Selling Tips

Selling Real Estate in Madison & South Central Wisconsin: Property Selling Tips

Found 279 blog entries about Selling Tips.

Then we invite you to try working by relationship instead. A relationship where generous and hardworking people come together in pursuit of a common goal. 

Here's what we keep learning about working by relationship, time and time again:

When like-minded people bring their best to each other -- and collaborate -- the results are often extraordinary. And in the end, every investment of time, attention, communication, creativity, problem-solving, and effort is worth it...and then some. 

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It wasn't too long ago that you could sell your home without much fuss at all. You didn't need to address deferred maintenance or repairs. You didn't have to worry about cosmetics or staging. And you didn't need to mess with marketing. For awhile, it seemed all you really needed to do was take a few iPhone photos, choose whatever price you wanted, and load your listing onto the MLS. And then, wait for the offers to roll in. 

Well those days are pretty much over.

Now, many sellers are learning that buyers have become much more selective than they were just a few months ago. And that preparation and attention to detail matter. The repairs and maintenance. The cosmetics and staging. The photos and marketing. The pricing and negotiation. All of it

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When we first sat down with Sarah and her family at her kitchen table, we understood it was time for Sarah to move closer to her family. We also understood that Sarah would need plenty of extra care and support along the way. So Dan and Shelley quickly created a plan and assembled all of the resources that Sarah would need in order to make her sale a smooth one. 

The plan

Professional staging

  • Shelley Lazzareschi and Debbie Lea immediately went to work on Sarah's condo, using the furniture and accessories that Sarah owned. Then Shelley and Debbie brought in plenty of artwork and accessories from their own collections in order to round out their staging plan. 

Home repairs and updates

  • Grant Priehs addressed a few small repairs,
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Earlier this summer we shared the names of a few contractors who are standing out with service in 2022. Here are a few more professionals that we'd love to share with you based on their track record with our clients and our team. 

Mad City Dream Homes Recommended Contractors

Paul Peterson - Painter (608-358-3600)

Paul and his team are friendly, reliable, and professional. They're receiving rave reviews from our clients, and we absolutely love their work on our office remodel. We highly recommend Paul and his crew. 

Cody Helmer - Construction (608-577-7041)

Cody and his small crew specialize in new roofs, new siding, 3-season porches, and large-scale remodeling projects. Even better, Cody is the type of person you can do business with on a handshake.

Bob Stigsell - Asbestos, Mold,

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Now that we’re entering a more rational real estate market, a lot of sellers are realizing that they can’t just wish for a price and have that price come true. They’re learning that there is both an art and a science to pricing, and that their home will sit on the market if they and their realtor don’t invest the time and thought required to select the right price. 

Madison WI Home Selling Tips

Our advice to you

So, if you're planning to sell your home soon, our advice to you is don’t leave your pricing up to chance. Ask your listing agent to perform a comprehensive market analysis for you, and ask you agent to explain their reasons for their pricing recommendation. In other words, ask your realtor to show their work. 

We also encourage you to formulate your own price

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No doubt, there is some fear in the world of real estate right now: Fear about world events. Fear about inflation. And fear about higher interest rates, to name a few.

And because we're human, that fear can cause us to hesitate and put our dreams on hold. But on the flip side of fear, is opportunity. And the market does offer some real opportunities for those of us who are are able to hold onto our aspirations and keep working on our real estate goals.

crisis vs opportunity in real estate

For example

If you've been frustrated by a lack of supply, selection is improving...And you have opportunity.

If you haven't been able to compete, competition is decreasing...And you have opportunity.

If you need to sell in order to buy, home sale contingencies are back...And you have

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At Mad City Dream Homes, we're now offering an annual Home Equity Checkup to all of our friends who have owned their home, condo or investment property for a year or more. You can think of this as similar to the annual meeting that you would have with your financial advisor.

Annual Home Equity Review - Mad City Dream Homes

During our meeting we'll cover all of the following:

  • Your home's current market value and your current equity position.
  • Where we see the market going in the year ahead.
  • Low-cost home improvement projects that will substantially increase your home's value.
  • Reputable contractors who can help you with your projects around your home and yard.
  • And any questions that you have about the world of real estate.

We're not trying to sell you anything, just offer

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Lately we've been noticing a lot of 12-month listing contracts in the Madison area, but we would generally advise you not to sign such a long listing agreement. If your listing agent is pushing you to sign a year-long contract, then that's a sign that they're not feeling confident in their ability to sell your home. And the last thing you want is to be locked into a long contract while your home sits on the market. 

A much more reasonable time period is 2 to 6 months. Assuming you and your agent have a solid plan and a good working relationship, a few weeks to a few months should give you all the time you need to experience a successful sale.

We're always available to meet with you and help you plan for your future. Just reach out to your favorite

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Here's a recent case study that shows how two different philosophies (investing versus cost-cutting) can have a huge impact on your bottom line.

The scenario

Two homes, in the same location, with virtually the same assessed value, listed at the exact same time. The home on the left was listed by Mad City Dream Homes. The home on the right was listed by a limited service brokerage.

Mad City Dream Homes vs Limited Service - The Scenario

The process

Our clients chose to invest in their sale by focusing on the fundamentals of proper pricing, comprehensive marketing, and professional staging. We also helped our clients implement a few light cosmetic touches (fresh paint and new light fixtures) which offered a significant return on investment. 

MCDH vs Limited Service - The Process

The results

The sellers who hired the limited

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As we return to a more balanced market, the art of negotiation is making its return, too. And it has been a long time coming. For the last three years, so many buyers have felt like they were at the mercy of sellers, where virtually every aspect of the offer to purchase was about buyers giving and sellers taking. But now, with the market mellowing, many buyers and sellers are realizing that they are on a much more level playing field when it comes time to negotiate. 

the art of real estate negotiation

Now all of these terms are open for negotiation once again:

The price.

The inspection.

The appraisal. 

The home sale contingency.

And a host of other contingencies, too.  

Do you need help negotiating our changing market? 

Reach out to your preferred Mad City Dream

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