How Eco-Friendly is Your Madison Home – A Tip to Appeal to the Madison Buyer

Most people know how important it is to you have your home “sell ready” before putting it on the Madison real estate market. Today’s market is quite competitive with a great deal of inventory available for prospective buyers to choose from. It is therefore very important to consider what home items are most important to Madison area buyers. It is essential that these items have been given consideration before putting a for sale sign in the front yard. When a Madison area seller has given consideration to the buyer’s likes and dislikes, I am seeing that these well maintained and well priced properties are selling rather quickly.An area that is becoming increasingly important to many Madison area buyers is the home’s eco-friendliness level. They want to ensure that they will not be wasting resources or money when making a home purchase. I found a great site that is sponsored by the Green Built Home Program in Wisconsin. It provides a quick point system to determine how eco-friendly your Madison area home is as compared to the standard. The site also provides tips on making your home more green.

Over the next few weeks, I will be posting some tips to appeal to area buyers in this competitive Madison real estate market. So Stay Tuned!!

Our Wisconsin Weather, How does a Roof Take It?

Madison area winters generally never fail to bring plenty of snow and cold, and this winter was no different. Looking at the 10 day forecast for Madison on weather.com, you will see that 34 degrees is the warmest projected temperature, with 2 degrees being the lowest. I am sure if we take a look ahead into the very near future, we will see that the daily temperature range will get even larger. We will experience days in the 50’s with nights in the teens.Here in Madison, this time of year and type of weather poses some maintenance issues for homeowners. This is especially true with respect to the roof after a long winter of ice damning. The effects of ice damning, if left ignored, can create some serious roof damage, gutter damage, water problems, and potential mold issues. I therefore wanted to post a few tips that my help in keeping down the potential damage and consequent expense.

1. Be proactive about checking your roof. You should make a habit of inspecting your roof at every season change. Look for buckling, loose or curled shingling, and interruptions in flashing. An easy way to perform this inspection is with a quality pair of binoculars.
2) Check your gutters. If there are a lot of granules from the roof in your gutters, then chances are the asphalt on your roof is becoming brittle and in need of attention.
3) If you have a metal roof, look for signs of deterioration and ensure there are no open seams.
4) Inspect your attic several times as the temperature warms up. You may find evidence of leaking as the snow and ice begins to thaw.

If you find that your roof is in need of attention or further inspection by a professional, you should contact someone immediately. Leaving your roof in a compromised state will undoubtedly lead to many areas of damage. If you need some assistance locating a qualified professional, just give me a call. I’ll gladly provide you with some resources that will help you find a contractor in your area.

New Price – 1912 Middleton Street – $231,800

Come check out this charming home in Middleton being offered at a new price of $231,800. This home has it all; charm, location, and an updated kitchen. You can walk to downtown Middleton from this spectacular piece of real estate!! The tiled foyer and circular floor plan make this home a dream for entertaining. A half bath and updated kitchen was just added to the features on the main floor. The hardwoods in this home absolutely gleam. Upper level bathroom has an amazing cast iron tub and the master bedroom has his and her closets. Additional living space can be created from the large attic and the basement which has high ceilings and a half bath. There is also finished room above the 2 car garage that could be used as a summer work studio or playroom. There is also a wonderful hot tub included with this home. Please call me for more details, 608-444-6831. Now is a great time to enter into the Middleton real estate market.

Madison Market Update – January in Review

There has been a great deal of Real Estate talk throughout the country and here in Madison with interest rates falling to a 2 year low.  Currently the 30 year fixed rates are averaging between 5.4% and 5.7%.  With a high level of inventory currently available there are some great opportunities out there for Madison first time home buyers and individuals wishing to buy second homes or investment properties.  Below is a quick recap of January’s activity.  If you would like to discuss how your property may fit into the current Madison market, give me a call, I’d love to discuss it with you and provide a full market report and complimentary market analysis of your property.

Madison Property Type

Total     Listings

Total New Listings

Sold Listings

Average Days on Market For Sold Listings

Average Days on Market For Active Listings

Average List Price For Sold Properties

Average List Price For Active Properties

Average Sold Price

Residential5771423279121$239,284$224,207$228,636
Condo44253771222$163,357$171,643$155,971
Residential Income180334118178$245,700$373,318$237,575