Statistics show that the average American household has "300,000 things." And as more baby boomers downsize, move to assisted living facilities, or pass away, "the volume of unwanted keepsakes and family heirlooms is poised to grow -- along with the number of delicate conversations about what to do with them," the New York Times reports.

From your great aunt's rocking chair to that unopened box of hand-me-down china, the weight of what we own and what we no longer use could easily be lifted off of our shoulders. Wouldn't it be nice to ditch the guilt and declutter your life by finding a new home for some of your belongings?

While some trinkets should just go in the garbage bin, many other items don't need to be relegated to the curb. You might not

Some parks require hiking to the top of a hill to experience a beautiful vista, and other sites can be enjoyed while seated. That is just one of the many reasons the Jenni and Kyle Preserve is so special.

This natural area near Madison and Fitchburg provides educational and recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Of the handful of Dane County Parks that offer accessible fishing sites, the Jenni and Kyle Preserve has the most at eight, as well as accessible nature trails, a sheltered picnic area, and two wheelchair swings.

The park was named in memory of siblings Jenni and Kyle Geurkink, who both died in the 1980s of a degenerative neurological disorder before they turned 4. Their grandparents, Harvey and Patricia

Ready for outdoor recreation? Spring is almost upon us, and soon the area will be bustling with bikers and paddlers. Madison, with its abundance of parks, trails, and lakes, was ranked by WalletHub as one of the best cities in the country for an active lifestyle. And this weekend, March 9-11, the city is hosting two converging expos at the Alliant Energy Center with great deals, prizes, and tips: Bike-O-Rama and Canoecopia. Note that admission does not include parking fees.

Bike-O-Rama
When: Noon to 9 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: New Holland Pavilion, Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison
Admission: Free

The Midwest Bicycle Show and Sale "Bike-O-Rama" is the largest bicycle sale in

We recently had an opportunity to do 2 market analyses which showed how dramatically market conditions can differ from one location to the next. One property was located in a clear seller's market in Madison's Westmorland neighborhood. The other property was a higher priced listing located in a more rural buyer's market. Below we share a few examples from both market analyses which demonstrate how buyer's markets and seller's markets differ.  

Seller's markets typically have low inventory levels and a high percentage of listings with accepted offers. These two traits run very strong in the Westmorland neighborhood. At the time of our analysis the Westmorland market had only .6 months of supply available for sale on the MLS. In addition, 50% of

In a hot real estate market, making a strong offer to purchase is the key to success. If you include a contingency to sell, it can be enough to prevent you from obtaining an accepted offer. Because there are a limited number of properties available this spring, we encourage our buyers to do everything they can to avoid having a sale contingency on their offer.

Karen Wedvick, of Johnson Bank, offers a few suggestions to help buyers have a good offer ready, without selling first.

1. Get a Home Equity Line of Credit BEFORE you List your Home.  A line of credit allows you to use your home equity to work for you, including the option to use it for a down payment. This option can be appealing, because it typically allows you to access 90% of your current

Enter Monona Terrace today or tomorrow, and the smell of all things dairy will be wafting through the air. More than 3000 unique cheese, butters and yogurts will be on exhibit, hoping to gain recognition and earn rewards at the World Championship Cheese Contest.  This 32nd biannual event is hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, a trade association that includes more than 500 companies dedicated to making the best dairy products possible. And, while Wisconsin is famous for cheese, entrants in this competition include cheese makers from around the world.

The contest is open for public visits until 4 p.m. today and Wednesday. Stop in to enjoy the smells, taste the samples, and see what leading cheese makers are doing with their products. 

Don’t wait for the snow to melt and ground to thaw before planning your next landscaping project. Take it from Joe Hanauer, owner of Landscape Architecture LLC in Madison, who has over 20 years of experience in landscape design and horticulture. Whether you’re a green thumb or would rather hire a pro, his spring landscaping tips will help your plants thrive and yard shine. 

Clean the yard

In March or early April, rake up leaves and remove perennial foliage and ornamental grasses left from fall and winter. It's important to get rid of rot and mold to keep your garden free from pathogens. "It will reduce the apple scab in crab apples and some of the black spot on roses, so it's good to get that stuff out of there," Hanauer said. As long as a

One aspect of our job that we really enjoy is helping home owners whose previous listing expired without selling. When we meet with owners we start by getting to know the property and the marketing used during the previous listing. Usually we find out there's a lot we can do to help each client.

Such was the case with our recent sale of this upscale listing which we sold this February. When we first met with the sellers we were struck by the beauty of the property and setting. It was a truly special home, but the home's beauty wasn't fully exposed by the previous marketing. 

For example, we saw an immediate opportunity to upgrade the pictures and produce showcase listing photos like this one below. This was one of several ideas we had for generating

This weekend (March 3-4), the Madison Kids Expo is offering a perfect opportunity to enjoy family fun and burn off some steam. The event is organized by Brava Magazine and takes place at the Alliant Energy Center on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Bring the little ones, and expect lots of hands-on exhibits, open play areas, demonstrations by dancers and karate teams, face painting and more.

The Kids Expo has several purposes:

•  It's Affordable Fun: The admission fee gives you access to the full expo, and most events are at no additional cost. This is your chance to try out a wide range of activities, and see what your child enjoys the most. Options like laser tag, mazes, bounce houses, craft projects, and animal

With 25 recreation parks in Dane County, Indian Lake County Park ranks as one of the largest and most popular according to a recent survey. Located along State Hwy. 19 in the Town of Berry (north of Cross Plains), the park encompasses prairies, rolling meadows, valleys, wetlands, and woodlands centered around a 67-acre lake formed by the glacial melt.

To see this gorgeous hilltop view, take a short walk from the shelter parking lot, up some wooden stairs, and past a secular place of meditation, built in 1857.

Scenic hiking trails loop through the 483-acre park, including the Ice Age National Scenic Trail that passes by the adjacent Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area.

Offering a wonderful blend of natural, cultural, and recreational