end of the course to show off everyone’s new skills.  Tim Woosley, Music Director for the Lincoln School of Music, emphasizes that anything really great takes time, especially learning any new skill or talent.  Even though we now live in a drive-thru, instant culture where we are used to getting what we want right away, the amount of time and dedication you invest will proportionately give you the desired outcome you are aiming for.  If you invest your time wisely, you will be able to see and appreciate the return of a new skill that will add to the enjoyment of your life.  The Lincoln School of Music also periodically creates new courses, and offers a selection group lessons aimed at different age groups and seasons of life, such as grade school, high school, post-graduation, and retirement.  They will be offering special group guitar lessons this summer, which will be a new feature and the most unique and exclusive offer ever made available to Lincoln residents.  This will be a multimedia experience that will help maximize the learning curve associated with the guitar.  You can find out more information about these group lessons, as well as private lessons on a variety of instruments on their website.

Another project that you may take on, especially during retirement when you have more time to devote to a hobby, is restoring a classic car.  Classic cars are a good hobby for anyone to get involved in because they are a commodity that is difficult to find, and generally hold good value based on the market.  As you do work to the car, it will increase the value, as long as it is done correctly and to a standard that will last over time.  It is also a better place to spend your money, rather than on perishable items or bad habits that can never give you a return.   Additionally, the satisfaction of having a piece of history that you can drive on nice days, and that your family and generations to come can enjoy, is pretty great too.  Restore a Muscle Car (RAMC) is a one-stop shop for every aspect of classic car restoration.  They have a crew of over 16 technicians that specialize in different skill sets, including body and paint, interior, engine rebuilds, wiring, suspension/chassis, and all the way up to high level detailing.  RAMC can help with as little or as much work as you need them to, and can help to complete any project that you don’t feel comfortable with doing yourself.  Dave Hall, owner of RAMC, notes that every client is different in their goals with their classic car.  Some want them to drive on a nice weekend, some want to drive them every day, while others just keep them as an investment.  RAMC sees a variety of clients, some of whom need help with a few changes or updates to their car and others that want them to restore the car from ground up.  Hall and his staff try to get an idea if it is a temporary investment for a few years or a lifetime investment to hand down to other generations, which then allows them to better serve each client’s wants and needs.  For example, if a client is looking for a car that they want to restore or simply drive and enjoy, the RAMC staff will search the country through their connections to try and locate the classic car of the client’s choice.  As a part of assisting a client with figuring  out what they want, they also guide their clients according to budget, and will also help in looking any prospective vehicle over prior to purchasing if needed.  All restoration work done at their shop is documented and posted on the website for their clients to follow along week by week with the progress that is completed.  It keeps them just as involved as we are every step of the way!  Hobbies are a great way to invest your time and money in something that personally moves you.  RAMC will share your passion by keeping you motivated, and will provide you the tools you need to complete your restoration project successfully.

Life is full of changes, both individual and collectively.  Becoming a parent, buying a new home, starting a new business or job, and retiring are milestones that we all hope to be blessed with or work hard to earn, and planning for these changes can be just as enjoyable as the changes themselves.  It is important to remember that there are a wealth of resources at your fingertips, and plenty of people and businesses out there that are already experts in their field and want to help you have the best experiences possible related to any changes that you plan to take on in the future.

Lawn Care

“Over the next several weeks the temperatures will slowly warm up and our attention turns from snow removal to lawn care,” says Lee Schumacher with TDK Lawncare.  “This is a perfect time to start the healing process from last year’s drought and extreme heat.  By changing our practices we can help our lawns survive Mother Nature’s twist and turns she has for us this year.

To help repair the damage from last year’s drought, aerating while at the same time broadcasting grass seed around 5lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. is an easy way to help rejuvenate your lawn.

