In early 2019 our real estate team made one of the smartest decisions we've ever made: We hired Tracy Kapela as a photographer and visual media specialist for our team. Then we set her loose and let her go to work. Her work over the last year has exceeded all of our expectations. Among her many contributions, she's taken our marketing materials for our home-sellers to the next level, in a way that makes our sellers feel proud of their listing. 

In early 2020, Tracy has upped her game by re-designing our entire listing photo process. First, by helping us select and invest in the latest, state-of-the-art equipment. And then by implementing a whole new photography and photo editing system. The results have been amazing. Here are just a few examples of

Real estate practices are evolving quickly as we all adjust to a world with coronavirus/COVID-19. One new practice that is coming soon is the digital closing. In a digital closing, the parties to a transaction sign their paperwork via e-signature from the comfort and safety of home. To learn more about how a digital closing works for buyers and sellers, please check out this article from the Homestead Title real estate blog. Thank you Peter Zarov for being a leader in the real estate field and for helping to spread the word about this important development.

We're all adjusting to new ways of living, and for our clients and team, new ways of buying and selling real estate. During this period of social distancing, here are a few of the measures that we're evaluating and implementing in order to protect the health of our clients, staff, and the larger community. We understand we'll need to continually evolve our practices as we adjust to the events around us. 

How we're practicing real estate and social distancing

Working remotely and meeting virtually

Our agents and staff are now working from home and using conference calls and Zoom to conduct our team meetings. We're also carrying out buyer and seller consultations with conference calls and Zoom. 

Using technology to conduct staging consultations

A staged home sells much faster than a vacant home, because it helps buyers imagine their belongings and lifestyle there. Sometimes, staging a home is not possible when the home has been vacant for some time. That was the case with a recent condo listing. The sellers were not living in the area, and their daughter had been living in the condo. After she moved out, they were ready to put the condo on the market.

Maureen Moran met with the sellers to see the unit. The unit was nicely maintained, but had the risk of presenting as bland or too small because it was empty. Based on the price point, it wasn’t financially feasible to furnish the unit before putting it on the market. Maureen suggested virtually staging the condo. Our team took photos of each of

Hundreds of homes are sold each month in Dane County, but if your goal is to sell when the market is hottest, then you should list your home during the 4-month window that spans from March to June. Take a quick look at the market data below. Year in and year out, the months of March, April, May and June have more buyers writing offers than any other month of the year. 

If you're planning to sell in 2020...

Then right now is the time to schedule a consultation with your favorite Mad City Dream Homes agent. Have a quick conversation about timing, pricing, staging, and marketing -  as well as the low-cost improvements that will add real value to your home. Our team is well-equipped to help you make the most of your investment in this year's

Now that the holiday season has passed, we're receiving a lot of calls from folks who want to discuss what they need to do to prepare for a successful sale. This is a fun time of year for us, because we're helping a lot of clients come up with a clear set of steps that will help them sell for top dollar in this year's hot spring market. 

Creating value with staging and cosmetic updates

Many of our clients are preparing for their sale right now by working with our stager, Debbie Lea. In many cases Grant Priehs, one of our favorite contractors, is also a part of the collaboration. These are proving to be incredibly productive meetings. Not only are we working as a team to create a great staging plan for each property, we're also implementing the

If you’re planning to sell in 2020, right now is the perfect time to schedule a market analysis for your home. Dane County real estate prices have risen for seven straight years. And with strong demand and low inventory, they’re on course to rise for an eighth straight year in 2020. 

Another factor affecting home prices right now is the upcoming spring market. Properties listed in the springtime tend to receive the highest offers, because that's when multiple offers and bidding wars are most common. So if you're planning to sell in March, April or May of this year, it's possible your home is worth a lot more than you think. 

Schedule a complimentary market analysis for your home

All you need to do is reach out to your favorite Mad City Dream

Martin Menocal is more than a photographer; he's an artist. Martin's attention to detail and dedication to his craft are truly remarkable, which is why Martin is one of our preferred photographers. Here are just a few examples of Martin's work from some of our recent real estate listings. 

Interior photos by Martin Menocal

Exterior and outside photos

Photos are the most important part of every listing

A listing with beautiful photos receives more looks and clicks online, which leads to more requests for showings, more buyer competition, and a higher price on the sale of the home. Remember, we don't have a set budget for our listings. This philosophy allows us to work with the best

The spring real estate market will be heating up soon. Are you thinking of making 2020 the year you buy or sell a home? There are things you can do now that will help you stay competitive in what’s expected to be another busy real estate market this spring. Read on for tips from our team for ways you can prepare, and then contact us for a consultation. We can help you achieve your buying or selling goals.

Looking to sell?

1. If you’re thinking about selling your home, be proactive. You’ll set yourself up for a better home-selling experience if you begin planning and preparing right now. Many people feel stressed when they have to rush through the process, and planning ahead can make the whole experience much easier. Reach out to schedule a

What are the keys to a successful negotiation? Here are our tried and true philosophies for negotiating a great price and great terms on the sale of your home. 

Our six negotiation tips for sellers

1) Create a beautiful real estate listing. 

One of our first goals early on in the listing process is to create a solid partnership between you, our stager, our photographers, and our creative team. Working together, we create a beautiful real estate listing with eye-popping photos and plenty of marketing materials which highlight the benefits of your home. Beautiful listings receive more online interest, more showings, and more offers - all of which give you more leverage when it's time to negotiate. 

2) Ensure your listing receives full