Connie Watts - Omaha Homes for Sale / Offutt AFB Homes, 402-880-9027

This scam has finally hit Omaha, Nebraska. Thank you , Shawn Murray, with Remax The Producers for contacting the media so the community won't fall for it.

Vacant homes for sale are being advertised FOR RENT on Craigslist. The scammer is not in town to show the house and has the rental deposit sent to Nigeria.

If you are looking for a local home rental, Craigslist is a terrific resource. Just make sure you protect yourself. View the home before sending money and make sure you meet the owner or rental company in person at the home.

Renters can also use technology to protect yourself, too.

1. Google the property address to see if the home is listed online. If the home is listed elsewhere online, is it for sale or for rent? Is the contact information on all listings the same? If not, ask questions.

2. Check the county assessor's site to determine if you are dealing with the actual home owner.

Douglas County Assessor Sarpy County Assessor

3. Call your local real estate office to see if the home is for sale. If it is, contact the listing agent to find out if the owner is indeed offering it for rent.

Realtors, would you like to know how you can help get rid of this scam? Set up a Google Alert on the property address of your listings and you'll be notified when there are new search results of your property addresses. If you find your listing is being falsly advertised for rent, Craigslist advises:

"If you suspect that an item posted for sale on craigslist may be part of a scam, please email the details to "abuse@craigslist.org". Be sure to include the URL (or eight-digit post ID number) in your message."

Craigslist recommendations on avoiding scams

Learn how to set up a Google Alert here! David Matney, with Alliance Real Estate, has a terrific tutorial on how to set up a Google Alert.

Flickr Image Credit: jepoirrier

When: Tuesday, March 24 from 6:30–8 p.m. (TONIGHT!)

Where: Nomad Lounge, 1013 Jones St.
(11th and Jones - Parking is free on the street)

Speed Networking will help you promote your business and your talents fast. In a fresh, fun and energetic environment, we bring together young and new business people with established professionals. So much can happen by meeting the right person. Do it fast while having a great time.

How it Works:

Speed Networking allows individuals to meet one-on-one in 5-minute increments, resulting in a fast-paced, exciting and extremely effective professional networking experience.

Like speed-dating, speed networking involves seating an individual opposite someone else. Participants meet up to 20 other individuals. In five minutes, attendees can describe their respective businesses, exchange business cards and pass on referrals. When the bell rings, it’s time to move to another table and meet someone new.

Who Can Attend?

Speed Networking is sponsored by the Omaha Jaycees, but is open to everyone! The one thing that speed networkers have in common is a desire to meet new people and create great business opportunities.

Check out the fun and a new way to network! Come early and stay afterward for some more socializing!

Speed Networking will be the last Tuesday of each month and the location will change each month. Please RSVP and check for the monthly location at www.omahajaycees.org or at the Omaha Jaycees Speed Networking Facebook group.

Hey fellow Facebookers and Twitters, there is now a way to track your Facebook updates on TweetDeck! No more toggling back and forth. You can now receive Facebook updates to Tweetdeck. Your Facebook friends show up in a new column which is updated once a minute.

You can even initiate a Facebook chat via Tweetdeck. How cool is that?

Now when you post on Twitter, you can select where you want it to go. Not to mention shortening the URls, Twitpic and more.

And it's easier to add your Tweeple to a group. I'm loving this!

This upgrade is in Beta testing right now, so you have to use at your own risk. I uploaded it and absolutely LOVE IT.

Enjoy!

Yesterday, I stopped home for lunch and our lawn service provider, Scotts Lawn Service, was there for our first treatment of the season. We've used them for about 2 years and are extremely pleased. I just didn't realize how customer service oriented they were until yesterday when I saw them in action on trash day.

After finishing my home, he drove two doors down to his next top and the first thing he did wasn't apply the treatment but to take the empty trash barrels back to the garage. It was only then that I realized that my husband really hadn't forgotten to put the trash out.

It's the little things in life that have the biggest impact. If you are looking for a good lawn service company, you won't get any better than Scotts Lawn Service.

I'd like to thank Shawn Murray, from ReMax The Producers, for his hard work and assistance in the sale of 10630 Old Maple Road. Shawn was a true professional who was friendly and easy to work with.

As a Realtor, there are two things we dread: calling the listing agent to tell them a) buyers are backing out or b) the loan was denied. The loan wasn't denied but the bank revoking their clear to close is pretty darn close.

Shawn was very understanding, cooperative and two weeks after the original close date, we now have a very happy buyer and seller. Shawn, I'm looking forward to working with you again.