Aerating is the process of making finger size holes in your lawn and depositing the removed material on the surface to break down. This allows fertilizer, water and oxygen to get to the roots where healthy grass originates. In areas where the soil has a high clay content, compaction and thatch buildup is more prevalent and aeration should be done twice a year.”

Andrew Campbell with Campbell’s Nurseries & Garden Centers adds, “In most cases following the standard recommendations of applying a two or four step lawn program and ensuring you are ready to water your lawn as warm weather arrives is the best recommendation. That said, if someone let their lawn go dormant in the drought last year, or even saw some issues in the lawn last fall then repairs may be necessary through reseeding or resodding portions of the lawn. We won’t know for sure until the lawn begins to green up with warmer weather. In those cases it is important to apply a product during the pre-emergent step of the lawn programs, usually labeled a crabgrass preventer, that is designed to be used when reseeding a lawn. If the wrong product is used you may have problems as many of the products typically used may keep new seed from germinating just as well as they prevent grassy weeds in the lawn. In addition, with the drought and somewhat drier winter it may be necessary to begin watering earlier this year to ensure the lawn has enough water to grow normally this spring. Only time and Mother Nature know how much rain we will receive this spring so we recommend everyone be prepared to help if the rains don’t arrive as they do in more normal years.”

Lee Schumacher offers the following Five Steps You Can Take to Create a Healthier Lawn:
1. Water at the correct times, with the correct amount of water for your grass type. (Blue grass requires ¼” every other day. Tall fine fescue requires 1” per week.)

2. Varying the heights of the mower for the variety of climates here in Nebraska. (During the warmest months, the mower height should be between 3” – 3 ½”.)

3. Aerating your lawn once to twice per year. (Aerating is usually done in the fall and spring when the grass is growing rapidly, and repairs itself easily. We also recommend at this time that you over seed with a turf tall fescue).

4. Over seeding should be done with drought and fungus resistant seed. Tall fescue works well for this. This is usually done in the spring or mid to late September.

5.  Having the correct fertilizing schedule. (Usually includes a 6 step program for an average lawn. Using pre-emergent, weed and grub control along with a Winterizer.

The Importance of Fertilizer

Everyone familiar with lawn care is aware of the importance of fertilizer and Jeff Nelson with Husker Organics tells us why: “Weeds are the number one reason why fertilizer is important.  The best defense against weeds is a dense, tall lawn.  After a dry year like we experienced last season, many lawns were left damaged and thin.  It’s important to keep your desirable turf well-fed in order to help fend off infestations of undesirable plants.  A thick lawn is helpful in your battle against weeds whether your plan is to use herbicides or not.”

When it comes to fertilizer, Jeff believes that organic is best.  “Organic fertilizer is better to use because it helps improve the soil as it feeds the plants.  A synthetic fertilizer, while it makes your grass look greener, does not add any beneficial long-lasting properties to the soil profile and can, in fact, cause a harmful build-up of elements.  Man-made fertilizers are palliative, while natural fertilizers are curative.  Make sure you do your homework on what products are being applied to your lawn to make sure they are truly ‘natural’.  Many are not as natural as you may think.  Another huge benefit to natural fertilizers is that there is no risk to you, your pets or your kids.  The products used by Husker Organics, while terrible tasting to humans, are edible.”

Landscape Upgrades

Your landscape is not all about your lawn.  It can include a number of other features, including trees, flowers, bushes and more.  There are so many things you can do to improve your landscape and can be difficult to narrow down which options might be best for you.  Again, this is where a landscape professional comes in very handy.

“I always recommend clients think about the big picture and the long term plan before they begin the process,” suggests Andrew Campbell with Campbell’s Nurseries and Garden Centers. “Whether the project is simply adding some color to an area, installing a new bed, or working on the whole landscape, by knowing where you want the landscape to end up long-term you can better plan the landscape and your plantings. While there are many questions to consider depending on the scope of the changes and your focus, knowing where you want the landscape to end up will allow you to better plan the landscape. Most landscapes are phased in over time due to budget or because there is simply only so much time in our busy schedules to devote to planting. By knowing where we want the landscape to end up, we can better craft a plan that can be phased in over time and budget, but will allow all the pieces to fit together giving you a much more pleasing result.”

