Our review of the MLS home and condo database shows the average Dane County listing sold for .2 percent above the original list price in 2023, while our clients sold for 2.1 percent above the original list.

Put another way, for the typical $450,000 listing, our sellers net more than $8,500 more toward their bottom line. This is more clear evidence that hiring a professional matters. How your agent prices, stages, markets and negotiates -- all of it matters. Contact us for more info. 

One of the best ways we can be of service to you is to help you make good decisions. For example:

• What repairs and updates should you address before selling your home? 

• Should you enter the market right now or wait for the market to change? 

• Which lender should you use to finance your purchase?

• Should you write an offer on this property or keep searching for a better fit?  

Decisions like these often come with big consequences: Problems encountered versus problems avoided. Dollars spent versus dollars invested. And opportunities gained versus opportunities lost. For each decision you face, we're here to help you make the right call. 

Our numbers from the South Central Wisconsin MLS database show 24% of all Dane County home and condo listings closed with cash offers in 2023, while our team's performance was 44%.

It's more clear proof that the fundamentals -- the pricing, staging, marketing, and negotiation -- matter. Here's more info about our home-selling results. 

We've run the numbers, and the answer might be a little surprising to you. Our data from the South Central Wisconsin MLS shows 39 percent of all Dane County home and condo listings received multiple offers in 2023. Within our team, 59 percent of all Mad City Dream Homes listings received competing offers. 

Time and time again, we continue to observe more competition leading to higher prices, cleaner offers, and a better return on investment for our clients. For more information, check out our 2023 home-selling results. 

At Mad City Dream Homes we work with all kinds of clients, including people who have lived in their home for 30, 40 and sometimes even 50 years. For these clients, getting ready to sell can be an emotional and sometimes overwhelming experience. They have so many possessions and memories to sift through, and they need so much support.  

You may have someone in your life who needs special care as they get ready to sell. We want you to know we are well-prepared to serve them. We can flex our resources within our team to give them the support they need, including plenty of personal attention and hands-on help. 

According to color consultant, Wendy Broadhead, trends are shifting right now. Here are some of Wendy's favorite splashes from the Benjamin Moore product line. 

Main wall colors

"Main wall colors are stepping further away from the cool grays and the bright whites. Warmer colors like OC-24 Winds Breath, OC-20 Pale Oak, 1548 Classic Gray, 1549 Balboa Mist are being selected." 

(Balboa Mist from Benjamin Moore -- photo from Benjamin Moore)

Bedrooms, offices and family rooms

"Slightly deeper shades are being used in spaces like bedrooms, offices and family rooms: AF-100 Pashmina, HC-81 Manchester Tan, HC-80 Bleeker Beige and 984 Stone Hearth." 

(Pashmina from Benjamin Moore -- photo from Benjamin Moore)

Accents, cabinets, and

You don't need to substantially remodel your home in order to prepare for a successful sale. But you can create instant value by addressing the simple projects that eliminate common buyer objections. 

Here are a few common buyer objections that all come with simple fixes:

1) Dated wallpaper and paint colors

2) Dated light fixtures

3) Dated cabinet hardware 

4) Old bathroom mirrors and medicine cabinets

5) Soiled, worn, or dated flooring 

6) Old curtains and blinds 

7) Soiled and dirty siding 

8) Weeds and overgrown shrubs in the yard

Whether you plan to move in the near future or stay in your home for years to come, we're happy to help you with any type of home improvement project -- and refer you to reputable

Recently we had the pleasure of visiting a new client for a staging and cosmetics consultation. Our visit included a color consultant, a home stager, a handyman, and two agents from our team. And it was a wonderfully productive meeting. We identified painting projects, chose paint colors, picked out light fixtures, and prioritized a few home repairs. And of course, we scoped out our staging plan. 

We're excited to help our client transform her home in the weeks ahead. This one is gonna be a lot of fun...

Done the right way, the best home improvement projects offer a 300 to 500 percent return on investment, and with relatively little up-front cost. This has been our experience, over and over again, with dozens and dozens of clients. 

Which projects offer the biggest impact?

Usually it's the simple, low-cost projects like painting, flooring, lighting, window treatments, and cabinet hardware. Then add in a little staging and a little art, and you'll feel like you live in a brand new home. 

Would you like a complimentary cosmetics consultation for your own home? We'd love to be a resource for you and help you make the most of your investment. Contact your preferred Mad City Dream Homes realtor to schedule your own consultation. 

Are you looking to add instant value to your home and without breaking the bank? A fresh coat of paint applied by a skilled contractor always offers a great return on investment. Call us for a referral to a reputable painter. We'd love to help you make the right connection.  

Our top 10 ways to improve your home's value with paint

Here are 10 ways a skilled painter can help you prepare for a successful sale and maximize your return on investment. 

1. Replace wallpaper with a fresh coat of neutral paint.
2. Replace bold colors with neutral colors for more mass appeal. 
3. Repair surface cracks and holes in plaster and drywall.  
4. Touch-up walls with matching paint. 
5. Refresh moisture-stained windows and window sills. 
6. Touch-up doors,