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Testimonial

Jolenta's marketing plan was fabulous. She brought so many potential buyers that I wished I had two houses for sale!

Ruth N.
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Jolenta is a great communicator and an expert in her field. She is very thorough in her work and always looked out for my interests. She did somuch more for me above and beyond her duty in the process. I am very happy with her services. I trust her not only as an adviser, but also as a good friend.

Xueming H.
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Jolenta provided professional real estate services that went full circle. She successfully formed an involved marketing plan to quickly sell my house in a saturated market with few buyers. All along aiding me with her expertise to find a house that was right for me to move into. During my whole experience she was my advantage and leverage when dealing with selling as well as purchasing. I was extremely pleased with her thorough work ethic and would recommend her to anyone.

Luke Z.
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Jolenta helped us buy a fantastic condominium at the mouth of the Yahara River where it enters Lake Mendota.  She provided us with top-notch service from the minute we registered on the Lake & City Homes website all the way through closing. Her expertise not only helped us find a beautiful condo, but also got us the best possible price. Whether you're a buyer or a seller, we highly recommend Jolenta Averill of Lake & City Homes for first-rate service and expertise!

David & Valerie E.
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Talk about marathon dedication! Jolenta, you really went the distance. Thank you for hanging in there and navigating us through a very lengthy and harrowing short sale. Without you we would not have accomplished what we did. Throughout the frustrations you remained steadfast and did everything needed to keep our buyer in the game. Selling this property was a life saver and life changer. This property got us caught up in the net of this worldwide financial crisis and you were instrumental in freeing us from it. Thank you. We wish you continued success with your endeavors.

Jamie & Linda S.
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I had a stress-free experience with Jolenta. Quick to solve problems and very knowledgeable. She is a great representative to have on your side!

Kallie M
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My husband and I had a wonderful experience purchasing our new home with Jolenta. She was so diligent, very patient and always available when we had questions.  We would definitely recommend her to anyone in the future, looking to buy or sell a home.

Kimi C.
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I would highly recommend Jolenta Averill to anyone who is buying or selling a home. Faced with the task of selling the unique home I grew up in designed by my father in the Hill Farm's area from out of state quickly became a daunting task in a very slow market. We had other representation and it became clear that it was not a good match for the property. Jolenta was able to step in and sell the house within six weeks after having it sit on the market for almost a year. Her expertise, Internet savvy, knowledge and dedication to her work place her leagues above her peers. Within the space of the first three days, Jolenta was able to revamp the listing and do more for us than had beendone in the prior year of representation. She went the distance, holding multiple open houses, advertising, web marketing, bringing us multiple offers while keeping us informed on every aspect of the transaction. It truly is not the size of the property that makes the difference, it is the size of the heart, and Jolenta truly cares about her customers. You are an expert in your field and have become a true friend. Thank you for transforming a difficult situation into a successful sale.

Stacia I.
Testimonial

Jolenta has helped me through 3 real estate transactions now - 2 buys and 1 sell. She has been absolutely fabulous in all of them! She really knows her way around the legal paperwork and is a fabulous negotiator. She sees both the upside and the downside to any transaction. I do not hesitate to recommend Jolenta when anyone needs to buy or sell a home.

Maria N.
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Thank you for your help in selling our house so quickly. I know it wasn't the simplest sale you ever had, and I appreciate the tremendous amount of extra work you did. After meeting the buyers yesterday I can see why you were so excited about getting them in; they seem like the perfect couple for that house. Again, thank you very much for all of your work and help.

Dan D.
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My husband & I had two days to look at homes and Jolenta was responsive and did a great job setting up showings for us on short notice. She was there for every step of the process which made her a vital asset in our home buying experience. I would recommend her to anyone looking to buy a home whether it's their first home or fifth

Steve & Kara R.
Testimonial

We first met Jolenta Averill by searching online, and expressing interest in a property. It wasn’t quite what we were looking for, but Jolenta certainly was what we were looking for in a Realtor. During this visit, we got to know one another. We were briefed on the current market, what to do with our financials, and effective strategies for making an offer. She immediately went into action and found the perfect place for us - our “Home” in a relatively short amount of time. Her advice to us as buyers was solid, and our offer was accepted the same day. We were thrilled and would recommend Jolenta to anyone looking for a Realtor in a buy or sell situation. 

James & Tina F.
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Jolenta helped us sell our house and buy a condo! She helped us stage the house and made recommendations of what to change so it looked just right for perspective buyers. At the same time she was showing us condos based on what we told her we were looking for. We just recently closed on the sale of the house and moved into our new condo! We love it. Thank you, Jolenta. One more thing I want to mention is that Jolenta has all the technology to do all the paperwork via email or obtain a signature, which made it so much easier when it came time to sign all of the paperwork for offers, counter offers, and the mounds of paperwork that goes with real estate transactions. But she will also come to your house if that is the way you prefer it. Thanks again Jolenta!

Bill & Susie L.
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Jolenta Averill was able to provide us with a marketing strategy to sell our property in a timely fashion at a price that was above what we were expecting. Jolenta was able to secure eight full-price offers within a week of our posting. It would've been easy to accept the highest offer, but Jolenta provided us advice on accepting the most secure offer to ensure there would be no problems with our closing. She was also very strategic on the timing of our posting. Because of this, we did not need to hold an open house.

Additionally, she insisted that the sellers of our new home provide a UHP home warranty which we have now needed to use twice. Because of Jolenta, we not only made a profit on the house we sold, but saved over $1000 on home repairs on our new home. I would use Jolenta as our realtor again in a heartbeat!!!

Jolenta is very friendly and outgoing. She also has a vast knowledge of the other realtors in this area. I have already recommended her to many of my friends!

Tonya O.
Testimonial

We recently purchased a second home to be used as a rental property for our daughter and her family to live in. Our real estate agent, Jolenta Averill, with Restaino Bunbury & Associates, was extremely helpful in not only locating a suitable property, but in advising and handling all the details along the way. Interestingly, we were on a vacation out of state when the home became available. Jolenta realized it was a property that fit our requirements, so she contacted our daughter who then tracked us down. Much of the initial information and necessary forms were acquired and returned via telephone and fax messages, and we were able to make an offer and get it accepted while still out in Utah. When we returned to Madison, Jolenta was very efficient at scheduling a home inspection, arranging for several minor repairs to be completed, and making suggestions regarding financing the mortgage. This was only the second home purchase that we have been involved with, but it could not have been any more organized or gone any smoother than it did. Throughout the entire procedure, we felt that we were kept well informed and were being treated not only with courtesy and respect, but also as friends. We would highly recommend Jolenta Averill to anyone in need of a professional Madison Realtor.

Bill & Molly W.
Testimonial

I highly recommend you work with Jolenta on both the sale AND purchase of your new home for a worry-free experience! Jolenta helped me buy my new condo and sell my family home - we worked together over a 6-month period which began as some "window shopping" for a new home and suddenly turned serious. When I found my dream condo, I was absolutely amazed at the speed at which Jolenta was able to help me buy it. Jolenta moved like lightning to help me find a mortgage pre-approval (on a Sunday afternoon right before New Year's Eve!). Once our offer was made, she had the inspection scheduled within a day. Her attention to detail on the negotiation was vital to secure the property for me at a the right price. 

We turned to selling my family home - which I'd tried to do before unsuccessfully with two other Realtors. This time, the pricing and marketing were on point, and I received an offer from the perfect buyer on the same day. Jolenta was extremely professional and her level of service was exceptional. Working with her was really a pleasure.

