We're excited to share that we're receiving excellent feedback from our sellers about Ann Bolden and her professional cleaning service. Ann is punctual, thorough, and an excellent communicator, too. 

To schedule your own visit with Ann's Cleaning, you can call Ann directly at 608-445-3645. 

Do you need help thinking through all of the steps leading up to your future home or condo sale? Reach out to your Mad City Dream Homes realtor for a helpful conversation. We're here to help. 

(photo by Step Inside Media, staging by Debbie Lea and Shelley Lazzareschi, cleaning by Ann's Cleaning Service)

We welcomed Wendy Broadhead from Benjamin Moore to a recent team meeting. Wendy is an expert color consultant who helps our clients find interior and exterior paint colors that make their home "sing" (as Wendy puts it). She updated us on 2024 trends and insights: creamier, 'boho' neutrals are in; nothing beats having wallpaper professionally hung; and green is nature's neutral. Thank you for your time, Wendy. We had fun learning from you! 

Do you have a color decision that Wendy may be able to help with? We'd love to connect you. 

(photo by Step Inside Media with staging by Debbie Lea and Alan Feder) 

Unexpected water issues can be stressful for homeowners and can potentially lead to a canceled sale. This was the problem our client faced, when she realized she had a water issue shortly after she accepted an offer for her home. 

Our client was concerned, and her buyers were concerned, too. The fix wouldn't be an easy one. It required the work of a skilled contractor, and most of the good contractors already had full schedules. 

So Mad City Dream Homes hit the phones and reached out to every reputable contractor we could think of. We called 15 contractors in all. In the end, we found a contractor who had the expertise to tackle the project, and who could complete the work on a timeline and a budget that were acceptable to both parties. 

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We’ve been busy helping our clients troubleshoot repairs in 2024, especially water issues due to this year's heavy rains. But not every repair needs to be addressed prior to sale. 

At Mad City Dream Homes, we’re here to help you determine which repairs are absolutely necessary to address, and which ones are not. We're also here to connect you with reputable contractors who will do a great job for you and for a reasonable price.

Just reach out to your Mad City Dream Homes realtor to get started. It would be our pleasure to serve you. 

Our clients are enjoying a tremendous amount of success this year, even in this low inventory market. Through the first six months of 2024 we've helped our clients through 76 closings and pending sales. 

Do you know someone who could use our help buying or selling in the coming year? We're always available for a helpful consultation, and never with any sales pressure or spin. Contact your Mad City Dream Homes realtor to make an introduction. 

We appreciate your continued trust in our team. 

Repairing, cleaning, and (when needed) replacing your carpet will improve your home's aesthetic appeal and maintain its market value. Here are a few carpet care contractors who have capably served our clients over the years. 

• Terry Buechner, for re-stretching rolled-up and "wavy" carpet. Call Terry at 608-212-8705. 
• Stephen Meyer at Phenomenal Carpet Care for all of your carpet cleaning needs. Call Stephen at 608-520-3085.   
• CTW Flooring (608-222-5071), Floors for Less (608-442-1200), and Coyle Flooring (608-509-9437) for new carpet selection and installation. 

As always, we are here to help you make the right connections for any type of project around your home. Call your Mad City Dream Homes realtor whenever you need a little help.  

We've been sharing how Dane County home and condo inventory is quietly rising and how buyers who stay the course will find more opportunities to purchase in the months ahead. However, in the big picture, inventory remains low. Here's a quick look at Dane County home and condo supply as of June 27th, 2024. 

Single family homes 

As of June 27th, a total of 580 Dane County homes (or 1.5 months of supply) are available for sale without an accepted offer. Months of supply are low in all price ranges, especially in the sub $400,000 price categories. 

Condos

As of June 27th, 181 condos (or 1.6 months of supply) are available for sale without an accepted offer. Some newer condo developments are improving options for buyers, but inventory remains

We love helping each seller create a presentation that makes them feel proud of their listing, no matter the price point. With staging, cosmetic updates, photography, video, and professional marketing of the home and neighborhood -- we have so many wonderful opportunities to create a showcase listing. 

(photo by Step Inside Media with staging by Debbie Lea and Alan Feder)

Have you been wondering about the possibilities for your home? Contact us for a helpful consultation. We're here to help you plan for your future and prepare for an amazing return on your investment. 

The frenzy of the spring home-buying market has come and gone and now we've entered into a market that is a little more relaxed, with a little more inventory, and with a little less competition. Have a look at this chart, which shows the typical, seasonal pattern for competing offers in Dane County. 

The market is always in flux, and competing offers are moderating this summer, as they tend to moderate every summer. As a result we're seeing more buyer and seller negotiations that include the traditional appraisal and home inspection contingencies. 

What questions do you have about the summertime real estate market? We'd love to be a resource for you and answer all of your questions. You know how to reach us. 

Here are 3 big reasons why most sellers choose to offer buyer brokerage compensation: 

#1) Most buyers still pay with a mortgage and need to allocate their cash toward their down payment. 

#2) In today's market, many buyers need a cash cushion so that they can waive the appraisal contingency and cover for a low appraisal. 

#3) And just as important, many buyers need a cash cushion to budget for future home repairs, instead of asking the seller to make inspection-related repairs. 

The bottom line: Buyers with more cash on hand can offer a higher price and write a cleaner offer without an appraisal or inspection contingency. So it's the sellers who offer to pay the buyer brokerage compensation who tend to receive the best offers, and a lot more