Be careful out there.

Fraudsters are targeting realtors, lenders and title companies by hacking into their email accounts and surreptitiously monitoring their communications with buyers who are getting ready to close on their home.

When closing day is near, the criminals will send the buyer a wiring instructions email that looks like it is coming from the title company. The fake email will ask the buyer to wire their closing funds to a fraudulent account, and the buyer who follows these instructions unwittingly becomes a victim of wire fraud. 

How can you make sure you don't become a victim of wire fraud?

Use your phone. If you would like to wire your closing funds, just call the title company to make sure you are speaking to the correct

Only a buyer agent can:

• Give a negative opinion or critique of a seller’s property beyond disclosing defects.
• Suggest an offer price or give you an opinion about whether a property is priced too high or too low. 
• Recommend and assist you with negotiation strategies for the best price and terms.
• Structure an offer and draft offer provisions with your best interests in mind.

You can learn much more about buyer agency and our approach to buyer representation here. 

One proven staging fundamental is to selectively move some items out of the home in order to create a clean and uncluttered look inside. Yesterday was an item removal day for these clients, and we made great progress on their staging plan.

Many thanks to Casey's Estate Cleanout Solutions for making this an easy process for our sellers. Casey and his team continue to be a wonderful resource for our clients as they prepare for their big sale.

Our 2024 home-selling clients continue to reap the benefits of simple, cosmetic updates. We're helping several sellers this fall by coordinating work with our trusted handyman, painter, and color consultant. 

Eliminating common buyer objections is our big focus. So we're making simple changes like removing dated window treatments, installing new cabinet hardware and new light fixtures, and updating colors with interior and exterior paint. 

It's the small projects like these that deliver more showings, more offers, and the best return on investment. Call us when you're ready for your own cosmetics consultation. We'd love to help. 

** Virtual staging and listing photo courtesy of Step Inside Media **

We're approaching the peak season for fall colors here in South Central Wisconsin, which means you have a window of opportunity for gathering some colorful exterior photos in anticipation of your 2025 sale.

Soon, the snow will be flying. But right now is the perfect time to hire a professional photographer and capture some beautiful pics of your yard and home. Call us when you need a little help planning for your future. We'd love to be a resource for you. 

Thank you Step Inside Media for all you do for our clients! 

We can’t believe we’re nearing the end of 2024 already - time seems to move so quickly. If you’re planning on purchasing a home “next spring” or “sometime in 2025,” that timeframe surely has the potential to sneak up on us too.

We’d love to help you get a concrete plan in place so you’re well-prepared to meet your home-buying goals on your schedule. We find that our clients who have reviewed their finances and have ample time to discuss the transition with their partners, friends, family, and workplace tend to enjoy their move more - with less stress and uncertainty, and more excitement.

Is your realtor a consultant or a salesperson? Here are a few clues: 

At Mad City Dream Homes, we choose a consultative approach to real estate. 

You don’t need to sign a listing contract in order to start working on your sale. What you really need is a plan. And a good plan includes the following: 

#1) A professional market analysis that helps you select the right list price for your home. 

#2) A customized marketing plan, including staging and cosmetic updates, designed to attract multiple offers. 

#3) A clear understanding of the fees associated with your sale. 

Once you understand and approve of your plan, we get to work. The listing contract gets signed later. In the meantime, we get your home ready for the market. 

A rise in hail and wind damage claims has led to some broad-based changes to homeowners insurance policies, specifically related to roofs. Here are a few important trends that every homeowner, buyer, and seller needs to be aware of: 

1) Premiums and deductibles are increasing. 

2) Reimbursement is moving toward a depreciated value model, resulting in smaller payouts for roof claims. 

3) Most insurance companies are no longer insuring homes with roofs that are 20 or more years old. Some companies are refusing to insure roofs that are 15 or even 10 years old. 

If you are planning to buy or sell your home in the near future, please call us to discuss how changes in the insurance industry could potentially impact your real estate plans. And

Online real estate platforms can be filled with industry jargon and terminology often varies from site to site. So, what do all these statuses mean?

For Sale / Active:
This seller has not yet committed to a buyer and is still looking to enter into a purchase contract. The home is “on the market,” and the seller is likely welcoming buyers for showings or an open house.

Pending / Contingent / Offer-Show / Offer-No Show:
This seller has chosen a buyer and is committed to moving forward with that purchase contract in good faith. However, they have not yet signed the final paperwork to transfer ownership. The seller and buyer may be using this time to work through agreed-upon contingencies, arrange funds, or prepare to move. Often the seller is no longer welcoming