Geri G
Testimonial

You were so wonderful to take such good care of our son at the closing and make it fun for him! He fell asleep in the car on the way home--first nap he's taken in weeks! It was great to see you, and let's definitely get together once we're settled in. We'd love to have you guys over. Thank you for EVERYTHING you've done for us to make it so easy to buy this house! You're amazing. We couldn't be happier.

Matt & Katie G.
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You truly are the best real estate agent in town and we'd recommend you in a heartbeat if we knew someone was looking for one. Definitely keep in touch.

Khiang & Ros S.
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Jolenta did an amazing job getting me top dollar for my condo! Her knowledge of the Madison market and ability to prepare my condo for sale resulted in receiving an offer above the list price. Thank you, Jolenta, for getting results above my expectations! I would highly recommend Lake & City Homes Realty!

Jennifer H.
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Jolenta worked long and hard to find us just the right house. She listened to what we wanted in a home, and found just the right one. She has a great understanding of the neighborhoods in Madison. She suggested we look in places we hadn't considered, but once we saw them we liked them. We love our new house, and our new neighborhood. She did a great job selling our house in what could have been a tough situation. Thank you Jolenta, for all your hard work.

Mark & Melissa R.
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Fast & professional. Easy to work with and down to earth! She showed us many properties in the middle of a cold wintery 2 day WEEKEND and then took us back for 2nd looks. Kept me involved in entire process with daily or muliti daily emails & messages. Worked well with me once home was closed on with an issue I had with the HOME INSPECTOR and got everything resolved with out any additional out of pocket cost to me!!! Would recommend her to anyone!

Mike & Renee T.
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I don't think I could have asked for a better first home buying experience. Jolenta was more than helpful and more than willing to answer any questions I had, no matter how silly they were. If and when I'm ready to sell and buy another home, I won't hesitate to contact her.

Felicia S.
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Jolenta is good at what she does. She was engaged to sell our house and she gave good recommendations and ideas on how to show the house well. She kept track of all the little details needed to make the sale smooth. Jolenta is very personable and is punctual. I will recommend her for sure to anyone in the market for a great Madison Realtor.

Khiang S.
Testimonial

This is a really tough market, and the whole experience was stressful and felt risky. I think I would have dropped out and stayed in my current home if it hadn't been for Jolenta's incredible acumen. Her deep knowledge of the market conditions, of financing, of deal-making was something to see. Her staff and other contacts, too, made this transaction work for me--getting a quick inspection, getting fast financing, and everyone always answering calls or texts immediately. I'm really happy with how it all turned out, and know I couldn't have gotten this house if I had gone with a different Realtor.

Angela W.
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Jolenta was our Madison Realtor when we moved across town in the fall of 2008. Needless to say, it was somewhat scary to put our home on the market during the Great Collapse of '08, but everything went off like clockwork nonetheless.We had outgrown the house we were in and needed to move, but we had been looking, literally, for years. We had a pretty specific list of features we wanted our new house to have, but it seemed like there was something not right about every house we looked at. We started wondering if we were just too choosy and impossible to please.We went through a string of agents over those years. Some seemed to not be listening when we told them what we wanted, almost as though they were showing us houses they imagined we might want rather than houses we had told them we would want.It became apparent very early on in our relationship with Jolenta that she was a different kind of agent. She came to our house to look it over and talk about how to get us into a new house - that was a first - and she seemed to be planning an overall strategy for us. She explained the importance of staging and exactly how to do it, and even came over and took the pictures for the listing, which came out excellent and looked great on the web.Jolenta then went out and fairly quickly found us a great house that met all of our criteria. The owners had defaulted on their mortgage, and we put in our offer, had it accepted, and then began to wait for the bank which was holding the title to approve the purchase.A couple of weeks later, we put our own house on the market. This was October of 2008, and despite all the stressful stories going on in the news at that time, our house sold within three weeks. As the closing date on our house began to loom, we became nervous, as the bank holding title to the house we wanted to purchase still, after three months, had not gotten around to approving the purchase. We decided we needed a Plan B. At this point, Jolenta found us the house that we are living in today. It was even more perfectly suited to our needs than the first house. We love it. I find it remarkable that, after all those years of looking, she was able to locate two houses which met our needs, in the span of four months. I believe she was the first agent that had really listened to what we were saying. Looking back on the entire experience, I can't help but think that Jolenta's planning and strategies were what gave us such a perfect outcome.

Steve R.
Testimonial

Jolenta worked with us on an urgent need to find and buy a property on a very short timeline. She worked quickly and efficiently to find us some options--including a condo not yet on the market--and thus helped us to secure the perfect home for our needs. I've bought and sold a lot of real estate but this was the best experience I've had, by far. Jolenta is absolutely professional, personable, and knows how to close a deal. From initial inquiry to purchase and closing took about one month. Incredible in this market. 

Roger Z.
Testimonial

Jolenta, You were THE BEST part of my entire home buying adventure. I felt that you were by my side throughout the entire process. You took what could have been a frustrating scary experience and turned it into something fun! I was able to relax about everything that was happening because you took care of all the details. You are one of the most knowledgable people I have worked with - EVER. I love my home and I love that you helped get me there! I recommend you to all of the people I know looking to buy or sell a home!

Maria N.
Testimonial

‪Jolenta is a true professional and extremely responsive. She fulfills her commitments and will work tirelessly - 24/7, for the desired outcome. She truly knows the meaning of service, helping clients locally or even with referrals in other parts of the country. The Lake and City Homes web site is outstanding - it's easy to navigate and has a wealth of real-time information and resources for anyone purchasing or selling a home. Only the most expert Realtor like Jolenta can combine the latest technology with a personal touch to help her clients in any real estate endeavor.‬‎

Paul A.
Testimonial

The effort to sell my house in 2005 coincided with what turned out to be a "slowdown" of the real estate market in our area,especially in the second half of the year. However, the process was made easier by Jolenta Averill's professional experience. When I had to travel out of the country following the acceptance of an offer, her attention to detail and willingness to "go the extra mile" and work hard on my behalf ensured that the deal went through without problems. I was very fortunate to have Jolenta represent my interests and will gladly recommend her services in the future.

Ricardo G.
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We were serious this year about buying our first home.  We were expanding our family as I was due in April and needed a bigger home.  In January I started my search on the internet and came across Jolenta's website.  It was easy to navigate through and she had some great listings.  I completed her contact page and she contacted me right away.  She help refer me to a great mortgage lender and off we went in search for our very first home. She provided prompt service getting back to me every time I had a question.  In addition, I was sent home listings to view via email based on our criteria - which I loved because being working parents we didnt have the time or chance to really search on the internet.  Jolenta listened to our needs and helped us find the home that we live in today.  We closed in mid-March and moved in  on the last weekend in March.  I delivered our baby girl four days later. Being first time home buyers, Jolenta really helped us through all the processes and gave us her expertise. It has been so pleasant working with her. We will definitely work with her again and will recommend her to family and friends. Thanks for helping us make our dream a reality!

Ka & Nancy Y.
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I was in a situation where I needed to sell my house quickly and find another in a location close to work. The details for both transactions were complicated and Jolenta orchestrated her professional and courteous direction throughout. I am now in an immensely better situation than I was, and Jolenta can take a great amount of credit for how successful this difficult situation turned out. Jolenta Averill can be trusted to take care of things very well, with a very professional demeanor and with compassion.
I HIGHLY recommend Jolenta Averill .

Scott M.
Testimonial

Jolenta and her team are the best! We went through the whole buying process from Chicago and during COVID-19, but Jolenta made everything so much easier. She is very responsive, sensitive to what we needed, and above all knows the market extremely well. Jolenta also has many good contacts to recommend for other services. We managed to get our offer accepted within 12 hours and close on the house within 4 weeks - all thanks to Jolenta and her team! Most highly recommended.

