Here are our tips for finding a great buyer agent in another market: 1: Research agent reviews on Zillow. Focus more on the written comments than on the numerical ratings. Look for agents who consistently receive high praise from truly grateful clients.  2: Review each agent's recent listings. Do the listings consistently display beautiful photos of well-staged properties? The quality of an agent's listings can offer helpful insight into each agent's standards and level of professionalism.  3: Interview each agent and ask all of the questions that are most importa ..read more

This holiday season is a season of change for Maureen Moran and her husband Kevin, who are moving to Atlanta to be close to their daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren. We'll surely miss all of the warm wit, interesting conversations, and professionalism that Maureen brought to our team. But we're very happy to know that Maureen and Kevin will be amongst family. If you've worked with Maureen in the past you know her dedication to her clients and her craft. And now you will have the opportunity to work with other like-minded team members whenever you need real estate help ..read more

For many of us, the approaching winter season invites reflection and celebration. Shorter days naturally create breathing room in our social calendar and encourage us to take inventory of our past gratitudes, future hopes, and issues deferred. We look inward, but we also look around homes:   “I’m happy we finished the basement; Packer parties have been so much fun. How much value did we add to our home?”  “I wonder what it would cost to build that third garage stall now that our son is driving.”  “Would we feel safer if all the kids were sleeping on the same level as u ..read more

When we picture a negotiation, we tend to think of a challenging and difficult process that's fraught with tension and a focus on beating the adversary.  But it doesn't need to be that way. In fact, the best negotiations often have a much different tone. Experience has taught us that we're most effective when we adopt a softer approach.  Our 4 pillars for effective negotiation Overcommunicate: We live in a distracted world. The more we communicate with the other party, and encourage communication in return, the more likely we'll be able to strike a deal that works for both ..read more

Approached with skill and care, some home improvement projects always provide a great return on investment. Here are the 5 projects that are at the top of our home improvement list.  Our top 5 high-impact home improvement projects 1) Fresh paint. It's amazing what the right color and a fresh coat of paint can do to transform a room, and at such a low cost.  2) New lighting. Replacing a bulky and dated fixture with one that is sleek and modern offers another quick win.  3) Cabinet hardware. Updating cabinets with new hardware is an easy and affordabl ..read more

Dane County home prices increased once again in October, although by smaller amounts than in previous months.  Dane County home prices On a year-over-year basis: The price per square foot increased from $218 to $228 (4 percent).  The average increased from $470,079 to $482,742 (3 percent).  The median price was even at $415,000.  Through the first 10 months of the year: The price per square foot increased from $213 to $225 (5 percent).  The average increased from $467,547 to $498,938 (7 percent).  And the median increased from $415,000 to $439,554 (6 percent ..read more

Here's our newest look into the Madison area condo market, starting with the price trends for October, 2023. Dane County condo prices On a year-over-year basis: The price per square foot increased from $208 to $223 (7 percent).  The median price increased from $262,450 to $303,000 (15 percent).  The average price increased from $308,198 to $344,720 (12 percent).  On a year-to-date basis: The price per square foot increased from $203 to $215 (6 percent).  The median price increased from $266,100 to $300,000 (13 percent).  The average price increased from $300 ..read more

We'll release our October real estate reports real soon. In the meantime, here's our early read on new listings in the Madison area.  Single family homes Listings continued to enter the market at a slow pace. Only 382 Dane County single family home listings were posted to the MLS in October, which was the lowest for any month of October on record. Condos Listing activity in the condo market was also light. Only 87 condos were listed for sale in October, which was the lowest for any month of October in the last 21 years. With listings continuing to enter the market at a slow pace, we expec ..read more

Recently we helped our client sell his mother and father's home on the westside of Madison. This was a unique sale, because our client lived outside of the country, and the home needed some special attention before it went on the market.  So Mad City Dream Homes stepped in as the project manager and oversaw all of the work that would benefit the sale. In all, we contacted and coordinated work with 9 different contractors who worked on projects that included plumbing, electrical, chimney, gutter, landscaping, and a handful of cosmetic updates.  In the end, our client was pleased ..read more

One big benefit of being on a multigenerational team is our opportunity to retire gracefully. That's because when it's time for us to retire, we have teammates who are ready to step in and capably serve our clients and friends. A referral partnership like this is unique and win-win for everyone: The client benefits by working with a group of trusted real estate professionals. The retiring agent benefits by receiving referral income well beyond her working years. And of course the team benefits with each new client it has the opportunity to serve. Best of all, the team carries on the retiring a ..read more