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        <title>Mad City Dream Homes Real Estate Blog, Madison WI</title>
        <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/politics/</link>
        <description>Your Madison WI real estate blog. News &amp; views about Madison area homes, condos &amp; South Central Wisconsin real estate. Questions? Call 608-852-7071</description>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/real-news.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/real-news.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Real news</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
We have plenty of real estate insights and views to share with you, so all of the content you see in our newsletters and on our blog will continue to be created by members of our team -- not someone, or something, else. 


Why does this matter? 


First and foremost, writing about real estate keeps us current on all of the latest industry trends. We're better realtors because we're constantly studying and communicating what's going on in the market. 


Another motivation is clarifying our values. When we invest time into articulating our philosophies -- in other words why we do what we do -- we become more clear on the type of professionals we are choosing to be. At the root of it all, we're professionals who choose to serve others and invest in long-lasting relationships. 


But perhaps the biggest reason we create our own content is that we simply enjoy the nature of the work. So why go ahead and outsource work that we genuinely enjoy doing? 


Your feedback lets us know that you value our vendor recommendations, market updates, non-profit spotlights, and real estate tips. So we'll keep sharing our news and views -- and enjoying every minute of it. 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 07:38:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/humility.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/humility.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Humility</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
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. 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 26 Sep 2024 05:01:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/are-realtors-creeping-on-you.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/are-realtors-creeping-on-you.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Are realtors creeping on you?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Imagine you and your spouse have just welcomed your first child into your family. And a few weeks later you start receiving mailers and phone calls from a few different realtors. People you don't even know, asking you if you might be interested in buying or selling a home. At the time you don't think much about the postcards and the calls. You're too tired from the long nights with baby to give them much thought. 


Fast forward two years, and you and your spouse decide to buy a larger car as you prepare for the birth of your second child. And in a strange coincidence, the same realtors reach out to you with more mailers and calls. A little annoyed, you wonder, are these agents creeping on you? 


And then a year later, you and your spouse take out a home equity line of credit, so you have a nice down payment for buying a larger home. And once again, you hear from the same set of realtors. This time around it's clear you're being creeped on, and you hang up on each agent as soon as their sales pitch begins. 


What's going on here?


The realtors are using big data/AI software that's profiling you as someone who's likely to buy and sell. Profiling software is becoming increasingly common in the real estate industry, to the point where some brokerages are now offering it as a standard tool for all of their agents to use.


At Mad City Dream homes, we're not signing up for client profiling. There's a much better way forward from here.  
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 27 Aug 2024 05:43:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/the-tipping-point.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/the-tipping-point.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Who to trust? </title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
It's getting to the point where we need to question nearly everything we come across online. Adding to the problem is the explosion of AI generated content. Some are predicting that as much as 90 of all online content will be produced by non-humans by the year 2026. As Seth Godin puts it, we're entering a new era of SPAM. 


Our response to the explosion of mass-produced content is to simply stay the course. We'll continue to publish our own articles and market updates, and share our tips and recommendations that come from our own experiences out in the field. 


We're not writers by trade, and our content won't be winning any awards, but we promise you it will always be authentic...
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Sun, 23 Jun 2024 06:45:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/rights-vs-responsibilities.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/rights-vs-responsibilities.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Rights vs responsibilities</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
More and more, I’m noticing businesses choosing to exercise their legal rights -- based on language that is spelled out in some sort of fine print. Sometimes it involves making demands for money, threatening to sue, or following through with a lawsuit. In other cases, it’s using the fine print as a justification to do substandard work. 


But before we exercise our legal rights, it might be helpful to think about how our own fears and actions might be contributing to the conflict. And how a conversation with the other party might help us come up with a long-term solution that is better for everyone. 


Sure, there are times when we absolutely need to exercise our legal rights. But we should also examine our own responsibilities before we decide to lawyer up.  
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 03 Jun 2024 05:54:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/exclusivity-and-pocket-listings.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/exclusivity-and-pocket-listings.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Exclusivity and pocket listings</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
When there are fewer properties to sell, we tend to see more brokers promoting exclusive access to off-market listings. It can be tempting to respond to ads like these. After all, you don't want to miss out on any &quot;private and exclusive opportunities&quot;. 


But keep in mind, ads like these are sales funnels. And they're funneling you into &quot;pocket listings&quot; that benefit the advertising broker -- a broker who often receives both sides of the commission by promoting these listings to a small pool of buyers. 


Yes, private listing programs are perfectly legal. But it's also fair to question who benefits most from these promotions, and how private listing programs impact housing availability in the broader community. 


Are private listing programs a practice that the real estate industry should engage in and promote? This is a fair question to ask at a time when real estate has become such a scarce resource. 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Sun, 24 Mar 2024 06:17:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/your-realtor-has-an-amazing-social-media-presence-but-is-your-realtor-present-with-you.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/your-realtor-has-an-amazing-social-media-presence-but-is-your-realtor-present-with-you.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Your realtor has an amazing social media presence, but is your realtor present with you? </title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
At best, working with a distracted realtor can be frustrating. And at worst, risky and dangerous. For example, imagine negotiating your home inspection when your agent is distracted. The consequences can be huge when your agent isn't dialed in.  





Is your realtor fully present with you and your best interests? 


Here are 3 questions that will help you discern the quality of your agent's attention.


1) Does your realtor pick up the phone and return your calls promptly? Going a step further, is your agent eager and willing to meet with you in person? In the world of real estate, where the stakes are often high, sometimes there is no substitute for an old-fashioned conversation.


2) Does your agent respond to your texts and emails in a thorough and timely manner? One trend we are noticing with increasing frequency is the tendency for some realtors to scan and skim emails and text messages, rather than read them. Important details are being missed because messages aren't being read. 