Trang N.
Testimonial

Thank you for your assistance with the inspection for Jason & Stephanie S. As always, it was a pleasure to work with you. Your expediency with attending to inspection issues is just amazing. There is no wonder to why the Salas are so pleased with you. Once again, thank you very much for your assistance. Congratulations on such a quick sale and closing!

Kimberly S.
Testimonial

The right Realtor does make a difference! In seeking a second home property in Madison, my husband and I surfed the web extensively. One site in particular distinguished itself above all others for search capabilities: lakeandcityhomes.com. After registering on that site, we received a phone call within days from broker/owner Jolenta Averill inquiring about our interests. She was friendly and professional, and most of all helped us clarify our goals. Soon after, I called to schedule a time to meet. Within two days, Jolenta helped us find a condo we fell in love with overlooking Lake Monona, a few blocks from the Capitol and near the bike path. Her license plate “NGOSH8R” was right on target. Jolenta's extensive experience helped coach us through successful negotiations; and her business and technology savvy supported our interests throughout the entire process.

Andrew & Alison G.
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Jolenta's expertise helped us quickly sell our home when we were moving out of state. We felt confident in her knowledge and appreciated her timely communication throughout the entire process. A year and a half later, we decided to move back to WI. We chose Jolenta as our realtor on the buying end, as we know how competent, thorough, and professional she is. We were unable to see the homes in person, so Jolenta made excellent videos of the homes we wanted to see. She provided us with sound advice and made us feel very comfortable submitting an offer from out of state. In addition, we were very impressed with her ease at navigating a difficult situation that occurred very close to our closing date. If you want a realtor who is going to work hard for you and in your best interest, I highly recommend you choose Jolenta Averill.

Betsy H.
Testimonial

We cannot say enough about Jolenta. Relocating from out-of-state and realizing the market was extremely competitive in Madison within the Westside community where we wanted to purchase our home, we knew we had to act fast. A colleague referred us to Jolenta (Lake & City Homes). After several telephone conversations, we planned our house-hunting trip. Meeting Jolenta in person for the first time was like reconnecting with a relative one hasn’t seen in a long time. Seriously! Jolenta, with out a doubt, is the best agent you are ever going to meet and to have representing your real estate needs – truly a subject matter expert (knows her real estate market). Very personable! In the end, Jolenta helped us purchase our home in a highly competitive market, and she was extremely thorough, very responsive to our needs, and truly cared more about what we wanted rather than just getting us to buy the first home we viewed. Jolenta always ensured the process was moving forward – definitely a win-win situation. Great agent and person!!!! 

Larry & Laura K.
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Jolenta Averill is fantastic: exceptionally hard-working, unfailing kind, impeccable honest. I bought and sold a condo during an 18 month period and could never have managed without her help. Highest possible recommendation. 

Steven D.
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In summer of 2005, after over 25 years of living in Madison, we found ourselves headed to the West Coast for a job change.We had only a short time to sell our beloved home. We thought it would be easy because we had a unique property, a great location; close to the university, bike trails, centrally located, and a wonderful neighborhood with terrific neighbors. So, with high hopes, on our own, we put our home on the market at the beginning of June. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. We received one offer at the end of June, but the deal fell through the first week in July due to the potential buyer. Never having sold a home on our own, we had entered into anagreement with no recourse when the buyer reneged on the offer. So, we had wasted a lot of what precious little time we had and we still had not found a buyer for our home. After unsuccessfully trying to sell our house on our own, we contacted Jolenta Averill who was recommended by a friend just a few days before we had to leave for the West Coast. Jolenta came in with some original and fresh ideas as to how to market our home. She helped us prepare our house for sale. She also clued us in to the downfalls of trying to “sell it yourself”. Jolenta went above and beyond expectations, and much further beyond our experiences with Realtors in the past. She arranged for prepping and minor repairs after we had moved out West, in order to get our home in “move-in” shape. Her decorating suggestions and impeccable taste definitely helped us sell our home in an incredibly tough buyers market. The market had slowed to a crawl, yet we still had interested buyers coming to view our home and we still had interest in our home due to Jolenta's efforts. In a reasonable timeframe she found a buyer for our home, who loves it as much as we did. We received a fair price for our home and we feel that Jolenta Averill is the major reason for our successful sale. We highly recommend Jolenta Averill unequivocally for anyone in need of a Madison Realtor.

John & Joy E.
Testimonial

The sale of my home was made much easier due to the professionalism and care shown to me by my Madison Realtor, Jolenta Averill. Her attention to detail, helpful suggestions and timely responses helped to bring the transaction to a swift conclusion even though various obstacles were encountered fromtime to time. Jolenta is very good at problem solving. Circumstances were such that I did not choose Jolenta to be my Realtor; however, I feel I was very fortunate to have her represent my interests. I genuinely recommend her services, especially to anyone who does not have the time or energy to deal with details--Jolenta will see to it that the “I”s are dotted and the “T”s crossed.

Elizabeth G.
Testimonial

Jolenta, I just wanted to drop you a line thanking you for helping us purchase a lake home in Madison. It all started with my wife locating your website. It was by far one of the most user-friendly and up-to-date Madison real estate sites that we encountered. Since we were "out-of-towners", this service helped to mitigate the issues created by the distance. We also appreciated the your follow-up and communication during the process. Jean and I felt you represented our interests very well and very professionally. And, of course, as your license plate states, you certainly are a good "NGOSH8R". I would recommend your services to anyone. Thanks for your help.

Michael & Jean P.
Testimonial

Jolenta Averill of Lake & City Homes did a fabulous job selling our home. Jolenta was on top of the job from beginning to end & kept us informed about the Madison market since we had already moved out of the area. Jolenta is honest, knowledgeable, and educated about the real estate market. She cares about her clients and it's evident in how hard she works to make each and every client feel special. Jolenta has high ethics and standards and delivers with grace despite unusual or difficult circumstances. Whether buying or selling, I highly recommend Jolenta to anyone seeking a Madison-based Realtor. She will exceed your expectations!

Randy & Eve F.
Testimonial

I worked with Jolenta twice in under a year. She was the only one I trusted when I had to sell the house I just purchased for a chance at my dream job in another state. She did it quickly, professionally, & with integrity. Not only once, but twice. She worked with me to get me into a home I loved, and also sold it within a month. You NEED Jolenta in your life. She makes everything so quick and painless.

Martha S.
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When my wife and I met Jolenta at a different house she was showing, we hit it off right away, and felt that we had found someone with personal knowledge of the specific area in Madison we were looking to purchase a house in. We also could tell she knew her stuff, and were excited to start working with her. Jolenta did not disappoint as she made our lives easy and guided us through the process of selecting and purchasing our first home! Even though we turned out to be hard to please, Jolenta was always available, helpful, and patient as she found us the house we were looking for. I don't know how we would have navigated it all without her!

Jolenta really provided us with a professional and full service approach when helping us find and purchase a house. We did not have a lot of time to devote to the process. Along the way we found out that we are quite particular, but she remained patient and helped us find what we wanted.

Jolenta did a great job comparing the unique house we were looking to purchase with other homes in the area, and used her knowledge and skill to us get a great price for house we bought.

Jolenta made our house buying process easy, and brought a lot of different ideas that helped us during our search. She is a professional

David V.
Testimonial

Second time working with Jolenta and couldn't be happier with the results. She sold us our first house and did an amazing job, so of course we reached out to her to help us when we needed to sell it. Great tips for staging and updates, great to work with, always incredibly helpful.

