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

Thinking of selling your home in the coming year? Below are 10 low-cost home improvement projects that add real value to your home. Over the years we've helped many sellers completely transform the look of their home by implementing these and similar projects. In some cases clients have increased their home's market value by tens of thousands of dollars through their sweat equity and only a minimal financial investment.   

10 low-cost home improvement projects

1) Replace dated bathroom mirrors, towel bars, and towel rings with newer and inexpensive pieces. This one simple change can dramatically improve the appearance of a dated bathroom. Our amazing stager, Debbie Lea, can show you which products to buy and where to buy them. Remember, we offer

A recent listing in Middleton was located on a quiet cul de sac on a large lot that backed up to a wooded conservancy. It was a perfect backdrop for a cozy and inviting home. However, the home was somewhat sparsely furnished. It needed additional furniture and decor to help it show to its full potential. This is a scenario where staging can make a huge difference.

REALTOR Shelley Lazzareschi worked with the seller to develop a staging plan that worked best for them and their budget. The seller decided to hire Brook Furniture Rental to provide furniture and decor while the home was on the market. Brook Furniture delivered and set up the furniture - they even hung the artwork! Debbie Lea of Showcase Home Stagers worked alongside with Shelley to finish

I'm Tracy Kapela and I'm the photographer and visual media specialist for the Mad City Dream Homes real estate team. Here are a few of my favorite listing photos that I've taken in 2020 so far.

Kitchens

The kitchen is often thought of as the "heart of the home", so I try to show as much of the space as possible so you can see yourself in there and get a feel for how the flow could work for you.

Living/Family Rooms

The entertaining area is also one of the most important spaces that buyers want to see, so I try to focus on showing windows, fireplaces or any other feature that is unique to each house.

Dining Rooms

Formal dining rooms can have special features like beamed ceilings,

If you're like many prospective home sellers, you may feel overwhelmed by all of the work that can go into preparing for a successful sale. From de-cluttering and removing items from your home, to implementing minor repairs and cosmetic improvements, to staging your home, sprucing up the yard, cleaning your house, arranging for movers...the list can go on and on...and you already have a lot on your plate. 

If all of this work makes you feel anxious and overwhelmed, we have a solution for you that will ease your worry and your stress -- and that is to lean on us. Rely on our team and our network of professionals to coordinate much of the work for you. This is what we do for dozens of clients each year. We simplify and shorten the home prep process,

When a buyer first steps into a staged home during a showing, they usually find it easier to picture themselves living there. A vacant or sparsely furnished home can be more challenging for buyers, because it can be tough for them to imagine where their furnishings will go.

A recent client worked with Shelley Lazzareschi to sell the condo they weren’t living in. They had been living in northern Wisconsin and had never fully moved into their Madison condo after it was built, so it was minimally furnished. Renting furniture for staging was cost-prohibitive for the seller, so Shelley and Debbie Lea from Showcase Home Stagers assisted the client by doing the staging themselves. Debbie and Shelley spent a few hours shopping for various items like artwork,

Many parts of the real estate process can be done virtually, including staging. Staging is an important part of the home selling process. A staged home tends to have better listing photos, which attracts more buyers and helps it sell faster. For a while now, a home's first showing has been on the internet. But in this unique time of social distancing, listing photos and a virtual tour may be the only ways a buyer can see your home before writing an offer. It's more important than ever to showcase your home through great staging, photos, and a virtual tour.

Debbie Lea of Showcase Home Stagers has been helping clients virtually for years, so staging a home without ever stepping inside isn’t a new challenge for her. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,

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

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