Michael Zoerb

Michael Zoerb joins the Wilderness Hills office. He grew up in Gretna, NE and attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln. After graduation, he worked in sports marketing at the University of New Mexico, Wichita State University and Jayhawk Sports Marketing. He and his wife, MaKayla moved to Lincoln to be closer to family and friends. Their hobbies include golf and travel. Michael can be reached at 402-525-0915 or michael.zoerb@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Early this morning we rolled out a new build of our website that adds some really cool new features to keep us at the leading edge with our online presence.  Here’s what’s new!

Facebook, Twitter, and Google + sharing on the mobile site

Our mobile traffic, and mobile traffic across the industry continues to grow exponentially.  We’ve been focusing a LOT on the mobile site since launching the first local real estate mobile site two years ago – so I’m very happy to announce this feature.  Now you can share a listing to the “big three” social networks instantly from anywhere on any device.  Check it out by visiting m.woodsbros.com from your smartphone today!

Printable Listing Brochure

You can now click “Print Brochure” on any listing and will be presented with a new layout that’s much more clean and includes some really nice features.  We’ve included a ruled area at the top for notes, and a new revised map at the bottom that allows you to map from your address to the property while also including agent-entered driving directions.

Saved Search notifications via Text Message

We’re all-in on the mobile device shift, and to continue to adapt we’ve added text notifications.  Now when a property receives a price change, open house, or other update and you have enabled these notifications – you will immediately get a text message!  This is only the beginning – and it works very well. To make the change, log in to www.WoodsBros.com, click on “Profile Settings,” and add your Mobile Phone Number and Carrier. Then under “Notification Preferences” select “Text Message.”

In every text message we include an unsubscribe link to allow you to easily unsubscribe at your discretion.  Nothing complicated, just a simple click of a link!

Enhanced Search Experience

We continue to enhance our property search to cater both to tablets and to usability.  Buttons and headings continue to get larger and more colorful – allowing much easier clicking on iPads and other tablets, as well as drawing attention to them.  We’ve also recently updated the “Your Selections” area at the top to allow you to easily see the search criteria you’ve entered.  And this is only the beginning — stay tuned!

Show All Photos on Mobile Search Results

We’ve added usability to the mobile site by jumping straight to a page with all of a listing’s photos if the photo count below the primary listing photo is clicked.

That’s all we have for this go-around but much more is coming this year!

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Jackie Ziegler

Jackie Ziegler joins the Grand Island office. She has been interested in a real estate career since high school. She held a license for three years in the state of Minnesota and now looks forward to working in Nebraska. She has five children and her hobbies include riding horses and travel. Jackie can be reached at 308-750-0926 or jackie.ziegler@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

At the recent Nebraska REALTORS® Association Annual Convention and Exhibition, 48 Members received the REALTOR® Mark of Excellence. The following Woods Bros Realty agents were among those recognized for receiving the Mark of Excellence Award from the Association: Linda McCall from Beatrice, Al Avery from Grand Island, and Gloria Aron, Thane Jensen, Arla Meyer, Judy Sasek, Doug Vandervort and Gene Ward, all of Lincoln.

The goal of the Mark of Excellence award is to promote professionalism in the industry by recognizing members for their participation at the local and national levels of the REALTOR® organization, for activities in the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Institutes, Societies and Councils, for Designations earned, for educational activities and for political involvement. Obtaining the Mark of Excellence award results in better educated, active members who will bring credit to themselves, to the Association, to their clients and to the public by demonstrating functions of being a professional.

Since 1917, the Nebraska REALTORS® Association has served as The Voice for Real Estate in Nebraska™. Our 4,000 plus members subscribe to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and take pride in the communities in which we work, serve and live.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

JoAnn Oseka

JoAnn Oseka joins the Grand Island office. She grew up on a farm near Boelus, Nebraska. She attended University of Nebraska Kearney and later married her husband Ray. They have two children and enjoy spending time with their twin granddaughters. Her hobbies include crocheting, quilting and refinishing furniture. JoAnn can be reached at 308-379-1566 or joann.oseka@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Woods Bros Realty announces a partnership with NEBCO, Inc., for residential sales in its Northwest Lincoln Fallbrook community.

The two companies each have over a century of experience building in Lincoln and both support the sustainability and new urbanism concepts that Fallbrook embodies, where people can live, work and shop within their neighborhood.