Luke & Emily Z.
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Jolenta took the time to help me with my first condo buying experience. Even though my purchase was not big, she put forth a great amount of effort to make sure I was happy with the end result. I know Jolenta has worked with several types of real estate transactions and is very knowledgeable in her field.

Tracy S.
Testimonial

Jolenta is a full detail agent. She worked tirelessly to get me the info I needed to make a decision from out of town including a full FaceTime tour of the property. She set me up with great bankers and has been full of ideas on how to maximize the potential of the property. She’s an advocate,  consultant AND agent. She’s tops.

John P.
Testimonial

Jolenta was a great resource for us as when we moved from Minneapolis to Madison during the winter of 2016. Her dedication and diligence, as well as her knowledge of the real estate market, has resulted in us finding a beautiful home in a great neighborhood. As an added bonus she went above and beyond to help us move our closing date ahead by two weeks. 

Janice K
Testimonial

Jolenta worked with us on an urgent need to find, and buy, a property on a very short timeline. She worked quickly and efficiently to find us some options and helped us to secure the perfect home for our needs. I've bought and sold a lot of real estate, but this was the best experience I've had, by far. Jolenta is absolutely professional, personable, and knows how to close a deal. From initial inquiry to purchase and closing took about one month. Incredible in this market.

Roger Z.
Testimonial

We relocated to Madison from New Hampshire and thought we could find a great house on our own since so much was available on the market at the time. After calling listing agents and private sellers and looking at 20+ properties over a one-month period we were exhausted and needed help. We met Jolenta at an open house and she made a great first impression. She told us she would be more than just a buyer's agent but an advocate for us as well. After telling her what we wanted in a house she spent a whole day taking us on a city-wide real estate tour. Over the course of the day she really paid attention to our likes and dislikes and listened to our comments. In the late afternoon she suggested we look at two more properties that she thought might fit our specific needs. The last house she brought us to gave us chills, we knew that it was the one. Her practical guidance and negotiation skills got our offer accepted over several others and she was able to steer clear of a bidding war. She is an astute businesswoman but her keen intuition and knack for really getting to know her clients are her most valuable assets. Thanks for everything, Jolenta!

Gael B. & Ginny R.
Testimonial

I wanted to thank you once again for all your help. I've not met anyone else in your field (or any other profession, for that matter) with your level of dedication. It was a very long process for us. We actively looked for a home for over two years. It took that long because we knew going into it that it would be the last home we would ever purchase. So, we had to get it right from the get-go: the right Realtor, the right property, the right financing, the smoothest closing, the right everything. There would be no room for mistakes. Inevitably, there were some setbacks and frustrating moments along the way. That's the nature of the business. The world is full of "professionals" who would have caved in, passed us off to a rooky, and moved on. Fortunately for us, you're not like them. You're the real deal. You never gave up. You stayed committed. And your enthusiasm never waned. "We'll find it", you kept saying. And we did. It feels great to be home.

Chuck B.
Testimonial

Jolenta knew the market, the troubles Madison is having at the moment, and that was the most important thing for us. She also understood us very well and she helped fit us into the right place and not the other way around.

The negotiation piece is more neutral for us as the market seemed to be dictating the price more than the agent or ourselves. Since Jolenta knew what would happen, she helped guide on expectations.

Jolenta was probably the best agent we have dealt with over our lifetimes. We will definitely be using her in the future and recommending her to family and friends.

Top notch and a leader in the field for sure

Mick C.
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Jolenta Averill has the qualities you would expect of a great Realtor: she's patient, forthright, available and she gives the impression that she's YOUR broker. I would highly recommend her services to my family and friends.

Derek B.
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Jolenta Averill managed within 36 hours from first contact with us to a final accepted offer. She is a pro’s pro that goes the extra mile. She knows how to negotiate in a complex and fast-paced real estate market. If you need someone to navigate your next move to the Madison area from near or far, she’s your agent. We are relocating from Northern California to Madison and Jolenta made us feel like we were doing our sale next door. She understands, addresses and fixes issues in real-time, and communicated consistently over the whole process. If you’re looking for a pro’s pro, she is your agent.

Garin & Sheila A.
Testimonial

Being a first-time home buyer, questions constantly arose everyday. After searching for months online for houses we came across lakeandcityhomes.com. We liked a couple of houses on the website and we requested more information. Within a short period of time, Jolenta had contacted us and answered all of our questions. She made herself available when we wanted to see properties and stayed in contact with us throughout the entire process. We are so very happy that we found Jolenta. And without a doubt I would recommend her to anyone!

Nathan & Alexa O.
Testimonial

We really appreciated all of your upfront assistance on getting the house upgraded to “appealable” quality. I will recommend you to my clients as the new norm that a Madison Realtor should provide. You had the perfect hit list of upgrades we needed to do and you provided the avenues to get the needed changes done. And then you carried the ball to get the work done. I know this was a big time commitment so you will continue as my #1 Madison Realtor.

Bob & Nancy P.
Testimonial

Jolenta was a most knowledgeable and helpful resource when my husband and I were looking at the condo that we recently purchased.  She offered many ideas on how to make improvements and shared useful resources. I highly recommend Jolenta for anyone's real estate needs.

Barb & Jim W.
Testimonial

To anyone looking for a great Madison Realtor: If you look in the dictionary under the word professionalism it says: the standing, practice, or methods of a professional, as distinguished from an amateur. My wife and I just purchased a condo at Westport Mariner Code (on Lake Mendota) and had a wonderful opportunity to work with a true real-estate professional, Jolenta Averill. Here are just a few reasons why I use the word professional: 1.) I purchased a condo remotely from La Crosse, Wisconsin which means neither I nor my wife knew the best locations; deals or even what might be available. Jolenta helped us with all of these. 2.) She handled countless emails, early morning calls, and condo visits extremely quickly and efficiently. 3.) Her help with the closing was invaluable. She did the final inspection with us where we found an issue. Working with the seller's real-estate agent, she was able to get it correction agreed to and handled prior to the signing “that day”. Afterward the sale she helped us with recommendations on who to work with locally to do painting, kitchen counter and bathroom work, etc. There is more I could say but you get the message; a message that reflects the belief that “Trust” is everything. Jolenta earned that trust early and often throughout the entire purchasing process. To anyone needing a truly professional real-estate agent in and around the Madison area I highly recommend Madison Realtor Jolenta Averill.

Gene & Lana S.
Testimonial

If you are searching for a broker to find your next home, I would advise you to look no further. In our experience, Jolenta Averill proved to be a first rate professional. We were out of town buyers, which added its own difficulties. She arranged numerous viewings and always listened to what we liked or did not like about each house. We did not make it easy for her! When we found exactly whatwe were looking for, she knew we had to have it. She put together our offer, and then she made the deal happen. We left a trail of smoking fax machines and cell phones in our wake, since we initiated the process while on vacation. The transaction was complicated by being part of an estate, with no one to give a condition report. Jolenta made sure we knew where we were in the process all the way through. Things took some unexpected turns at times, but we learned we could count on her to get everything done right. We love our home, and are extremely satisfied with the work that Jolenta did for us. I would strongly recommend her to anyone seeking a Madison real estate professional. You will not be disappointed.

Tom & Pamela B.
Testimonial
Jolenta has helped me buy two houses (and sell one) and I have been extremely impressed by her knowledge, friendliness, attentiveness, and professionalism each time I have worked with her. She truly goes the extra mile to make sure her clients get the best possible outcome. Highly recommended!

