Written by Sarah Linn, Development & Marketing Special Projects Coordinator at DCHS

Animal shelters play a crucial role in our community. When you think of Dane County Humane Society (DCHS), you probably think of dog and cat adoptions first. And rightly so. In 2023, DCHS found new homes for 1,241 dogs and 1,728 cats. But that’s just one of the ways DCHS serves the animals at the shelter and in our community. Additionally, DCHS provides care for thousands of native wild animals who are injured, sick, or orphaned, rehabilitating them with the goal of releasing them back to their habitats. DCHS also provides humane education programs for learners of all ages, teaching community members about everything from animal care to empathy. Their Pets for

While we can’t deny that the spring and summer markets are historically the busiest, there are unexpected benefits to selling your home in the winter if it makes sense for your situation.

1. Serious buyers: Quite literally, fairweather buyers aren’t looking for a home in the winter. Your winter listing will more likely attract more serious buyers who are committed to moving.

2. Chance to highlight ‘cozy’ features: Showcase a lovely fireplace, fun theater room, or sunroom that brings in light year-round. 

3. Less competition: Winter may bring fewer buyers, but fewer homes are for sale too. This means your listing will have less competition. 

4. (A different type of) beautiful photos: A snow-covered setting can be beautiful

Written by Amber Kolner, Communications and Stewardship Manager of Madison Area Community Land Trust

Madison Area Community Land Trust (MACLT) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing affordable and sustainable homeownership opportunities for low-income families in Dane County. MACLT is Dane County's only non-profit focused on permanently affordable homeownership, and part of a movement of over 300 community land trusts across North America. 

Through their innovative land trust model, MACLT helps individuals and families purchase homes at below-market rates, while preserving long-term affordability of the homes in the land trust. MACLT’s resale formula ensures that these homes remain affordable for future generations, which helps to

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.

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

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County (BBBS) is all about helping kids and teens reach their full potential through meaningful, one-on-one mentoring. For over 50 years, BBBS has been connecting young people with mentors who are there to offer support, guidance, and a listening ear. These relationships are personal and flexible, tailored to fit the needs of each kid. The result? A boost in confidence, better grades, and a brighter outlook on life. The bonds formed between Bigs and Littles often last a lifetime, making a real difference for everyone involved.

What makes BBBS work so well is the incredible volunteers who step up to be Bigs. These mentors come from all walks of life, but they all share the same passion for making a positive impact.

Our team believes that working by referral is a genuine and fruitful way to practice real estate. But what does working by referral mean?

- Letting your quality of service be your greatest marketing tool, instead of paid advertisements
- Focusing on building relationships instead of "finding clients"
- Having a spirit of generosity and incorporating discretionary effort into your daily work
- Removing the anxiety of real estate: when you do your job with skill, honesty, and kindness, you will always be led to the next person to help

If you'd like to learn more about how working by referral looks in day-to-day practice, Dan and Amanda would love to meet with you. 

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. 

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

Our office on Monroe Street is in Suite #1, the first office door you encounter when you walk inside the building. Due to this, we regularly have people in the community (e.g. interviewees for our neighbors' businesses, delivery drivers, vendors) peek their heads inside and ask:

"Am I in the right place?"

We're happy to help these visitors. And we often get a similar question in our line of work from new potential clients. If you're unsure where to start in the home buying or selling process, you can always contact us. We'll always point you in the right direction - whether that be a lender, contractor, financial advisor, etc. - to make sure you're in the right place to successfully reach your goals.