3) Throughout your relationship, does your realtor actively listen to you and proactively communicate with you so you always feel well-informed and understood? Or are they more reactive and do they wait for you to initiate all communication?


There's no doubt, we live in a distracted world.


So, whether you're hiring an attorney, an accountant, a financial planner, or a real estate agent, we encourage you to do your homework and do your best to discern that person's quality of attention. When you do hire Mad City Dream Homes for your real estate needs, we want you to know you're choosing to work with a group of focused professionals. You have our word that we'll always be present for you, in a world where there will always be distractions trying to compete for our attention. 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2022 04:21:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/our-thoughts-on-customer-service1.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/our-thoughts-on-customer-service1.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Our thoughts on customer service</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
You may have heard BMO Harris Bank recently eliminated all of its brick and mortar loan officers. BMO lenders, who once worked out of individual branches, now work out of a call center. Now all customer interactions with a loan officer take place online or over the phone. The face-to-face meeting has been eliminated at BMO.


BMO adopted this new customer service model because it costs less than the old model. It's also a response to evolving consumer preferences, which place a premium on speed and efficiency. Will BMO have a thriving mortgage business 5 years from now? We'll be watching to see how their new approach to service plays out. 





Our thoughts on face-to-face meetings


We understand why companies like BMO are eliminating the face-to-face meeting, and why &quot;cloud&quot; real estate brokerages without any brick and mortar offices have entered the market. We also know from experience that many of our clients still value the connection of a face-to-face meeting. Face-to-face consultations remain an important part of our service philosophy, which we highlight below.         


Our customer service philosophies


1) We make ourselves available to you. We're available to meet at our office, at your home, at a coffee shop, or any other convenient location. Of course you can also call us, email us, or text us and you'll always receive a timely response. 


2) We're students of our profession. We're committed to staying on top of evolving industry trends - and anticipating new ones - so we're always prepared to serve you with skill and expertise.  


3) We're your real estate consultants for life. You can call on us anytime you have questions or need help, and we'll be here to serve - days, weeks, months and years down the line. 


4) We share our best advice. We promise to always share our honest and best advice, even if it contradicts popular opinion or the news you're hoping to receive. This is why so many of our clients hire us, because they want a real estate advisor - not just a salesperson - who's always looking out for their best interests.    


At Mad City Dream Homes we're committed to serving you online, in-person, and in a timely fashion. For more information on our approach to customer service, check out this article which covers our core team values.   
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 02 Jan 2019 05:45:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/buying-and-spamming-real-estate-leads.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/buying-and-spamming-real-estate-leads.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>Buying and Spamming Real Estate Leads</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Right now there are many experts in the industry teaching agents how to capture leads and fill their prospect pipeline on demand. There are a lot of ways to go about this. Forcing registration on your website is one way to pump up the volume. “Buying leads” online is another. The basic premise is to purchase a lot of low-trust leads and put them through a systematic conversion process. The conversion process often involves placing many phone calls, emails and text messages to each lead over a period of time - until eventually a very small percentage of the leads are converted into clients. In other words, pour each prospect into a SPAM funnel until only the best ones come out. 


 


10 Days of Pain


As an example, there is one lead conversion plan in our industry known as the &quot;10 Days of Pain&quot;. Being on the receiving end of this conversion plan is a pain for the consumer. It’s also a pain for the agent - who is taught to email, call, text, and direct message a lead over a 10 day period. There are some agents in the field who spend a few hours each day putting prospects through this process. With jobs like this, it’s no wonder 80 of all agents are out of the field in 5 years. Real estate agents are burning out on SPAM, and consumers are getting burned by it.




 


Building a Business Through Trust, Not Leads


When we choose to purchase online prospects and then spam them into clients we assume the life blood of our business is “leads”. Buy them from any number of online sources. Then pour them all into a lead conversion funnel until only the best ones come out.


However, a look at the top performers in our industry shows a much different approach. Many of the most successful agents in our field have built the foundations of their business on trust. They’ve learned how to attract and grow their client base over the long term without relying on “buy and convert”. 


Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with paying for online exposure. It’s a legitimate form of marketing and a reality of doing business in the digital age. What I am saying is there are a lot of businesses making a lot of money off real estate agents as we allow ourselves to be sold on the get rich quick mindset. In the process we’re being asked to view our future clients as commodities, not people - and we’re buying in.


Imagine if the words “leads” and “prospects” were eliminated from the vocabulary of our industry. What if they were replaced by the words “future clients” and “relationships”? There would probably be fewer people entering the field with a get rich quick mentality. The agent drop-out rate would be lower. And our industry as a whole would enjoy a better reputation. 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jan 2016 06:42:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/a-best-practice-that-tastes-a-lot-like-spam.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.madcitydreamhomes.com/blog/a-best-practice-that-tastes-a-lot-like-spam.html</link>
        <author>contact@madcitydreamhomes.com (Dan Miller, REALTOR)</author>
        <title>A Best Practice That Tastes a Lot Like SPAM</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Our real estate team just had a web expert complete an audit of our site. There were many excellent recommendations that came out of the audit, but the recommendation to “force registration” left a bad taste in my mouth. By “forcing registration”, the auditor is recommending we require people to give up their name, phone number and email address in order to view a property listing on our site.


It was explained in the audit that forced registration is an industry best practice - because it generates “more leads”. I disagree with this practice on a number of levels, but my biggest objection is forced registration just smells and tastes spammy to me.  


 


More Leads Does Not Equal More Trust


Sure, forcing registration is an easy way to “get more leads”. It’s also a great way to erode trust. Aren’t we all in the business of earning trust in the first place?  Why are so many agents taught to “chase down leads” instead of working to “attract future clients”? We’ll dig into this topic in a future post. 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2016 05:14:00 -0600</pubDate>
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