Julia L.
Testimonial

We had recently moved into the area from Europe and weren't initially looking to buy a property in Madison. However, when we saw something that we set our hearts on Jolenta helped us find a mortgage, research comparable properties for reference and negotiate an offer that was acceptable to all parties, all within six weeks. She answered all questions we had, and reminded us of some we hadn't thought of. Overall, the professionalism, persistence and service we received were exemplary. I would recommend Jolenta to anyone who wished for a quick, stress-free, non-protracted house purchase experience.

Dan & Trish D.
Testimonial

Well, our adventure started on a Saturday night surfing the web and stumbling upon a listing that looked interesting. Emailed the Realtor, and that is how the relationship started with us and Jolenta. On a Saturday night, she responded in minutes to our inquiry about a house. From there we made a list of homes we wanted to see in a certain neighborhood and she set them up for Tuesday and Thursday night. Walking through each home, she shared some of her thoughts about the property and she would ask us questions about what we liked or didn't like about a house, the whole time gathering information to help us find the perfect home. The last house on Thursday night was the one. It was perfect. We took a second look on Saturday and wrote an offer. Through the whole process Jolenta was at our side ensuring we got the information we needed quickly. By Sunday afternoon, we had an accepted offer with a closing only three short weeks away. She hooked us up with a fabulous mortgage guy and between the two of them the whole process went smoothly and we are now the proud owner of our ninth home. Of all the Madison Realtors we have dealt with, Jolenta, by far, has been the sweetest, smartest, most efficient one EVER. Her combination of head and heart make her the perfect person to help anyone find their dream home. She is not the type of Realtor that is only in it to make money, she truly cares about her clients. If you want the best, you'll find it in Jolenta Averill!

Tom & Nancy V.
Testimonial

Jolenta was great to work with. She listened to us and was very accommodating. She genuinely cares for her clients. She also was very professional and knowledgeable. She answered all questions on a very timely basis no matter how busy she was. We needed some construction work done and she recommended a contractor who she had worked with before. He was a godsend. Above all Jolenta was very down to earth and easy to talk with. She works extremely hard for her clients. Whether buying or selling (or both simultaneously like we did!), I would recommend Jolenta and definitely use her again with any future real estate acquisitions without reservation. 

Sue W.
Testimonial

Jolenta was a joy to work with. She was professional, personable and always held our best interest during the entire process.

Maribeth and Chart T.
Testimonial

Jolenta helped us through the difficult short sale buying process. Our closing was delayed multiple times and each time Jolenta was there to commiserate and vent our frustrations. Without her, I'm not sure the seller's agent would have ever gone the extra mile to talk to one more person at the bank to make this deal happen. We finally closed and love our house. Jolenta's great; how could you not love someone with NGOSH8R on their license plate?!? Thanks again!

Blair W.
Testimonial

We just wanted to thank you as we are very happy with our house! We are also very appreciative of the work you did in helping us find our home. We feel that you exceeded our expectations. This being our first house we didn’t know what to expect or all the work that goes into buying one. That being said we thought you were extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and flexible with our schedules (answering emails at all hours of the night). We thank you for all of your work and we would recommend you to anyone who is looking at buying a house!

Nate & Kaitlin J.
Testimonial

I represented my cousin's estate in the sale of her beloved home. Jolenta went above and beyond in getting the house ready for photos and showings in the midst of a pandemic. She was so easy to work with and extremely professional, even when dealing with difficult buyers, keeping things open and moving along, when the various members of the family wanted to cancel the whole deal and tell the prospective buyers to pound sand. I would work with her again and would definitely recommend her to anyone I know and love for a realtor. She also has the seal of approval of my husband, an attorney who has dealt with real estate for over 30 years.

Stephanie H.
Testimonial

Jolenta provided immense knowledge and expertise, and I would highly recommend her. She helped me through the process of selling my first home, and really worked with me to understand the process and make informed decisions. I would highly recommend her!

Sonya F.
Testimonial

It was very important to us to work with someone who understood what we were looking for and really knew what property might or might not be a fit for us. She figured out very quickly what would be a good fit for us and was very patient until we came across the one property that was right fit. Once we found the property that we were interested in, the process went very smoothly with details getting done and she was always looking out for our best interest. We had very good experience.

Rod & Susan M.
Testimonial

We moved from downtown Madison out to the burbs and Jolenta was a great help representing us as our buyer's agent. She helped explore various cities and neighborhoods to find the right match and represented us well throughout the purchase and closing process. Jolenta goes above and beyond for her clients making herself exceptionally available and staying in tight communication through all aspects of the process. This is the 3rd real estate transaction I've done with Jolenta now and there is a reason for that.

Brian M.
Testimonial

As a first-time homebuyer, I was apprehensive about the home-buying process! But Jolenta did wonders to assuage my fears. She researched possible listings, showed me homes that caught my eye, even sat down with me to work out a monthly financial plan to ensure how I could make the most of my money. Best of all, she found me a beautiful home and worked hard to get me the best possible deal. Jolenta is a joy to work with - I would recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell aproperty.

Zachary Q.
Testimonial

We were looking in a very tight market and had a very short period of time in which to find a house. Jolenta moved quickly to show us any home that met our criteria, and once we found one, she advised us well so we got the house we wanted in a bidding situation without spending more than we could afford. On a personal note, I really liked spending time looking at houses with her. She could see past others' home interiors and gave us ideas for each home that we wouldn't have thought of ourselves.

Jim & Nancy B.
Testimonial

I am writing to recommend the services of Madison-based Realtor, Dan Breunig. Over the years, I have had occasion to retain the services of a number of Realtors. None of them displayed the level of concern, personableness, and professionalism that Dan displayed. Not one even came close. 

When I first enlisted Dan’s services, I was confronting a difficult housing situation and urgently needed to move. As such, I needed an uncommon amount of help as I proceeded through the buying process. I can honestly say that Dan provided me with all the help that I needed (and then some). And he did so cheerfully... even though he knew that I was already familiar with buying and selling real estate.

Dan acted as my confidant, counselor, and guide. He made himself available to me at all times; he promptly investigated and answered my questions; and he ushered me step-by-step through the process of finding and buying a home. Never did I question whether or not Dan had my best interests at heart. I knew that he did.

Dan’s advice and guidance were invaluable. Without them, I likely would not own the home that I now do. When my first application for a mortgage was rejected, Dan located a lender who would work with me. And when the sellers became difficult, Dan handled them with grace and patience, all the while shielding me from the challenges of the situation. He was a consummate professional.  More than that, he was a Godsend. 

In my opinion, Dan Breunig is one of the best Realtors in Madison. He invests an unparalleled amount of energy and time in his clients, thus ensuring that they achieve the best results possible with minimal trouble and stress. I cannot speak highly enough of Dan, nor can I adequately express my gratitude for all that he did for me. If you are looking to buy or sell a home, you need to consider hiring Dan. He did not disappoint me. He will not disappoint you. 

Diane K.
Testimonial

Jolenta Averill was a HUGE help! My husband and I first met her when we were purchasing a house through another real-estate agent. She was representing the seller of the house and we were like "why isnt our agent giving us as much advice as she is giving the seller...". When a few years later, I had to relocate across the US so we needed to sell, we reached out to her. She scheduled a meeting on very short notice (two days later) and made recommendations that were easy to execute. Despite the fact that I was out of state for the majority of the selling process, she had the house sold and the money in our hands in less than 2 months AND she got us more than asking price. It was our first time selling a house, but she made it very easy! I would definitely use her again - she really does work hard to get you the best deal!!!!

Alfredo & Sarah W.
Testimonial

We were most impressed with Jolenta's ability to understand our specific and unique requirements in a home and subsequently show us a high percentage of quality listings in our price range.

