David Adkins - Stapleton Realty

09/29/2026

🍁🏡 Wisconsin homeowners: winter is coming.

I know. Nobody wanted me to say it. 😄

But late September is the perfect time to knock out a few home-maintenance jobs before freezing temperatures arrive.

My fall checklist:

✅ Clean gutters
✅ Check the furnace
✅ Disconnect hoses
✅ Inspect the roof
✅ Test the sump pump
✅ Check smoke/CO detectors
✅ Seal drafts
✅ Prepare the yard
✅ Test the snowblower
✅ Walk the property

This week's Lake Country Living breaks down all ten.

And if you're thinking about selling next spring, now is actually a great time to start preparing.

https://stapletonrealty.blogspot.com/2026/08/your-wisconsin-fall-home-checklist-10.html

09/24/2026

🏡 How do you know when you've found THE house?

Here's one question I love asking buyers:

“How would you feel if I called tomorrow and told you someone else bought it?”

Relieved? Disappointed?

That answer can tell us quite a bit.

But there's more to choosing the right home than emotion.

This week's Lake Country Living covers seven questions buyers should ask before writing an offer:

✓ Does it solve why you're moving?
✓ Does it meet your must-haves?
✓ Can you comfortably afford it?
✓ Can you accept what can't be changed?
✓ Are you comparing it with reality?
✓ Would you hate losing it?
✓ Can you picture actually living there?

The goal isn't finding a perfect house. It's finding the right house for you.

https://stapletonrealty.blogspot.com/2026/08/how-do-you-know-when-youve-found-one.html

09/22/2026

🏡 Your home's first week on the market isn't a test run.

When your listing goes live, buyers who have already been searching are going to see it.

And they're going to make a decision:

See it - or skip it.

That's why I believe the launch deserves a plan.

📊 Pricing
📸 Photography
🏠 Preparation
📣 Marketing
🚪 Showing access
💬 Buyer feedback
📈 Strategy

This week's Lake Country Living explains why those first seven days can be so important when selling your home.

Thinking about selling this fall or next spring?

Let's build the plan before we put up the sign.
https://stapletonrealty.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-first-7-days-why-your-homes-launch.html

09/17/2026

🏡 Would you buy a 100-year-old house?

I would - with the right information.

Older Wisconsin homes can offer incredible character, established neighborhoods and craftsmanship that's difficult to reproduce. But buyers should know where to look.

This week's Lake Country Living covers eight areas worth investigating:

🏠 Foundation
⚡ Electrical
💧 Plumbing
🔨 Roof
❄️ Insulation
🌧️ Drainage
🚰 Well & septic
🛠️ Previous renovations

The goal isn't to find a perfect house. It's to understand the house you're buying.

Thinking about purchasing an older home in Lake Country? I'd be happy to help you navigate it.
ttps://stapletonrealty.blogspot.com/2026/08/buying-older-wisconsin-home-what-should.html

09/15/2026

🔨 Before you remodel your kitchen because you're thinking about selling...read this.

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners can make before listing is assuming they need to renovate everything.

You probably don't.

Some projects can absolutely help your sale. Others may cost thousands without producing the return you expect.

In this week's Lake Country Living, I'm breaking home projects into three categories:

🟢 DO IT
🟡 MAYBE
🔴 SKIP IT

If selling is even a possibility in the next year, I'd love to walk through your home before you start spending money.

We can figure out what buyers are likely to care about - and what they probably won't.

https://stapletonrealty.blogspot.com/2026/09/should-you-sell-your-home-as-is-or-make.html

09/10/2026

❤️ What makes Oconomowoc feel like home?

Ask ten people and you might get ten different answers.

🌊 The lakes
🍽️ Downtown restaurants
🛍️ Local businesses
🚲 Outdoor recreation
🍁 Four Wisconsin seasons
🏡 Beautiful neighborhoods
📍 Location between Milwaukee and Madison

For me, it's the way all of those things come together.

This week's Lake Country Living is a little different. Instead of talking about interest rates, home values or selling strategies, we're talking about the reason behind all of it:

Where we choose to live.

If you're thinking about making Oconomowoc or Lake Country home, I'd love to help you explore it.

https://stapletonrealty.blogspot.com/2026/09/living-in-lake-country-what-makes.html

09/08/2026

🏡 How much is your home REALLY worth?

You can type your address into a website and get an answer in seconds. But does that number reflect your exact location, improvements, lot, condition, current competition, and what buyers are doing right now? Maybe. Maybe not.

In this week's Lake Country Living, I'm breaking down what actually determines your home's market value - and why an automated estimate is only part of the picture.

Curious about yours? I'll prepare a complimentary home value and market review for you. No obligation. Just real local data and a conversation about what it means.

https://stapletonrealty.blogspot.com/2026/09/how-much-is-your-home-really-worth.html

09/03/2026

🍂 Wisconsin winter will be here before we know it. Is your home ready?

September is a great time to knock out the maintenance projects that are easy to ignore until the temperature drops.

This week's Lake Country Living covers 7 things worth checking:

🏠 Gutters & downspouts
🔥 Heating system
🔨 Roof
💧 Outdoor faucets
🌧️ Foundation drainage
🔥 Fireplace & chimney
🚨 Smoke & CO detectors

A little maintenance now can help prevent some very expensive surprises later.

And if you're thinking about selling next spring, this is also the perfect time to start getting your home ready.

https://stapletonrealty.blogspot.com/2026/09/7-fall-home-maintenance-projects-you.html

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

Thinking about selling your home this fall?

You may not need to wait until spring.

Fall can bring some interesting advantages for sellers:
- Less competition from other listings
- Serious, motivated buyers
- Beautiful seasonal curb appeal
- Buyers hoping to move before winter
- Opportunities in specific neighborhoods and price ranges

In this week's Lake Country Living, I take a closer look at whether fall really is a good time to sell - and why the answer depends more on your individual home and market than the calendar.

Thinking about selling? I'd be happy to prepare a complimentary home value and market review so you can see the numbers before making a decision.

https://stapletonrealty.blogspot.com/2026/09/is-fall-good-time-to-sell-your-home.html