Generosity is alive and well in Dane county

Last Friday evening my husband and I attended a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at Glida's Club in Madison. I have been volunteering with Gilda's Club for over 2 years and I recruited my husband to sing for Glida's Glee Club. For those of you that don't know,Gilda's Club is a [place where anyone that is touched by cancer can go for social and emotional support. It is named after Gilda Radner who died from ovarian cancer. She wanted a place where people could go for laughter, tears, and hugs. It is free to the whole community and a beautiful place.

The dinner was wonderful and a great opportunity for networking. But the greatest part of Gilda's Club is that it was built entirely from donated dollars, time, and sweat equity. It is run the same way. In a time when the world feels negative, it is wonderful to go to something like Gilda's Club and observe those who give freely of themselves.

The other wonderful part of the evening was to hear the members talk about how Gilda's Club has made coping with their diagnosis easier. It gives them the support that they need and gives their family members the support that they need. The whole evening was touching.

It is nice to know that a smile, a touch, and a few volunteer hours can make such a difference in someone's life. It is again great to know that here in Dane County, so many people care about those that they do not even know!

Remodeling:where to get the Best Value

Yes, I know it is April 21st and it is snowing in Madison. But not to worry, that is not so unusual. The good thing about a cold rainy day in April is that it gives us time to daydream about the warm weather projects that we will soon start.

The big question is- If I am going to sell my house in the next few years, where should I put my money?

Appraisers and Realtors have concluded that exterior improvements give you more than an 80% Return on Investment. Some of the projects that you should consider to add value to your home are: wood deck additions and siding and window replacements. Interior remodels are a major midrange kitchen and bathroom remodels. Both of these will give you approximately a 76-79% Return on Investment.

Home offices, sunrooms, backup power generators, and unexposed finished basements give you the least return on your investment.

Of course as you are thinking about spring, well placed trees add great value to your home as well as provide energy efficiency. Nice neat gardens with fresh mulch always adds curb appeal. Don't forget to clean your front door and make sure that the paint is fresh and not peeling. Adding a fresh doormat, a pot of cheery flowers, and a water feature are a great way to welcome Buyers home.

For more information on how to stage or get your home ready to sell, do not hesitate to call me. You will receive a 3% higher price on selling a Staged Home versus an unstaged home.

Welcome to Spring in Wisconsin!