Kristin Hain with Land Escapes agrees with Andrew by adding, “Don’t just go out to the garden center and randomly buy plants or landscape materials.  Take pictures of other local landscapes you like, find pictures in magazines and make a portfolio of how you’d like your property to look.  Be aware of things like screening, power lines, roof overhangs, sun exposure and how the area will be used.  Far too often, people jump into a project without a plan and end up with something that’s not properly suited for the area, plants planted in the wrong location for sun exposure or future growth and an overall look that’s messy or not appealing.  Remember, the plants will be around for many years, so thinking ahead and planning today will increase your property value and also resale potential in the future.”

Keeping in mind the new trends that are occurring in landscaping is also a good idea.  Though many of them may not be a good fit for you for a number of reasons, you may find one or two trend that fits right in with your lifestyle and landscaping plans.  “I think we are seeing a surge in people thinking about adding drought-tolerant plants to their landscape,” explains Andrew Campbell.  “With the drought last year, it certainly is on the minds of many of our clients.  I also believe that a number of trends continue to be important including season-long interest in the landscape, reducing maintenance needs as much as possible and overall working with the right plants, in the right placement, for each client’s needs.  I also believe that we are seeing many of our clients adding or enlarging their vegetable gardens.  There still isn’t anything quite like the taste of a home-grown vine-ripened tomato.”

Kristin Hain is also seeing trends that related to the recent drought.  “I think water conservation will be very important,” she states.  “Choosing plants, trees and shrubs that can tolerate periods of drought and educating the public on proper watering techniques will be important.  Land Escapes will be using drip irrigation bags with every new tree installation to help property owners easily monitor and manage tree watering for that first critical year.  In addition, water features are still a big hit with homeowners and small bubbler features have been very popular with our clients for the past couple years.  The bubblers are small and easily maintained by the homeowner yet provide lots of enjoyment from spring through fall.  For plantings, it’s important to consider foliage color when creating a design.  I believe a landscape or garden is successful when there’s lots of color and visual interest year round, yet not one flower is blooming.  Remember, most flowering plants only bloom for a short period of time and you’re left with foliage the rest of the season.  When you focus on foliage rather than flowers, be sure to incorporate blue, gold, burgundy, purple and variegated in amongst standard green foliage plants.  This way you always have color!  There’s no reason to quit or cut back on adding or redoing your landscaping, just be smart about it and make sure that you hire qualified landscape professionals who have experience and also have all of the required license and certifications.”

Tree, Bush and Shrub Removal

“This is a great time of year to get the yard ready for spring,” advises Brannon Hall, CTSP with Blue Ox Tree Service. “This includes removing any trees, bushes and shrubs that succumbed to last season’s drought or pines suffering from wilt.  Wilt disease has already claimed many pines and it’s a perfect time to get those trees removed from your landscape and replaced with something new.  Dead or dying trees can not only be a safety hazard, they can also lower your property value.  Now is also a good time to get your trees trimmed and cleaned up before they begin to leaf out in the coming weeks.
It’s important to do your research and hire licensed, bonded and insured arborists. Keep in mind that cheaper is not always better. Your trees are an important investment in your landscape and should be treated as such.”

Other Landscaping Options

Landscaping is not just about the ‘living’ things in your yard like the lawn, trees, flowers and shrubs.  Landscaping is about curb appeal (what others see when they drive by your home or into your driveway and about how you feel when you pull up) and about outdoor enjoyment of your space.  Whatever achieves these goals can be considered landscaping!

