When Nancy Breden bought her Spring Harbor bungalow along Lake Mendota six years ago, she saw its potential for being a “really cute place to live” -- especially with its cathedral ceiling, loft, boathouse, and spectacular view of the sunrise. 

In that time, Nancy has made some sweet updates to this 2 bed/1.5 bath property on 47 feet of waterfront, including wood flooring throughout the house and swapping out the garage door for French doors in the boathouse (which could be used as an office, art/yoga studio, or exercise room). 

“I've received so many comments from boaters passing by,” she said. “I think both updates helped with the appeal of this home.”

This fall she approached REALTOR Chris Venden to sell her home, who enlisted

If you're like many sellers these days, you probably feel overwhelmed and a bit panicked when you think about all of the challenges confronting you. Our team is here to help you address all of these challenges and replace your feeling of overwhelm with a sense of calm and confidence. Below we cover a few of the common stressors that many sellers experience, and how to address each one of them. 

Commons stressors during the home-selling process

Home repair and cosmetic updates

Most homes have some wear and tear that should be addressed prior to sale, and some homes need a few cosmetic updates. We can help you prioritize the projects that will provide the best return on investment -- and connect you with reliable contractors, too. Be proactive

Maureen Moran joined our real estate team two-and-a-half years ago when she moved from New York and returned to her Wisconsin roots. As we were interviewing Maureen and learning more about her, one of the things that jumped out at us was the glowing praise she consistently received from her clients. For example, here is one of her online reviews that really caught our attention as we were learning more about Maureen:

"Maureen is the hardest working and most diligent realtor that I have ever worked with. She looks at situations from multiple perspectives and always looks for the best solution. I appreciate her honesty and integrity. In a world of realtors just looking to make a quick sale, it is a blessing to find someone who truly cares about her

The home inspection is an important milestone in the home buying and selling process, and sometimes it can be a big sticking point. It’s not uncommon for a home inspection to reveal a few issues that buyers feel need to be addressed and the sellers say, “no way.” How can buyers and sellers work through this apparent impasse? A few of our realtors share some of the strategies they have used to help buyers navigate their inspection contingency - without jeopardizing the sale.

Five ways we help buyers navigate tricky inspections

1. Be professional

Sometimes inspections bring forth issues that sellers weren’t aware of, or disagree with. Sellers can even be offended by the results. We help by focusing the conversation on issues that negatively

September was a great month for Madison area home and condo sellers, as the Dane County real estate market set a number of new records last month. Here's our short summary of the latest market trends from the month of September. 

The Madison area single family home market

New MLS listings increased by 16% in September and reached their highest level since 2008. 

Buyers responded to the new supply of listings by writing a record number of offers. Accepted offers increased by 27% year-over-year and set a new record for the month of September. 

Home sales also reached a new high and increased by 40% from last September. 

Madison area home prices set a new record last month, increasing by 9% year-over-year. 

The Madison area

Falling in love is part of the home buying process for many. You walk into a home and you just know it’s the one. Interestingly enough, a “love letter” can sometimes seal the deal for prospective buyers. In the context of real estate, a love letter is a letter penned from the buyer to the current owner of their dream home. Not all sellers are swayed by these letters, but in some situations a love letter can tip the scales in the favor of that buyer. Even when there are multiple offers. In this article, our team of Realtors share their insights about love letters, and how they can help you buy your dream home.

Chris Venden has had several buyers write love letters to sellers since she got into real estate 15 years ago. “I think it helps pave the

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest decisions in your life. With so much on the line, you owe it to yourself to hire a REALTOR who is personally invested in you and your aspirations. How can you tell if you're working with an agent who is highly committed to you? It’s really about the way in which your agent shows up each day, attending to all of the details of your purchase or your sale, that has a huge impact on whether or not you achieve your goals.  

Here are 8 signs you're working with an agent who is personally invested in you.

• When you’re pricing your home, your agent does their homework and clearly articulates their reasons for their recommended list price. Your agent also recommends simple cosmetic updates that will

We're getting asked this question a lot these days, and here's our take: Although there are no guarantees about the state of the market in 2021, we do know the Madison area real estate market is very favorable for sellers right now. Here's what we're seeing in the market as we approach the month of October. 

The fall real estate market in Madison, WI

For starters, mortgage rates are historically low, and buyers are buying. Dane County home buyers are writing offers at a much faster pace right now than they were during the same time period in 2019. 

Dane County home prices are trending favorably for sellers, too. Many properties are receiving multiple offers right now and selling for well above the list. Home prices are on pace to set

We're excited to announce that Alan Feder has joined our real estate team! Alan brings with him six years of full-time real estate experience and a strong belief system that is centered on customer service. We're confident Alan will be a great fit for our clients and our team.

On a more personal level, Alan is passionate about the environment, health and wellness, and nutrition. Like others on our team, Alan is leaning in to social justice issues and is seeking to use his business as a platform to influence positive change in the Madison area. 

One unique thing about Alan is that he is joining us as the first "level 2 agent" on our team (if you're interested in real estate as a career, you can learn more about our level 2 role in this article). In

We’re excited to announce we’re hiring! Here’s a little more background on what we’re looking for in the next person to join our agent team... 

If you know members of our team, you likely know that they share similar talents of being generous, hard-working, and humble people. If you have similar traits and a passion for serving others we’d love to hear from you. 

We are looking to diversify our team, so it doesn’t matter whether you are just getting started in real estate, whether you’re midway through your career, or in the later stages. We are looking for someone that has a positive influence on all of us and adds strength to our team.   

We’d love to speak with you if this background about our team resonates with you. Please reach out to