David W.
Testimonial

Jolenta did an excellent job for us during every step of the process. At several points we said out loud, 'I am sooo glad Jolenta is on our team'. Jolenta is smart and savvy and knows the market incredibly well. She never stops working for her clients and is always on top of it. Her staff is also very helpful, prompt, and professional. Jolenta genuinely enjoys what she does, which is reflected in her enthusiasm and the quality of her work. She is also an all-around pleasure to work with. It was actually a little bittersweet when we closed on our home, knowing we'd be spending less time together. We plan to keep in touch and will be inviting her to our new home for dinner soon!

Lars & Brei H
Testimonial

Jolenta was very attentive and showed us homes that she knew we would like. She is very aggressive in selling homes and great at showing new homes to any buyer. We highly recommend her.

Lisa S.
Testimonial

I would just like to thank you for going above and beyond in helping me find exactly what I was looking for in a home. Through frigid & snowy conditions you worked very hard in getting me into varied and numerous properties in a short amount of time because of my distance from Madison!!!! You were constantly available through phone or email when I needed questions answered, and once I chose a property you found answers to all my questions from the seller & their realtor immediately!! 
You also provided me with a great home inspector and loan officer (even though I ended up with local lender, your guy was great & had very competitive rates!!) I would highly recommend your services to anyone! 

Renee & Michael T.
Testimonial

Jolenta, It was dumb luck that I met up with you but so fortunate! Thanks for all you did to see that my house sold at the best possible price, while also helping me to find the ideal condo for myself and my pets. You helped me through difficult negotiations and had my best interest at heart through the entire journey! Thanks!

Christine F.
Testimonial

Jolenta is a great Madison Realtor and an expert negotiator! In a horrible market she was able to both sell our condo and get us a great deal on the house we truly wanted. She really knows what she is doing and has a great sense of what it takes to get it done. We are so grateful that she was able to get us what we wanted to make a great life for us here in Madison.

Josh & Gretchen M.
Testimonial

This was a very tough situation and sale. Jolenta was excellent, knowledgeable and hard working. She went above and beyond what I believe most Realtors would do. She was quickly responsive to my calls and communications, kept me informed and was genuinely concerned about us.

The average Realtor I do not believe could have got this house sold. Jolenta knew what the previous Realtor was doing wrong and corrected it and got the house sold. She spent much more time on this sale than most sales require. She was very dedicated.

Overall, Jolenta was an excellent Realtor and did an exceptional job. Thank you!!

Jeff D.
Testimonial

Jolenta was excellent! Loved her responsiveness and guidance through the whole process!

Andy G.
Testimonial

As first time home buyers, this process had the potential to be so much more stressful than it was, thanks to Jolenta. She was super responsive and never made us feel like we were bothering her with our plethora of questions. She took her time with the showings and never made us feel rushed to get through it. We highly recommend Jolenta!

Morgan Q.
Testimonial

Great experience! Jolenta was very knowledgable and helpful. I felt comfortable discussing all aspects of the home buying experience with her, and relied heavily on her expertise, as this was my first home purchase. I was very satisfied with her work, and will be reaching out to her when I'm in the market for another purchase.

Dan S.
Testimonial

This is to express our appreciation for the intelligence, professionalism, and personal warmth of Jolenta Averill who brought us a qualified buyer and worked intensely to make each side see the benefit of compromise. After the sale, Jolenta told us she'd just begun her career as a Realtor in 2004. We were truly surprised because she performed the job as if she'd been doing it for 20 years! Congratulations on hiring an individual who will generate many compliments and much appreciation for your company.

William & Leah C.
Testimonial

I recently relocated to Madison from the East Coast. Jolenta helped me to get to know the area by providing me with in-depth knowledge about a variety of neighborhoods. She patiently showed me numerous homes of all styles and price ranges until I was able to narrow down the search. She is always accessible, personable and punctual. Her negotiating skills are unmatched by any other real estate agent that I have ever met. I would HIGHLY recommend contacting her if you are considering selling or purchasing Madison area real estate.

Michelle S.
Testimonial

It has been a pleasure working with Jolenta at Lake & City Homes on multiple occasions! She gave us excellent advice when selling our home last year. Her guidance was invaluable in preparing our home for sale, and we landed a great offer! In the last month, she helped me find a great new home, connected me with an excellent lender, and guided me through every step of the home buying process. She was attentive and responsive to my questions and concerns. If you’re looking for a skilled and experienced realtor when buying or selling, look no further than Lake & City Homes Realty!

Matthew S.
Testimonial

In September 2021, I stumbled upon Jolenta on the internet as I searched for houses in the Madison area. What a lucky break that was! Jolenta put me at ease immediately. She is friendly and professional, competent and efficient. She was able to solve problems that arose with a minimum amount of fuss. Jolenta followed through on everything she said she was going to do. She managed the house I bought until I was prepared to move into it and again she did a tremendous job. Jolenta is very knowledgeable about real estate and the law. If you have a chance to work with her, do so. You will not regret it.

Margaret B.
Testimonial

In the world of Realtors, we had no idea where to turn for help when selling our house in such a poor economy. Jolenta was recommended by a friend and as soon as we contacted her, we felt safe and taken care of. We took her advice and did a few key fix-ups on our property. We were blown away when we accepted an offer only 48 hours after putting it on the market! Jolenta works hard and truly is at the top of her game. Her awesome website assisted us in finding the home of our dreams and from start to finish, we bought and sold a house in 2 short weeks. Aside from her market expertise and selling strategies, she has a genuine desire to help all buyers and sellers succeed. We are forever grateful for her wisdom and guidance, and we feel lucky to call Jolenta our "Madison Realtor"...and our friend!

Frank & Amy T.
Testimonial

Jolenta was always prompt, available and understanding! Extremely positive, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic, going far beyond my past experiences with Realtors. When I first met Jolenta, I felt like she really cared about my wants and needs and put those first. Jolenta was patient and helped me find my dream house. No other Madison Realtor compares. I am very grateful and happy I found her!

James Z.
Testimonial

I've been in the real estate/construction business my entire career. Jolenta is a top notch broker - she is in the top 2 of all the agents and brokers I've worked with over the last 30 years. I strongly recommend if you want someone who will always be looking out for your best interest, someone who is responsive, an excellent negotiator, can play hard ball when needed and communicates extremely well - go with Jolenta - she does not disappoint.

Julie L.
Testimonial

You have provided exceptional service to Mom and to all of us. You promised exceptional personal service and you delivered. Simple as that. As out-of-town sellers, we haven't been there to arrange for all the repairs and services that have been needed to get the house ready for sale. You graciously offered to arrange for all those things. I know you spent many hours and visits to the house to make sure everything was done properly. These things simply wouldn't have happened without your personal attention. Your attention to detail is noteworthy, as is your willingness to keep us informed. What else can I say at this point except a big "Thank You"!

Craig J.
Testimonial

Jolenta Averill is a truly exceptional real estate broker. She helped with everything from initial identification of properties to financing to the nitty gritty of the move. I am deeply grateful to her.