Lance Roach with JL Exteriors suggests adding a pergola (a garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice upon which vines are trained), covered roof, fire pit or outdoor bar/kitchen to your outdoor area.  “There are many unique choices out there to truly make your outdoor space stand out and be a relaxing retreat for your family.  Whether you are focused on tranquil options for leisurely enjoyment or more impressive features that will wow guests you welcome to your home, landscaping is all about finding the perfect fit for your lifestyle.”

One of those ‘perfect fits’ could be incorporating a pool and/or hot tub into your outdoor space.  Although these may not be right for everyone, they can be a huge source of enjoyment for families who enjoy being outside and who love to swim or lounge in the water.  If you do decide to incorporate pool into your home, it’s important that you work with the professionals who can help you find the perfect fit.  Of course, working with a professional pool specialist such as Jeff Bonsall with Bonsall Pool and Spa is a must.  Though you may know what you think you want for a pool, someone who has experience and training in the industry will actually be able to guide you to the products and services that will best fit your needs.  It might seem tempting to run out to the nearest big box store and buy a pool that looks appealing, but you are opening the door to a whole host of problems when you do that.  Not only will you be asking advice from people who probably are not trained nor have much experience with pools (and who may not even be employed there next month), but you are also taking a chance that the pool will be delivered and installed correctly, that the warranty was properly explained and that installation and maintenance will all go smoothly.  Are these really chances you want to take when it comes to such a large investment (and the safety of your family)?

You also need to keep in mind that adding a pool or spa to your home is not JUST about the pool or the spa.  You need to create a beautiful environment in which to enjoy your new investment.  Think about it: do you really want your expensive new pool to be out in a bare yard with weeds growing around it?  Of course not!  You chose to add this to your home because you wanted to create a tranquil, tropical feel to your landscaping where everyone could have a good time and feel like they were at the beach (or at least at a resort!).  Working with either your pool specialist or your landscaper to create the right environment for your new investment is key.  You want to plan and create a pool environment that is easy to get to and difficult to leave!  Your first step is to get inspired.  Find pictures of other pool environments you envy, whether they are from magazines, other people you know who have pools or even from some of your favorite movies.  These pictures will give your landscape designer a place to start and a vision they can be guided by.

You’ll want to keep in mind your deck and walkways as these are the foundation for your landscape design and how you will access your pool.  You also should consider the plants that you want around your pool area (and that will flourish in the geographic area we live in).  If you think of the resorts you’ve been to in the past, you’ll probably recall that the most luxurious ones were those complete with beautiful flowers, plants, trees and other landscaping features.

The key to a truly enjoyable back yard is creating one where you, your family and your guests feel just as comfortable as you would indoors (or even more so!).  This means plenty of comfortable lounge chairs or couches, an eating area and a place to prepare food (such as a barbeque area or outdoor kitchen).  Remember that you will be spending a lot of time outdoors when it’s sunny and hot, so shade and privacy should be at the top of your list (think an awning, pergola or gazebo or plenty of high quality sun umbrellas).

You want to be able to enjoy your new tropical environment even when the sun goes down, so lighting is another option you’ll want to consider.  Enhancing your poolscape with lighting not only allows you to enjoy it into the evening hours, but it also provides safety and adds a decorative effect.  Fiber optics, perimeter, floating and color-changing lighting will create beautiful and unique nighttime gatherings.

If you are adding a pool to your back yard, you’ll also want to add a fence (or improve on your current fence if it does not provide the security and privacy you need).  A proper fence can provide a safety measure against unwanted visitors and make sure that all of your neighbors and everyone driving by can’t see your family and guests in their swimsuits!  If you build a deck around your pool, a fence can also provide additional security and keep children or animals from wandering into the pool area unsupervised.

Added Security

Creating the perfect outdoor retreat is not easy—nor is it cheap.  When you have invested the time and money necessary to create a beautiful landscape, you want to protect it (and the people who will be relaxing in it).  That’s where a professional security system comes in.  R.J. Lipert with AlarmLink USA explains, “We can come in and evaluate your needs, speak with you about your concerns and develop a security system that is uniquely designed for you.  Maybe you want something that alerts you when a door or gate is opened, or perhaps you want security cameras so you can observe the kids in the pool even when you are indoors.  Whether you are trying to keep your loved ones safe in your outdoor environment or keep unwanted visitors out of it, we can help you achieve your goals.”

