If you're a buyer, you love a quiet sale because with a quiet sale you don't need to compete. 

As a seller, you might choose a private sale if you'd prefer to sell your home to someone you know, or if you want the simplicity of working with only one buyer. 

BUT, if your primary goal is to maximize your return on investment, then fully marketing your home and exposing it to the entire market is the clear choice. Here's why. 

Recently I started helping my friend who has been looking for a cute little condo on the west side of town. And we came across the perfect match. Two bedrooms. Full of natural light. And walkable to all of the shops and restaurants in the area. 

And we wrote a great offer, too. But unfortunately there were 8 other offers and my friend's offer was the runner-up. 

This was a huge disappointment to my friend...BUT...after we absorbed the setback, we came out of our conversation with a little more knowledge and a renewed commitment to her goals. 

Next up, we'll be sending letters to all of the owners at my friend's favorite condo development. With a little persistence and patience, my friend will find the right condo. We will get her into a new

One clear sign of someone who's devoted to their craft is their willingness to do the inconvenient thing. Not because they have something to gain by doing it. But because it's worth it to them. Because in their mind doing the inconvenient thing is the right thing to do. 

For example: 

• The crossing guard who greets each kid with a hello and a smile. 

• The teacher who works everyday to build community in the classroom and make learning fun. 

• The doctor who attends to her patients with kindness, empathy and patience --  knowing that her patients may be worried or concerned.  

• And in real estate, the agent who helps her clients solve problems, and stay focused and positive, when they encounter a setback.

For some

Lane Manning recently met an aspiring buyer, Michael, who was in search of a condo on the westside of Madison. As Lane and Michael talked more about Michael's needs, they determined that the Marbella Condominiums would be an excellent place for Michael to land. 

And so Lane and our team sent out a letter to every owner in the association, which resulted in a response from Meghan and Shawn. Within a couple of weeks, Michael and Meghan and Shawn were all under contract with an official accepted offer.

Michael is happy. And Meghan and Shawn are happy, as Lane guides both parties to closing. 

You may have heard about the recent National Association of Realtors settlement related to buyer brokerage services and compensation. Although we have more to learn about exactly how business practices will change in the future, we do anticipate a few clear changes for consumers. 

On the plus side

We believe we'll see a variety of business models and compensation models emerge from the settlement, and consumers will ultimately have more choice. In the new landscape, the settlement will require many agents to do a better job of demonstrating their value proposition -- or face leaving the field -- which should help to elevate the profession.  

On the down side 

The home buying process in many cases will become more complex, not easier. And the

Recently a client asked us for our opinion on a home for sale on the west side of Madison. Our client was considering submitting an offer, and they wanted us to weigh in before writing. 

Our take was no, they shouldn't write. We were concerned about the resale value of this particular home and the potential for costly repairs in the future. And so we continued our search. 

The good news is we found a much better home for our clients just a few days later, and fortunately for our clients, their offer to purchase was accepted. 

Our client's story serves as a good reminder that sometimes saying no to one opportunity can open the door to a better one down the line. And knowing when to say no and when to move forward becomes easier when you have a

We're beginning to see signs that more people may end up choosing to sell this year, based on our latest review of the Dane County real estate market. As the chart below shows, listings for existing single family homes are up noticeably during the first two months of the year, which is encouraging news for buyers. 

If you're someone who is aspiring to buy a home in 2024, this is a great reason for you to stay focused and committed to your search. You just never know when the right opportunity will present itself, and when a little good fortune will come your way. 

Contact us to discuss your homeownership goals. We would love to help you. 

We'd like to pass along that we continue to receive excellent feedback from our clients about Gorilla Movers, Above Average Moving, and A1 Movers. All three of these companies are easy to schedule and easy to work with -- and their crews take care of your precious cargo. 

Just a quick reminder that we have hundreds of neighborhood and condo association guides for you to peruse and use on our website.

So, if you're in the mode of researching neighborhoods, our Madison and Dane County neighborhood guides are excellent resources for you. And if you're curious about condos, our city and suburban condominium guides offer a great introduction to hundreds of local associations.

If you'd like us to create a guide for your neighborhood or condo association, just let us know. We'd be happy to do this for you. 

One of the best ways we can be of service to you is to help you make good decisions. For example:

• What repairs and updates should you address before selling your home? 

• Should you enter the market right now or wait for the market to change? 

• Which lender should you use to finance your purchase?

• Should you write an offer on this property or keep searching for a better fit?  

Decisions like these often come with big consequences: Problems encountered versus problems avoided. Dollars spent versus dollars invested. And opportunities gained versus opportunities lost. For each decision you face, we're here to help you make the right call.