“There is a lot of positive growth happening out in Fallbrook, and we are thrilled to be a part of marketing such an exciting concept,” said Gene Brake, CEO of Woods Bros Realty.

Woods Bros Wilderness Hills sales professionals Jayne Debus and Karalyn Hoefer will be focusing on residential sales at Fallbrook out of an onsite sales office at 570 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 110.

Debus, originally from Wyoming, was a real estate broker in Hastings, Neb., for 30 years. She moved to Lincoln seven years ago, where she and her husband, Bruce, have enjoyed living in the Fallbrook area. She was the residential broker for NEBCO Realty Group in the Fallbrook Development, and she will continue to use her expertise of the area.

Debus has been very active in her local, state and National REALTORS® Associations and is currently serving as chairperson of the Governmental Affairs committee at the REALTORS® Association of Lincoln, where she was named 2011 REALTOR® of the Year.

“I’m excited to continue specializing in Fallbrook while also having access to the tools and network of agents at Woods Bros Realty,” Debus said.

Karalyn Hoefer has been a REALTOR® with Woods Bros. Realty for 13 years. She is an associate broker and has earned both the Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI) and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designations. She has served on the Woods Bros Advisory Board, REALTORS® Association of Lincoln and is past president of the Lincoln Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS®. She currently serves as Secretary for the State Chapter of Certified Residential Specialists®.

When not specializing in residential real estate, Hoefer is an active volunteer with the American Heart Association and Miss Nebraska Scholarship Pageant. Hoefer and her husband, Brian, have two daughters.

“I have been impressed with the Fallbrook area since the first time I toured it. I am looking forward to living and working in such a great community and being able to share that with others,” Hoefer said.

For more information on Fallbrook residential sales, visit www.WoodsBros.com/Fallbrook or call Debus at 402-432-9555 or Hoefer at 402-450-1355.

Woods Bros Realty

Fallbrook

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Jeff Graham

Jeff Graham joins the Wilderness Hills office.  Jeff has lived in Nebraska since he was 15 years old. He attended Southeast High School and went on to Southeast Community College where he earned a degree in Mechanical Drafting. Jeff managed the IT Department for Goodyear’s Global Distribution for 5 years and also has construction management experience.  His hobbies include reading and jogging. He also holds a private pilot license.  Jeff can be reached at 402-432-2066 or Jeff.Graham@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Jayne Debus

Jayne Debus joins the Wilderness Hills Office. She grew up in Wheatland, Wyoming, then moved to Clovis, New Mexico. She was a broker in Hastings, Nebraska for 28 years before moving to Lincoln. Her hobbies include HGTV, travel, music, dancing, sandy beaches, golf, tennis, horseshoes, reading, card games, relaxing with friends.  Jayne’s past involvement includes Governmental Affairs Chair at REALTORS Association of Lincoln, 2011 REALTOR of the Year at REALTORS Association of Lincoln, past president WCR. She specializes in New Construction in Fallbrook.  Jayne can be reached at 402-432-9555 or jayne.debus@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Deb Kamrath

Deb Kamrath joins the Wilderness Hills office. She grew up in Ord, Nebraska.  After graduation from University of Nebraska Kearney she taught at Kearney High School. She has lived in Lincoln since the summer of 2008. Her hobbies include  reading, travel, ballroom and salsa dancing. Deb can be reached at 402-440-7651 or deb.kamrath@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Neeli Noyd

Neeli Noyd joins the Wilderness Hills office.  She grew up on a farm near Silver Creek, NE.  Her hobbies include spending time with her family and reading a good book.  Neeli can be reached at 402-363-3082 or neeli.noyd@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Bob Jorgensen

Bob Jorgensen joins the Lincolnshire office. He graduated from University of Nebraska Lincoln with a Bachelor’s Degree in both Broadcast Journalism and English. He and his wife, April, have a three year old daughter named Elaine, as well as a slightly chubby cat named Wally. His hobbies include reading, movies and board games until dawn. Bob can be reached at 402-440-9773 or bob.jorgensen@woodsbros.com.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

CEO Gene Brake with Celebrity Judge winners Rachael Pittman and Casey Collins of the Woods Bros Beatrice office.

Woods Bros Realty agents and staff helped raise nearly $3,000 during the third annual Soup or Chili Cook-off for Cancer Wednesday in Lincoln.