Choosing the Best Landscape Professional for Your Needs

Throughout this article, we have talked about the importance of choosing the best landscaper for your needs.  However, we haven’t really talked about how to choose that landscaper.  Here are a few pointers from the professionals themselves:

“There are so many aspects involved with designing and installing a nice looking and functional landscape and many homeowners just don’t have the vision and experience to do this,” explains Kristin Hain with Land Escapes. “That being said, not all “professionals” have good experience and many spread themselves too thin offering a wide range of services yet knowing only a little about each service.  If you want an amazing landscape with plants, find someone who really knows about plants.  If you want an extensive outdoor kitchen or patio space, find someone who specializes in that.  You will get better service and quality of work from smaller companies with a few specialized areas of work vs. a company who “offers it all”.  All aspects of the area must be considered including sun exposure, screening, utilities, irrigation, color, height, texture, form and contrast.”

She continues by saying, “Hiring a landscape professional like Land Escapes ensures that all plants chose will be correct for the site considering sun exposure and future growth, city codes are met, and plants and materials will be installed with proper techniques ensuring and extending their life expectancy.  Simply reading the tag or label on a plant at the nursery often does not give the best information for how that plant will grow in this area.  Plant tags are mass produced and cover a wide range of growing conditions across the country, they are not specifically written for the location where they are purchased and will be planted.  Land Escapes specializes in knowing our plants and what will and won’t grow in and around Lincoln.  We have over 35 years of combined experience and pay close attention to detail, technique and design.  We specialize in more unique designs and plant selections creating a home landscape that’s completely your own and doesn’t look like every other yard on your block.”

Andrew Campbell with Campbell’s Nurseries and Garden Centers has this advice: “While landscaping isn’t rocket science, I do believe that working with an experienced landscape designer will result in a better designed plan that offers more interest and less maintenance over time. Picking the right plants for the right locations that offer season-long interest and lower maintenance is much easier for a designer with experience than someone just starting out in the trade. Many times finding this professional may be as simple as asking friends and neighbors who they have worked with on their projects. Or this may be accomplished by keeping an eye out for companies working in your neighborhood and seeing the work they accomplish. Once you have picked a company or two to consider for your project, I recommend talking through your needs with the designer. Ask them questions about the type of project you are planning, their experience and design philosophies, and see if you are comfortable with them and their answers. Finding the right landscape professional should result in you finding a company you are comfortable working with and who can be a partner in your landscape well beyond just this planting season. You want this company to be able to help you through the whole project especially if it is phased in over time, including any potential replacement plants needed, while also teaching you how to properly maintain your landscape now and down the road. This long term relationship may be more easily found in a company who has been around and has a focus in all aspects of helping you with your landscaping including the long term maintenance.”

Spending time outdoors is good for you and your family.  Being in the fresh air and around living grass, plants and trees is rejuvenating, healthy and brings with it a feeling of camaraderie and togetherness.  By creating the perfect outdoor environment for you, your family and your guests, you are investing in your family and your peace of mind.  Though Nebraska can have some nasty winters, it also has some beautiful spring months, sunny and warm summers and pleasant falls.  Being able to enjoy these days on a gorgeous deck or patio or floating in your pool next to a tropical paradise is a luxury almost everyone can afford.  Add in a nice barbeque grill and some high quality outdoor furniture and you’ve expanded the living space of your home and created an oasis where everyone can go to de-stress and relax.

Remember that the key to a successful landscaping project is to work with the right professionals.  Get them involved right in the beginning so they can help you plan everything, develop a budget and make sure that all the pieces of your project are fitting together properly.