Would you like help selecting a light fixture for a room in your home? Please feel free to call us. You have many beautiful and affordable designs to choose from, and we'd love to help you find that perfect fit.   

We admire our stager, Debbie Lea, for how she approaches her work as a craft. Not because she has to. But because she wants to. 

Over the years Debbie has modeled for each of us, over and over again, how we can view our work as an opportunity to create art. And now each of us has become a stager in our own right. 

Remember, when you hire Mad City Dream Homes to represent you during your sale, you receive Debbie's artistry (and the dedication of our entire team) free of charge. Stay tuned for a few examples of Debbie's work (and our team's work) from earlier this year....Coming soon.  

Many older ceiling fans are big and bulky and can make a room feel crowded and dated. But many of the newer models are sleek and stylish and offer the perfect complement.

Would you like help selecting a ceiling fan for a room in your home? Please feel free to call us. Today's selection offers some beautiful and affordable designs, and we'd love to help you choose one. 

And a little love and attention from the right team of experts can make all the difference. Here are a few of our favorite shots from some of our recent smaller-sized homes and condos. These photos offer some excellent examples of how staging, lighting, hardware, and a little fresh paint can transform a room and create a sense of space. Stay tuned. Photos coming soon!  

Recently we met with our longtime client, Jeff, who asked us for our advice on how he could improve his rental property's value with a few cosmetic updates. And we had a very productive visit.

We decided that Jeff's property would shine with some fresh paint, some new light fixtures, new cabinet hardware, new kitchen flooring, and refinished hardwood floors. At the same time, we connected Jeff with a handful of reliable and reasonably-priced contractors. Now Jeff has all the resources he needs to move forward with his work. And needless to say, we're looking forward to visiting Jeff again when his projects are complete!

Do you need guidance on how you can affordably update your own home, and at the same time significantly increase its market

It's time for a big shout out to our clients, LeAnn and Roger, who just sold their Madison home for $620,000 after paying $550,000 for it just over a year ago. That's 13% more than their original investment. Not bad at all for the cold month of January. 

The keys to success? Here are a few insights:

#1) Smart cosmetic updates

A little fresh paint, some new cabinet hardware, and a few new light fixtures -- all based  on the recommendations of the Mad City Dream Homes team. Mad City Dream Homes provided the contractor recommendation, too. 

#2) Professional staging

Thanks to the artistry of Debbie Lea and Shelley Lazzareschi, LeAnn and Roger's home stood out as a showcase listing and attracted a tremendous amount of traffic during the holiday

Designer and color consultant, Wendy Broadhead, has been working in the home decor field for over 25 years, so she has a lot to offer on this topic. According to Wendy:

"Selecting your main home color can be daunting, but getting the right color makes everything else just fall into place. Whites and Off-Whites are so versatile, looking elegant and classic or rustic and relaxed."

(Swiss Coffee from Benjamin Moore -- photo from Benjamin Moore)

Choosing the right colors

Before you take on any large scale painting projects, Wendy recommends choosing your main color first. Some of her favorite colors include Benjamin Moore colors Simply White (OC-117, soft, slightly creamy), Swiss Coffee (OC-45, a touch of warm gray), and Chantilly Lace (OC-65,

We recently shared 5 simple cosmetic updates that add instant value to your home and help it sell for a tremendous price. Another simple and very effective update is to deep clean your home. Specifically, these four things:

Clean all of the hard surfaces inside your home. 

Your home will shine when you clean your countertops, your cabinets, your appliances, and your hardwood and tile flooring.

Clean your windows

Spotless windows let the light pour and make each room feel bigger and brighter. 

Clean your carpets

Clean carpets help buyers see your home as one that has been properly cared for and well-maintained.

Clean your siding

A good painting company will wash your siding for an affordable price and add instant curb

Are you getting ready to sell your home in 2023? There are so many simple and affordable ways to improve your home's value. For starters, here are 5 quick updates, which when done in the right way, always provide a great return on investment:

#1) Brighten your space with a fresh coat of paint. 

#2) Replace dated flooring with a modern and inexpensive flooring product.

#3) Jazz up your kitchen with new cabinet hardware. 

#4) Swap out old light fixtures with new and affordable light fixtures. 

#5) Remove dated curtains and blinds and let the natural light pour in. 

We're always available for a complimentary cosmetics consultation. And we're here to help you select finishes, choose colors, and connect you with quality contractors, too. Just

Not long ago, back when money was real cheap, many buyers were willing to pay a premium for their home, even if their new home required an extensive amount of work. Buyers were willing to hire their own contractors after closing, and pay what they needed to pay, if that's what it took to secure a home and update it to their liking.

But now that interest rates are higher and the stock market is lower, buyer behavior has changed. Today's buyers are more selective and discerning. When they consider today's home prices, today's remodeling costs, and the amount of time it can take to hire and schedule a good contractor, they would much rather buy a move-in ready home instead.

So, what does it mean to sell a move-in ready home?

Move-in ready means