The Chili Cook-Off itself raised $1,840 for the American Cancer Society through the voting beans and cookbooks sold. An additional $1,135 was raised in a silent auction to go toward a local REALTOR’s lung transplant fund. The group raised about $1,200 in 2010 and $1,700 in 2011.

This year marked the first Celebrity Judge Award, which went to Rachael Pittman and Casey Collins of the Woods Bros Realty Beatrice office. Celebrity Judges were 2011 Miss Nebraska Kayla Batt, KLKN-TV Anchor Rod Fowler, and Sandhills Golf Club Head Chef Jake Thiesen.

The People’s Choice Award (with the most beans) went to Susan Ferris of the Woods Bros Realty Wilderness Hills office. Voters were made up of Woods Bros and Home Real Estate agents and staff, along with staff from Nebraska Land Title and Abstract, HomeServices Lending, HomeServices of Nebraska Insurance and Larabee School of Real Estate. Entries ranged from sweet and spicy beef chili to even Thai-style chicken soup and potato soup.

“Not only was it a good event to raise money and awareness, but also to fellowship with other REALTORS,” said HomeServices of Nebraska CEO Gene Brake.

The 2012 Woods Bros participants were: Gene Ward and Karen Duncan, Lincolnshire Square; Susan Ferris, Wilderness Hills; Rachael Pittman & Casey Collins, Beatrice; and Linda Keller and Larry Millhouse, Country Club Plaza. Larry Melichar represented the Support Services office.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Woods Bros Realty is gearing up for the third annual Soup or Chili Cook-off for Cancer today at 11:30 at 3355 Orwell St. in Lincoln.

New additions this year include three celebrity guest judges: 2011 Miss Nebraska Kayla Batt, KLKN-TV Anchor Rod Fowler, and Sandhills Golf Club Head Chef Jake Thiesen. Furthermore, the group is introducing a silent auction to help raise additional funds. 100 percent of the proceeds go to the local American Cancer Society. The group raised about $1,200 in 2010 and $1,700 in 2011.

“Cancer has affected so many of our family of agents and employees that we wanted to find a way to support this worthwhile cause and put the heat on cancer,” said HomeServices of Nebraska CEO Gene Brake.

Woods Bros and HOME Real Estate agents and staff, along with staff from Nebraska Land Title and Abstract, HomeServices Lending, HomeServices of Nebraska Insurance and Larabee School of Real Estate vote for their favorite soup or chili with purchased voting beans. The winning chef gets bragging rights and their name on the Top Chef plaque.

The 2012 Woods Bros participants are: Gene Ward and Karen Duncan, Lincolnshire Square; Susan Ferris, Wilderness Hills; Rachael Pittman & Casey Collins, Beatrice; and Linda Keller, Country Club Plaza. Larry Melichar is cooking for the Support Services office.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Woods Bros Realty is rocking into 2012 with increases all around. Take advantage of the buyers we’re working with due to low interest rates, and consider listing your home in this sellers’ market. Call a Woods professional today!

Here are the January numbers from all Woods Bros offices, including Lincoln, Seward, York, Beatrice and Grand Island:

• $20,299,97 Total Volume Closed (Up 16% from Jan. 2011)
• 135 Total Sides Closed (Up 23% from Jan. 2011)
• 271 Sides Placed Under Contract (Up 24% from Jan. 2011)
• 521,533 Page Views on WoodsBros.com
• 55,622 User Sessions on WoodsBros.com
• 7,326 User Sessions from Mobile Devices
• 69 New Saved Searches on WoodsBros.com
• 1,289 New Saved Properties on WoodsBros.com
• 232 New Customers/Clients on WoodsBros.com
• 1,277 Daily Active Users on Facebook.com/WoodsBros
• 121 Text Inquiries to WOODS at 59559
• 3,567 Guided Tour Views at WoodsBros.com
• 197 Views on MyWoodsBrosTV.com

View our monthly Market Snapshot here.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty

Woods Bros Realty is pleased to announce the completion of a project to make a paperless real estate transaction possible.

Utilizing Doc Central from Real Estate Digital, our online technology partner and industry leader, we now have the ability to instantly give agents and clients online access to transaction documents from anywhere in the world.

Furthermore, we entered in an agreement with the online signature leader, DocuSign, to provide the full product to our agents at a substantial discount. This is just another step in Woods Bros Realty’s commitment to our clients and agents to simplify the real estate transaction. For more information, contact a Woods agent.

 Posted by Woods Bros Realty