Planning to sell your home or condo in the coming year? Here are 4 things you can do right now in order to prepare for a smooth and successful sale. 

1) Find out how much your home is worth. We'll perform a complimentary market analysis for you, so you know how much equity you have available to you for your next purchase. 

2) Schedule a cosmetics consultation with our team. We'll identify the simple and low-cost updates that will help you sell your home for a higher price and a better return on investment. 

3) Have your home pre-inspected. If your inspection does reveal any defects, you'll have the opportunity to address them now and avoid any unpleasant surprises down the road. 

4) Schedule your exterior and aerial photos while the fall

It can be hard to imagine what a home would look like post-renovation. When Chris had a client looking to sell their fixer-upper in Sun Prairie, we wanted to highlight the potential of the property and enlisted the help of Step Inside Media. Not only did Step Inside Media take high-quality listing photos, but edited them to show potential renovation results using currently trending colors and finishes. The results were stunning before and after photos (above) that helped buyers envision what some time and sweat equity could produce. 

This is an example of how we customize our services based on each seller's situation. Behind the scenes, we collaborate with our trusted partners and brainstorm how to create the best possible advertisement for each home. 

Chances are you know someone who sold their home a few years ago because they were convinced the market had peaked and would be crashing soon. On the flipside, you probably know someone who has been waiting to buy for the last several years -- believing that falling prices are right around the corner. 

Just like the stock market, timing the real estate market is really hard to do. At the same time it's also plain to see that Dane County home and condo values are poised to rise over the long run. 

So, we recommend you make your real estate decisions based on your life goals and your aspirations. Avoid the trap of trying to time the market, and remember that real estate is a buy-and-hold investment. Your investment will pay off over the long haul.

Does the realtor care about you and your individual needs? 

Is the realtor clearly competent? 

Is the realtor a person of strong character?  

You can't go wrong when you hire for character, competence, and care.  

Real estate agents with humility don't need to be in the spotlight. They know it's not about them. 

They are good listeners and creative problem-solvers who prioritize open communication. And they personalize their service according to your needs. 

They also know that you are probably feeling anxious during your big move. So they are there to give you the extra support and encouragement you need, when you need it. 

Agents with humility hold themselves to high standards and follow through on all of their commitments. They practice real estate and approach all negotiations with sound judgement and care.  Always. 

The internet has made real estate listings more accessible, high-tech, and glamorous. Seeing your home featured online is an exciting part of the selling process. However, there are many valuable face-to-face interactions you could benefit from well before advertising your home to buyers:

• Meeting one-on-one for an in-depth conversation about your real estate goals and timeline.

• A cosmetics consultation to update your home over the winter months in preparation for a spring sale.

• A chat with your loved ones present who are involved in your selling decision and have questions, too. 

• Walking through the blank paperwork for extra time to digest the forms to be eventually completed.

• Hands-on help staging your home

It seems Americans are becoming more reactive and less patient over time. We're quick to judge and blame the other person, while we often struggle with listening and constructive conversation. 

Unfortunately we're seeing a lot of these same dynamics play out in the field of real estate. It’s not uncommon for some realtors to overreact and under-communicate during a challenging negotiation, when what is called for is level-headedness and open communication.

And so some transactions do end up being filled with unnecessary drama, and some even needlessly canceled, due to the actions of a realtor. 

This is why we place such a strong emphasis on communication in our professional standards. Being present, being patient, over-communicating, and always

One of our clients recently found themselves in a jam. They had just accepted a nice offer for their home, but the ensuing inspection revealed a significant defect. The buyers still wanted to proceed with their purchase, but they wanted the sellers to repair the defect prior to closing, and the closing was only 3 weeks away. 

So Mad City Dream Homes hit the phones and was able to schedule quick estimates from two different companies. Company A's quote came in at a hefty $11,000.  While Company B's quote came in at a much more palatable $2,600. Even better, Company B (a reputable one) was able to complete their work in time for the closing. 

This is a great example of why it pays to do your due diligence and seek multiple opinions whenever you face

(Thanks to Laura Kocum from ABC of Wisconsin for this contribution to our blog.)

This spring, an apprentice named Melody graduated from a sheet metal apprenticeship. For Melody, this is a second career. She started as a chef, but after years of long hours, lagging wages, and instability during the pandemic, she decided it was time for a change. After researching her options, she chose a sheet metal apprenticeship.  “Everyone needs heat and air. These needs aren’t going anywhere. I can do anything with the skilled trades,” she exclaimed.

Melody wishes she had known about apprenticeships sooner and had begun her program right out of high school. She sees that her apprenticeship has created a career path that will pay well, provide stability, and give

Lately it's feeling like the "spamming and cramming" from marketers has reached an all-time high. Or all-time low, depending on how you look it. Politicians, non-profits, realtors, mortgage lenders, restaurants, and any company with an app...they're using any and all means to disrupt our attention.

But for those of us who are in sales and marketing, we have so many better ways to approach our work. Here are just a few of them: 

• Choose to run a business that stands for something. 
• Lead with generosity. 
• Focus on relationships. 
• Adopt a long-term, servant mindset. 
• Invest in our clients. 
• Be professionals. 
• Earn more trust. 
• In short, stop selling and start serving. 

By doing so, we lead by example, and model for each