How can you dramatically increase your home's value, and without breaking the bank? Usually, the answer involves low-cost, high-impact projects like paint, flooring, and light fixtures.

Take, for example, this home. Its beauty and character really shine through now that our clients have exposed the hardwood floors, swapped out a few light fixtures, and applied a little touch-up paint. 

Are you looking for some low-cost ways to update your own home? 

Contact us for your own complimentary consultation. We'd love to visit you at your home and share our tips and advice -- and connect you with reputable and reasonably-priced contractors, too.  

Getting ready to sell? Here are ten potential projects that you should always consider as you prepare your home for the market. All of these are low-cost, high-impact projects that consistently provide a good return on investment. 

10 projects to evaluate as you prepare your home for the market

#1: Painting

#2: Light fixtures

#3: Flooring 

#4: Cabinet hardware

#5: Window treatments 

#6: Staging 

#7: Cleaning 

#8: Mulching 

#9: Weeding and trimming

#10: Exterior power washing 

What questions do you have about selling in today's market? 

Call us when you're ready for a helpful conversation. We're here to answer all of your questions and help you make your big move happen. 

Even if you don't know exactly when you're going to sell, right now is an excellent time to capture photos of your yard -- when it's lush and in full bloom. 

Planning ahead is often a good thing, especially when it comes to real estate. Which is why we're always happy to help you prepare for your future. Months, or even years, before you intend to move.

Done the right way, many home improvement projects are an investment in your home, not an expense, and it's all about buyer psychology: 

First, the right projects eliminate buyer objections. For example, think of the purple or pink bedroom. Painting the room a neutral color adds instant value to the home simply by removing a negative. 

Second, the right improvements offer buyers instant gratification. The truth is, many buyers are willing to pay a premium for the home that's move-in-ready and well-maintained. Especially in today's economy, when good contractors can be elusive and expensive. 

Are you ready for a cosmetics consultation for your home? We'd love to help you choose the projects that offer a great return on investment, and connect

Would you like help selecting a light fixture for a room in your home? Please feel free to call us. You have many beautiful and affordable designs to choose from, and we'd love to help you find that perfect fit. 

Is it time to add a little more color and life to your home? Here are 3 simple ways you can bring more warmth into your home -- and without breaking the bank.

Wall art

Pillows and throws

Bedding

Where to shop and who to call

Several stores in the Madison area offer a nice selection of home furnishings. Home Goods, At Home, Kirklands, and Target all offer plenty of affordable options for adding color to your home's interior. 

And of course you can always call on our team for a complimentary cosmetics consultation. We'd be happy to pay you a visit and share a few of our own ideas with you. We have many years of staging experience to draw upon, and we'd love to help. 

We admire our stager, Debbie Lea, for how she approaches her work as a craft. Not because she has to. But because she wants to. 

Over the years Debbie has modeled for each of us, over and over again, how we can view our work as an opportunity to create art. And now each of us has become a stager in our own right. 

Remember, when you hire Mad City Dream Homes to represent you during your sale, you receive Debbie's artistry (and the dedication of our entire team) free of charge. Here we share just a few examples of Debbie's work (and our team's work) from earlier this year. 

Many older ceiling fans are big and bulky and can make a room feel crowded and dated. But many of the newer models are sleek and stylish and offer the perfect complement.

Would you like help selecting a ceiling fan for a room in your home? Please feel free to call us. Today's selection offers some beautiful and affordable designs, and we'd love to help you choose one. 

And a little love and attention from the right team of experts can make all the difference. Here are a few of our favorite shots from some of our recent smaller-sized homes and condos. These photos offer some excellent examples of how staging, lighting, hardware, and a little fresh paint can transform a room and create a sense of space. 

Recently we met with our longtime client, Jeff, who asked us for our advice on how he could improve his rental property's value with a few cosmetic updates. And we had a very productive visit.

We decided that Jeff's property would shine with some fresh paint, some new light fixtures, new cabinet hardware, new kitchen flooring, and refinished hardwood floors. At the same time, we connected Jeff with a handful of reliable and reasonably-priced contractors. Now Jeff has all the resources he needs to move forward with his work. And needless to say, we're looking forward to visiting Jeff again when his projects are complete!

Do you need guidance on how you can affordably update your own home, and at the same time significantly increase its market