Steven D.
Testimonial

Buying a house is never an easy affair, and finding the perfect house is even less so. Lucky for us we found Jolenta. We were in our first house, and after 8 years, numerous improvements, and several job changes, we decided it was time to move. We knew we wanted to sell our house ourselves, but we thought we could find one by ourselves as well. You would think we would know better seeing as we bought our first house without representation and things weren't exactly on the up and up. Friends of ours that were in the realty business pressed us to sign up with a buyer's agent and shortly thereafter we met Jolenta at a house she was showing. We were chatting about the house when she asked us if we had any representation. We answered, that no we did not, so she handed us a card and asked if she could send us links to some houses she thought would interest us. She never mentioned signing a buyers agreement instead she allowed us to make up our own minds as to whether or not we would go with her. Well we did and we're glad for it. She stuck with us through very specific demands, a budget ceiling we refused to go above, and a failed offer to buy. In the end she found us the house of our dreams, at a price we could afford, with top-notch inspectors that she not only recommended but set up, and she chased quotes for us on the few repairs that needed to be done. That's why I'm writing this and why I recommend her to people I know. Honesty, skill, and hard work should always be rewarded.

Kevin & Cheryl C.
Testimonial

Thanks for making the home buying process smooth and easy on us. We really appreciate it and were glad to have you on our side.

Tom & Melissa W.
Testimonial

As an out of state buyer I found Jolenta's style ideal. She took extra time to preview properties for me and was quickly and accurately able to identify properties that would, or would not, suit me. Most importantly she was honest in her assessment of what she knew and thought and thorough in communicating with me. When I came to town to look in person she really maximized my limited time, but didn't compromise ensuring that I got a full sense of the various neighborhoods and the market. In the end, I couldn't be happier with the service or my new home in Madison.

Kate M.
Testimonial

There are few people in any field who are skilled at the details and build genuine relationships.You seem to be one of few. I think what makes the difference is focusing on the person and striving to accomplish their objective over just trying to make a buck. Your clients see that in you. You obviously follow the concept of: You'll get everything you want in life when you first help enough other people get what they want.

Tom M.
Testimonial

Jolenta was awesome! She was very receptive to our input and helped us get the house we wanted. The Madison market is very competitive and we were able to land the property even though there were 15 other offers! She brought tons of knowledge from the local area and walked us through the process. I  would recommend Jolenta to anybody wanting to buy or sell a house in the Madison area!

Tyler B.
Testimonial

I would like to recommend Jolenta Averill to anyone who is looking to buy or sell a home. Faced with selling my home and finding a new one, Jolenta turned what could havebeen a daunting, frustrating experience into a smooth, professional, and uncomplicated one. I found her advice in pricing, marketing, and other matters regarding selling my home to be right on target, culminating in a quick sale. Her attention to detail, like taking the pictures herself to show my home in the best light, impressed me. Use of her website to advertise my home with these pictures and descriptions brought in many showings from people (many from out ofstate) who could not only afford my home, but could appreciate it for many of its unique and eccentric qualities. Whether it be returning my calls, or following up on showings, she kept me informed throughout the entire process in a way that was always prompt, pleasant and courteous. She stayed on top of the transaction with my buyer, making sure that deadlines, inspections and commitments were kept, anticipated any problems, and was proactive in fixing them before they became major difficulties. I never had a feeling that I was just another client oran interruption. My goals were her goals. In finding a new home for me, she listened carefully to my wants, needs and abilities, and arranged showings in an efficient, timely manner. She took the time not only to answer my questions, but to make sure I understood the answers. Her advice helped me in my decision making process. Also most helpful was her network of ancillary services (lenders, inspectors, repair people, etc.). To summarize, I would not hesitate to use Jolenta should I have any need of a Madison real estate agent in the future, or to recommend her to any of my friends or family.

Kevin G.
Testimonial

Once again, you have so succinctly given me truth. You are so good at what you do! This situation reminds me of a bible verse that really summarizes the challenge that you--the truthful real estate agent--face. Here is the verse: "A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear." We, the average home-seller, all want a good real estate agent--an agent who will "teach" us about how things work in the world of real estate. However, instead of listening to "accurate teaching" from a RE agent who tells the truth, we instead, look for one who will tell us what we want to hear. You're a blessing, Jolenta. Thank you!

Bridget T.
Testimonial

Jolenta Averill is highly professional, fast, and efficient. I am very pleased with Jolenta's work because she listened to our needs and found the house that fits our family perfectly. Jolenta will always have our business and our friends and family will also know about her.

Crystal L.
Testimonial

Ask anyone who has sold a home and they will tell you it is an emotional experience. After listing our home with two different real estate agencies, however, we realized that not all real estate agents seemed to understand this. Between missed appointments and misinformation, we found our initial experience to be frustrating. We feel very fortunate to have met Jolenta Averill when we did. Upon the very first phone call, we knew we were dealing with a professional. Her extensive background in real estate and finance made us comfortable knowing our agent understood the difficult market we were in and the best course of action to take despite the conditions. At every turn Jolenta was attentive and had our best interests in mind. Whenever we had a question she was quick to respond and when she was unsure of something, which was rare, she made sure she had clarification before going on. Given her attention to detail and knowing what a potential buyer would want to see, Jolenta recommended reasonable changes that made the house more attractive and, therefore, more saleable. Jolenta was willing to work with us in selling our very unorthodox home. We had many different "green" components to the home that made many potential buyers walk away without truly understanding the benefits. Jolenta took it upon herself to learn as much as she could about the technicalities of our home so that she could explain it correctly to her clients. We were very impressed with her drive to know all the details. In our opinion, Jolenta did the impossible. She sold our unusual home in an incredibly challenging market and for that we are very grateful. We are now in our new home, thanks to Jolenta, and we feel like we have gained a new friend in the process.

Greg & Dineen N.
Testimonial

Jolenta was very knowledgeable and friendly and did an awesome job of finding and closing on my new home.

Linda V.
Testimonial

There are times in your life that you never forget. Times when you have to put your complete trust in a stranger with the hope that they will help to guide you through a difficult process. The sale of my high end property due to divorce was one of those times. With the utmost kindness, respect and compassion, Jolenta Averil helped me to get through the sale of my home and to move on with my life. She also facilitated finding a new home, a place of peace and rest, for myself and my children. I would highly recommend this Madison WI Realtor and her company - Lake & City Homes Realty.

Heather B.
Testimonial

I wanted to send a huge THANK YOU your way. You were so wonderfully great to work with--your knowledge and expertise of real estate is  very impressive, but beyond that I appreciate how quickly you addressed every question or concern. I know you are incredibly busy and yet I really felt like I had your full attention this entire time.  That is quite rare. I really look forward to working with you again (hopefully!). Also,, if your ears are ever ringing or your nose is itchy it is because I am singing your praises to everyone I am speaking with!!!  

Best of luck to you! I hope to run into you sometime up in Madison. Take care Jolenta. It really was such a pleasure to meet and work with you! 10,000 thanks!

Maria B., Illinois
Testimonial

Due to a family situation I needed to sell my house of 20 years and move to a condo and that was when I met Jolenta. She was so very helpful - helping me ready and sell my house. We were able to sell very quickly at a price that was better than I had hoped. We also found a condo at a great price which I purchased. Jolenta has a thorough understanding of the housing market, is technologically savvy, using all of the most up to date tools to complete the process quickly and in the most efficient manner possible. She is tireless and passionate about her profession. She seems to be constantly striving to improve her understanding and skills in real estate. Recently I visited an open house at a condo in my same complex. It ticked a few more boxes so I decided to go forward with the purchase of it. I again contacted Jolenta and we were able to place an offer which was quickly accepted. We then put my condo on the market. I had an accepted offer (above asking price) in less than 48 hours. We will close on both of these in the near future. Thanks to Jolenta it has been a nearly painless process! I have recommended Jolenta to all of my friends and will continue to do so.

Chris F.
Testimonial

Jolenta went above and beyond expectations to help me close the deal on a competitive property. She was available on short notice at critical times and is generous with patience and advice. Her referrals for inspection and financing were absolutely top-notch and helped this first time homebuyer become a homeowner. Thank you, Jolenta.

