We recently shared with you our recommendations for Kristi Bertelson and Cody Helmer -- two local business owners we know and trust. Luis Rios is another local contractor we've grown to appreciate over the last few years. He's helped many of us on the team -- and many of our clients -- with valuable work that many other contractors aren't interested in providing. For example, Luis has helped us with lawn mowing, gutter cleaning, leaf raking, mulch spreading, weeding, brush removal, and the removal of fallen tree limbs.

In addition to his yard care services, Luis also helps his customers with painting and light handyman projects inside the home, too. 

We've learned over time that Luis is a friendly, hard-working and reliable person. In many cases

We recently shared with you our highest recommendation for Cody Helmer, a local home construction and renovation contractor we know and trust. Another local business owner we've grown to appreciate is Kristi Bertelson, owner of the Inspired Design Team in Monona. 

Our experience working with Kristi

Kristi recently worked with our team to help us design our office space on Monroe Street. When we started our project, our office suite was filled with pink carpet, dark paneled wood, and a choppy floor plan which limited the functionality and desirability of the space. Thanks to Kristi, our office suite is now an open, functional, warm, and inviting space -- which makes showing up for work each day a pleasure on Monroe Street!

We enjoyed working

Connecting you with trusted local business owners is one of the ways we strive to always be of service to you, your friends, and family. And one person we never hesitate to refer is Cody Helmer, owner of Helmer Construction. 

Cody and his team are the type of people you can do business with on a handshake. They specialize in roofing, siding, home additions (including 3-season porches), and a variety of large home renovation projects. When you hire Cody and his crew you can count on them to perform their work with skill, follow through on all of their commitments, and identify creative solutions when problems pop up. 

If you try googling Helmer Construction you won't find much information online, because Cody doesn't have a sales team or a website.

In our November nonprofit spotlight, we highlighted the beautiful and thought-provoking work of Madison artist Lilada Gee, who created several murals downtown and launched the Defending Black Girlhood podcast in 2020. You can view photos and articles about her State Street artwork in the pdf of this book, "Let's Talk About It," published by American Family Insurance. 

We are thrilled to share that Lilada joined State Rep. Shelia Stubbs and Shyra Adams in receiving the 2021 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award, presented to those who have demonstrated incredible leadership and volunteerism in the Madison area and reflect the values, beliefs, and actions of Martin Luther King, Jr. Lilada said in her January 18th acceptance speech (around

The world is a crazy place under the best of circumstances. And this past year has taken crazy and put it on steroids. Life can be fast-paced, stressful, unpredictable, and leave you feeling out of control. So how do we deal with this? How can we control stress in our lives? How do we cope with a pandemic? Our children have lots of questions. We have lots of questions. Sometimes there are no good answers. And eventually this can leave us quite stressed, which in turn can lead to sleepless nights, poor dietary habits, and even depression. 

So what is a person to do? How can we tackle these problems? Or at least how do we learn to cope with them? Here are a few things I’ve learned during my time as a certified health coach that can help improve your

Winter is just around the corner, and although it may be more challenging this year due to the pandemic, there are ways to make it easier and more fun. Just because your usual winter activities may be less feasible this year doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the season. Here are 5 ways to prepare for a happier and healthier winter that keep you safe.

1. Get outside for winter fun. Fresh air and sunlight go a long way to improving mood, so don’t forget about all of the fun outdoor winter activities that are available this time of year! Try ice skating, cross country skiing, or taking winter hikes. Dane County Park’s winter recreation guide is a great resource for finding fun ways to be active outside. You can also visit the City of Madison Parks

Thanksgiving plans this year have changed for many people, but that doesn't mean you still can't celebrate the holiday! Here are 8 non-traditional ways to celebrate Thanksgiving this year at home. Some of them may even become part of your regular holiday tradition!

Thanksgiving 2020 Ideas

1. Get outside. Many local races are going virtual this year. The Berbee Derby and Turkey Trot are both still happening, and are a great way to support your community and get some exercise. Running not your thing? Visit one of Dane County’s many parks and take a Thanksgiving Day hike, or take an extra long stroll in a new neighborhood. Depending on the weather, wearing layers will help make the time outside more comfortable. Spending a little extra time

This year has been a year of incredible change. Despite all of the challenges in 2020, we’re excited to be on a positive path as we head into the new year. Here are a few of the positive steps we’ve taken in 2020, and a peek at what lies ahead in 2021. 

Positive change in 2020

We’ve crystallized our 3 core values of Community, Relationships, and Real Estate. We’re actively investing in our community. We’re cultivating positive relationships in every aspect of our business. And -- more than ever before -- we’re dedicated to helping you achieve all of your real estate dreams and goals.

We’ve implemented a retirement savings plan (with company match) for our employees. With the implementation of our IRA savings plan, we’re committed to helping

For the last few years we've been working to document our community with pictures -- the landmarks, natural spaces, and events that are unique to Madison and the greater Dane County area. Our goal is to celebrate our community by sharing our photos on social media, our website, in our newsletter, and even in our real estate listings. We have a lot more work to do, but thanks to Tracy Kapela, Samantha Haas and Justin Lackner, we're making great progress.

As an example, here are some photos from Downtown Madison that we've captured over the last few years. Looking at these photos, I can't help but think that we have so much to be grateful for, and also so much work to do.

Downtown Madison in pictures

Making your way around the Lake Edge neighborhood, you’ll find businesses adorned with beautiful murals, homes being renovated, and new businesses opening their doors. The community is close to everything on the east side of Madison, plus Lake Monona. Lake Edge is a community with a lot to offer for homeowners and visitors alike. 

The Lake Edge neighborhood has a surprisingly natural feel for being located right within the city. Mature trees provide a peaceful canopy over the community, and large lots give homeowners room to spread out. Most of the homes in this community are ranch or bungalow style, built between 1940 and 1960. Mad City Dream Homes Realtor Ann Raschein lives in the neighborhood. “I love so much about the Lake Edge