Pool Talk Featuring Bell Pool & Spa

If you’re fortunate enough to have a pool, then you will love today’s pool talk. If you’re in the market for a pool, then Bell Pool & Spa is the place to go. Summertime is just around the corner and we all know that Nebraska can get pretty darn toasty some days. What better way to enjoy the hot weather than to cool down in a brand-new pool? And after last year, more people are staying at home and entertaining the family in their own pool. But demand is up…if you think you’re going to get a pool installed this year, think again. You’ll likely have to wait until next season and possible the season after that. This is how in demand pools are right now. So, if you’re ready, make a call and get started making plans for your very own pool.

Pool Shapes & Features

Rectangle shapes are the best if you’re looking to maximize space inside of the pool or if you’re a person who like to exercise by swimming laps since you can divide the pool up into lanes and swim a straight line. Kidney shaped pools don’t seem to be all that popular anymore, but I see a few here and there. Mostly in smaller backyards where space is a little more limited. Pools come in many shapes and sizes, some with grottos and some with waterfalls. Some with slides and some with diving boards. If you’re really lucky, you can get a walk-in pool that starts off very shallow at one end and gets deeper as you go toward the other side. No steps or ladders needed to enter the pool and smaller children can use the shallow end as a kind of wading area without having to be courageous enough to get in deeper.

Spas & Hot Tubs

These are my absolute favorite. In fact, I opted for a hot tub in my backyard instead of a pool. Not only is the hot water very therapeutic but I don’t have the maintenance of a large pool and my smaller backyard accommodates a hot tub much better. The babies come in all shapes and sizes. From swim spas that have their own jets/current to help you swim in place, to soaking spas with tons of jets to soothe the savage beast. That’s me after I exercise. You can get a small four-person hot tub and you can get them much larger for several people. They come contoured so that you can sit up and recline and some even have what they call foot volcanos. That is a large jet at the bottom of the tub that massages your feet. Heavenly! Don’t want to take care of one. Their very easy to maintain however you can hire a service to do it for you. Depends how involved you want to get. My favorite thing to do is get a cup of coffee and go soak early in the morning.

Saunas

Not a lot of homes have their own sauna, but they can also be very therapeutic. They’re especially nice for warming up before a workout. Sit in one for about ten minutes then start up some yoga or even cardio and it steps up the exercise a notch. They come in infrared now, so the heat is more even and not necessarily coming from one place inside the sauna. Or you can get a more traditional one with a hot box and lava rocks. I like the infrared because it feels cleaner to me but that’s just my opinion. I don’t necessarily have any proof to back that statement up. Whether you install one in your basement bathroom or put one in your workout area, they are pretty plan looking and won’t take away from the aesthetics of the room. If you’re considering one, I highly recommend it.

Pool Service & Repair

Bell Pool & Spa offer service and repair as well. If you’re buying a previously owned home with a pool that needs a little TLC or just needs to be caught up on its maintenance, it’s certainly nice to go to a reputable place for those things. I work with many clients who need pools repaired and in the new home market where homeowners want to install a pool when they build a home. Bell Pool is great for both types of work. And again, it’s best to work with a reputable place just like this one. For more information, go to https://www.bellpool.com/

And for more of my blogs or to find out more about the Priority Group go to www.omahaprioritygroup.com

Landscaping Schmandscaping!

We don’t really give too much thought to landscaping until we buy a brand-new home or a one that needs a little TLC. In fact, unless you have a problem with your current landscaping, it’s likely you’re in the majority of people who have never hired a landscaper. Since I’m a designer who works with a lot of new home builds and I’ve recently renovated my home, I know a little something about it. To start with, there’s no real trick to finding a landscaper but if you don’t get on his or her radar before springtime, you can be in for a long wait. You’ll certainly want to use a company you know and one that’s been recommended. The next thing is knowing what a realistic budget is so make sure you get a few quotes. Both big and small, we have a plenty of landscaping companies right here in town and I’m going to feature a few for you this week.

Patera

I would guess that Patera is a mid to larger company and they work quite a bit with developers and builders. I’ve also seen them do work for individuals and it’s good. They install softscapes and hardscapes as well as firepits, fireplaces, water features and outdoor lighting. Most of their projects are at least mid-sized and from the look of them they are likely also bigger budget projects, but their work is good and because of that it might be a little harder to get on their schedule. Take a look at some of their work. https://www.pateralandscaping.com/

Lanoha

They are a large garden center as well as a landscaping company for residential and commercial jobs as well as a landscape and turf maintenance company. This is one of my favorite places to go for my projects because I can see what they’ll be planting or installing before it gets done. They have a professional design center ready to assist and I would say the primarily work with bigger budgets. In this case, you get what you pay for. They really do exquisite work. But be prepared to plan ahead. They are one of the more popular places in town and if you’re not the first one in line so-to-speak you may wait a bit. Again, it’s worth it in this case. https://lanohanurseries.com/

Jensen Gardens

Located in Springfield, Nebraska this awesome place also has a nursery where they grow what they use in their projects. They say they can design anything you can imagine, and I believe it. And in the winter, they transform into a snow removal company. Though they wear many hats, they really are focused on the job at hand. From landscapes to hardscapes, outdoor kitchens, poolside patios and more, they really do, do it all. I like their work, including their designs. Check them out for yourself at https://landscapeomaha.com/

Clear Creek Landscapes

This little gem is a smaller landscaping company and I’ve used them for mulch mounds and hardscaping. Their prices are competitive and they’re hard-working and reliable young people. But make no mistake, I think they would be great for any job, big or small including outdoor transformations like a kitchen or a brand-new patio entertainment space with a pergola. They give me competitive, written bids and a concept drawing ahead of time so that I know exactly what to expect. You should expect that from any reputable company. I’m happy to say that all their work has been spot on and creative. And they’re not budget snobs. They’ll help you work within any budget. Also, they warranty their plants which is especially important here in Nebraska. https://clearcreeklandscapes.com/