For Shelley Lazzareschi, helping her clients stage their home has become a passion that sets her apart as a professional in our field. Working alongside her partner in crime, Debbie Lea, Shelley invests an amazing amount of hands-on support as she helps her clients prepare their home for the market.

Very often this means she's donating her own furniture, artwork, accessories, and bedding for the benefit of her clients. With her eye for design and through her own hard work, Shelley has developed a reputation on our team for transforming properties into beautiful, showcase listings. 

Shelley's staging collection has grown tremendously over the years -- so much so that she now rents a storage facility to house all of her supplies. And her inventory

We've all heard stories of this year's hot real estate market and about properties selling for way over the list price. According to the latest stats from the South Central Wisconsin MLS, Dane County single family homes are selling for an average of 1.9% above the list. For Mad City Dream Homes clients, the results are even stronger. So far this year our single family home listings are selling for 4.9% above the list price. 

The bottom line

On the whole, Mad City Dream Homes clients are receiving 3% more above the list price than the typical seller in Dane County. Put another way, for the typical $400,000 listing, our clients are netting $12,000 more toward their bottom line. This is more real life proof that skilled staging, pricing, marketing,

Our home selling clients continue to experience tremendous results in 2021. Here are four examples from this spring that show how skilled staging, pricing, marketing, negotiation -- and great teamwork -- are helping our clients attract some very clean offers and some amazing prices.

231 S Musket Ridge Drive

Listed for $250,000 and sold for $270,000 -- $20,000 above the list. 

3130 Dorchester Way #3

Listed for $250,000 and sold for $275,750 -- $25,750 above the list. 

10 Chelsea Ct

Listed for $285,000 and sold for $315,100 -- $30,100 above the list. 

5930 Mayhill Drive

Listed for $295,000 and sold for $330,000 -- $35,000 above the list. 

What do sellers want most in this year's market?

They want a great price,

Wonderful things happen when preparation and opportunity meet, which is certainly true for our home-selling clients who are focusing on the fundamentals during this year's favorable market. Here are three quick examples that show how our clients are experiencing some amazing results in early 2021. All three of these examples show how skilled staging, pricing, marketing, and negotiation always lead to the best results.

6 Shiloh Ct

Sold for $60,000 above the list. 

2205 Town Hall Rd

Sold for $25,000 above the list. 

805 Swallowtail Drive

Sold for $15,000 above the list. 

Skilled marketing, multiple offers, and effective negotiation

For each of these listings we worked closely with our clients to create a beautiful listing

When it comes to hiring the right realtor, it can be very beneficial to reflect on a few good questions before choosing your agent. By asking the right questions upfront, you can feel confident that you've chosen the right agent to guide you along your buying or selling journey. With this spirit in mind, here are 4 key questions buyers and sellers should be asking before partnering with a realtor in this year's complex market. 

Four key realtor interview questions in 2021

1) As a seller, how should I price and market my home in order to take full advantage of this year's market? 

2) As a buyer, how can you help me find my dream home when supply is so low? 

3) What strategies do you recommend for writing an offer to purchase in this year's

It may seem hard to believe, but there are some real dangers for sellers to be aware of in this year’s real estate market. If you’re planning to sell your home this year, these 3 tips will help you avoid the pitfalls that some Madison area sellers are experiencing in 2021. 

Our 3 big tips for Madison area home sellers in 2021

#1: Don't get caught up in the hype. 

These days it’s so easy for sellers to read the news headlines and social media hype and be lulled into overconfidence. Perhaps you’ve come across a few of these sellers. These are the folks whose listings are sitting on the market, with no real prospect of selling, because they’ve underestimated all that is required for a successful sale.

#2: Remember to focus on the

After years of in-person and hands-on staging with Debbie Lea of Showcase Home Stagers, our team quickly adjusted to doing business virtually because of the pandemic in order to prioritize everyone’s safety. 

Because of Debbie’s incredible eye for design -- even through video chats and emailed photographs -- and close collaboration with our nimble agents and marketing staff, our sellers continue to reap the benefits of home staging services (free of charge as part of our complete marketing plan). 

In a previous post we shared what sellers can expect during a virtual staging consultation with Debbie. As a follow up to that blog, Debbie and agents Ann Raschein, Maureen Moran, and Shelley Lazzareschi reflect on the importance of making a great first

At Mad City Dream Homes, we like to think of every listing as a luxury listing. We believe every property - no matter the price point - deserves beautiful photos. That's why we work so closely with you on your cosmetic updates, your staging, and your photography. We've learned from experience that all of our up front planning and preparation pays huge dividends when your home hits the market. 

For example, here are some beautiful photos from 10 of our recent listings, all of which were priced at $300,000 and under. Each property sold quickly and for a high market price, and most received multiple offers. Thank you Shelley Lazzareschi, Chris Venden, Maureen Moran, Alan Feder, Ann Raschein, Tracy Kapela, and Debbie Lea for your contributions to these

You are ready to sell, and you want to get the best price possible. This means showing your home at its best. We suggest a few simple updates that can be done both quickly and affordably. Take a look at our top 5 ways to increase your home's value without breaking the bank. All five of these recommendations are low cost solutions that provide a great return on investment. 

Step 1: Hire a professional home stager

In real estate, first impressions mean everything. A professional will help you stage your home so buyers fall in love with your listing when they view your home online. Depending on your needs, your stager will also recommend new paint colors, new flooring, and new light fixtures which dramatically improve your home's mass appeal. If you're

Low appraisals have become more common over the last few years, particularly in the condominium market, where prices are rising rapidly. A low appraisal can potentially sidetrack a transaction, resulting in either a negotiated price reduction or even a canceled offer. 

Fortunately there are a few things you can do to protect your listing from appraisal issues. Below we share 7 ways you and your real estate agent can work together to prevent a bad appraisal from derailing your listing. 

7 ways to protect your listing from a low appraisal

1. Choose a listing plan that's designed to attract multiple offers. Your odds of receiving an offer with no appraisal contingency go up significantly when buyers compete against each other for your listing. When