Professional photography is an integral part of the Carolyn Stark Real Estate Team marketing plan for homes we list for sale. Homes marketed with high quality photographs spend less time on the market and garner a premium price for the seller over the average listing--$3,400 nationally according to the National Association of REALTORS.

Great photographs are your first chance to attract a buyer’s attention. Great photographs also show off the best features of your home. Many times buyers will view the photos before deciding to look for more info. Eye catching photography enhances a buyer’s emotional appeal towards a home. This ability to attract the right buyer for your home is what sets it apart from others currently on the market.

97% of buyers use the internet to look for homes, and 44% do so before engaging a REALTOR. Having amateur photos can make your home look old and outdated, and may have potential buyers pass it by.


A National Association of REALTORg ...

It’s that time of year, before you know it winter will be here. I knew exactly where to go for the best advice to get ready for winter.

It’s always a treat to chat with our agent Chuck Peterson. He is not only a knowledgeable REALTOR but our team’s expert on all things related to home maintenance. I caught up with him in his workshop. Eager to help, he was happy to share what he was doing at home to get ready for winter. Here’s what he had to say.

Let’s start with the cars

You know winters can be rough and they don’t like -30. I check them out early, before the first cold snap. I get the oil changed, even if it’s not quite time, I think they do better with fresh oil. I get the battery tested if it’s a few years old, say 3 or 4. They will do that free at Fleet Farm or O’Reilly Auto Parts. I check the tire pressure because that changes with the temperature. And I make sure to look out for Mrs. Peterson, and ensure there is a ! ...

We couldn't be more thrilled to have in our Local Spotlight our good friend Jean Long Manteufel. Jean runs two businesses in Appleton. The first is A-1  Moving & Storage--a local and long-distance moving agent for North American Van Lines.
The second is Long's Senior Transitions---certified senior move managers who help seniors with the planning and preparation for the transition from their house to their next home - it may be a smaller house, an apartment, or a senior living community. She is a columnist for the Post-Crescent newspaper and a published author with two books to her credit-- Transitions, Stories of How to Help Mom and Dad With Their Stuff and Transitions 2, Stories of How to Get Help When You Are Overwhelmed. In addition, she is an active volunteer in the community lending her support to numerous organizations.
Jean and her Mom 
Jean Long Manteufel
Jean is a 3rd generation mov; ...

Visiting Mulberry Lane Farm in Hilbert is always fun, but going during their Pumpkin Harvest Celebration with the hayride and picking out your own (FREE) pumpkins--make it a memorable Fall adventure. This is the perfect time of year for making memories with your family during a visit to the farm.

A visit to the farm is a hands on experience. They encourage all guests to touch, feed, and interact with the farm animals. Children must be accompanied by an adult while at the farm and visiting the animal pens.

"Fall is always a wonderful time of year to get out of the house and enjoy the colors of the harvest during our Pumpkin Harvest Celebration. And what better place to enjoy the colors than a ride in the country to Mulberry Lane Farm. Our farm guests enjoy the opportunity to cuddle a kitten, pet a pig, catch a chicken, milk a cow, and more," said Farmer Bonnie,


"And of course, enjoy a hayride to the pumpkin patch to pick their own free pumpkin. On weekends the farm's food tra; ...

 much does it cost to sell my house? is one of the most common real estate questions we get asked here in Northeast Wisconsin. Like any other transaction in our lives there are fees associated with getting a home sold.

For a detailed breakdown I went to our team's listing expert--team leader Carolyn Stark. Here is a breakdown of the fees that home seller's can expect.

Real estate commission. Our team charges a commission of 6% of the sales price when we list homes for sale. From that fee we provide marketing services including but not limited to staging, professional photography,  and ads on social media. We also pay the commission to the agent working with the home buyer that purchases the house.

Title insurance. The home seller pays for a title insurance policy to convey the title free of liens and incumbrances to the home buyer. The cost is determined by the sale price of the home. For a $200,000 home the cost is $744 to update an existing title insurance policy.
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