Ian S.
Testimonial

So grateful for finding Jolenta to help find our dream home and make a big move from out of state.

Adam & Cory L.
Testimonial

We cannot say enough about Jolenta Averill. She was the selling agent for the house we fell in love with. We had not planned on finding a house to purchase when we did; therefore, we were not ready to sell our house. We were now on a deadline to sell our home (with a baby due in three months), and we decided we needed Jolenta's expertise. She offered us some very affordable improvement ideas and shared with us her tech savvy marketing plan. She understood our goals in both selling our current home and purchasing the new home. Our house sold in three weeks, which is almost a miracle in this market! We moved into our new home within two months from the first time we saw it. Jolenta truly helped change our lives for the better. We recommend her to everyone!

Steve & Jill S.
Testimonial

Jolenta helped us with the short sale of our home. We had been trying to sell it for several months with another agent who did not communicate with us. We eventually had to fire that agent and were fortunate to find Jolenta. She improved the presentation of our property and marketed it right. She went above and beyond by helping take Christmas lights down and clean some things up in the yard. She was in constant communication with us so we knew what prospective buyers were thinking. Very organized and very knowledgeable, especially in a difficult situation like a short sale. We sold our house within weeks of her taking over.
Jolenta has many years experience and it showed. The closing was seamless. She was encouraging and had the right connections. I would highly recommend her as a realtor, in fact we are using her again as I write to buy another property. I would rate her a five star realtor.

Jeff D.
Testimonial

For first-time home buyers like us, looking for a house can be a very daunting task. Jolenta patiently answered all of our questions, made smart recommendations, and guided us through the entire process. Even though we were house-hunting from out of town, Jolenta made the task a manageable one. With her help, we found a house that we are very excited about. She was enjoyable to work with and extremely knowledgeable. She was also very accessible, rapidly responding to emails and phone calls. If we someday need to move in Madison again, we will not hesitate to ask for her assistance. We heartily recommend her to anyone who is looking for a house.

Stephen & Janelle B.
Testimonial

As a real estate agent, I know how a good agent when Isee one. When my brother and sister-in-law relocated to Madison Wisconsin, I wanted to help them find an agent who would treat them asI would have if they'd moved to West Michigan. Jolenta was that agent.

Peter B.
Testimonial

We all want to thank you for all you have done for us. We are very happy with the new condo! It is SO comfortable and quiet and roomy. You were a big help in showing our son around. He felt secure with your opinions and never pressured. We knew that you were taking care of details there that we could not. I can't believe it was your first closing! You are going to be good at this. We enjoyed meeting you on a personal level, too. I wish we lived in the sametown--I think we would be friends.

Mary Ann B.
Testimonial

No one, absolutely no one is better than Jolenta Averill and Lake and City Homes. She is beyond incredible and the resources she has at her fingertips to help you find exactly what you are looking for--I don't think any other real estate agency even has a clue how to get close. She knows how to leverage technology to get a buyer for your house and to sell your house. She knows what it will take to sell your house. If it is ugly-do not be surprised if she asks you to spruce it up. Who wants to buy an ugly house. Also, she has personal knowledge about what it takes to repair some of those things in the new house she is helping you buy. She sold our house and helped me find another one. She helped me look beyond the wallpaper border and outdated style and helped me think of how I could turn it into our house. My kids took one look at the "old" new house and said no mom--this is not where we want to live. I went in before they moved in and transformed most of it into our house-thanks to Jolenta's decorating skills. She is so good that my sister decided to use her to sell her house and buy a condo. Jolenta Averill is an incredible Realtor. She will get you top dollar for your house and she will help you buy a house at the lowest possible price. There is no need to go to any other Madison Realtor - it's Jolenta Averill at Lake and City Homes Realty!

Karen E.
Testimonial

Lake and City Homes is a professionally-run business that has Realtors who feel more like a friend than an agent. I initially worked with Jolenta for a few months but ended up not buying. It wasn't until a few months later that I contacted her again, restarted the search, and eventually bought a property. At no time was she pushy, but rather I received only an occasional follow-up email as I would expect from a professional. She was extremely knowledgeable and clearly had my best interests in mind. As a telecoms professional myself, what I found very impressive was her instant communication, being that I could email, call, or text her and expect an immediate reply. Overall, an extremely well-run business that is an asset to any prospective homebuyer.

Derek H.
Testimonial

As first-time house sellers, my wife and I were very fortunate to have Jolenta on our side. Her uncommon eye for design and space was readily apparent upon her first visit to our house. She made recommendations that transformed the appearance and value of our house on a minimal budget. We teased after implementing her to-do list that we no longer wanted to sell! We were thoroughly impressed with her promptness and professionalism. Literally every one of our phone calls and emails were returned right away – we don't know how she did it. This gave us tremendous piece of mind; she was tirelessly working on our behalf. We never had to worry, wonder, or wait. She's sharp, she knows homes and she knows the market. If you want a Madison WI Realtor who is going to work hard for you and do it right, you want Jolenta Averill of Lake & City Homes.

Sam & Shari F.
Testimonial

Get ready to move! Jolenta will sell your house and have you in your dream home in the blink of an eye. We are still pinching ourselves! Putting your house on the market can be emotional and tricky. Jolenta was with us every step of the way with expert advice and feedback. She made herself available and accessible at all times. We literally put up the sign, sold and moved in less than 2 mths. She was amazing with our families needs and even included our two young children in the process. We couldn't be happier with how everything went, and, of course, our new home! 

Albert & Lindsay M.
Testimonial

Exceptional results indeed -- Jolenta sold my home in one day and bought me another the same day! Getting that result required expert strategy, flawless coordination, business savvy, industry connections, immaculate timing, (possibly) a little luck, and Jolenta delivered it all. As a seller, I was concerned about the "buyer's market", but Jolenta helped me understand the forces at play, and her expert pricing advice netted me a quick top-dollar (over list price) sale. Getting noticed wasn't a problem either; her innovative web and print marketing campaign filled the open house with interested buyers, and her professional staging techniques made my home look fantastic. As a buyer, Jolenta always showed me listings that met or exceeded my needs. And as a person in over his head, she looked after every detail of each transaction --selling, buying and moving all within 3 1/2 weeks -- and was always available via mobile phone or mobile email for consultation and encouragement. Moreover, Jolenta was kind, thoughtful, warm, generous, creative and courageous if needed, and fun throughout. She was the perfect ally -- the gold standard of Realtors -- and a real joy to work with at every level. I highly recommend her if you are seeking an ethical Madison Realtor who will deliver unsurpassable service and top-notchresults.

Craig H.
Testimonial

We chose Jolenta Averill as our Realtor because we had met when we both attended UW Madison and I knew of her advanced degrees and international finance career. We felt that her being a Madison native combined with her education and international experience would serve her well as a Realtor and we were not disappointed. Jolenta's enthusiasm, knowledge of the local market, attention to detail and willingness to be dogged in pursuing our best interests made our homebuying experience as smooth and as stress-free as possible. Her ability to advocate for us and advise at critical junctures were qualities we came to rely on and appreciate. Should we move again within Southern Wisconsin we would definitely use her services again and will strongly recommend her to any friends and acquaintances looking for professional real estate services.

Vance & Brooke D.
Testimonial

Jolenta is a joy to work with and a truly partners with her clients to ensure both success and satisfaction. In our case, we were under a huge time crunch and entering the market late in the sales season. Jolenta priced our home perfectly and implemented a marketing strategy which resulted in our receiving multiple offers within days. Fantastic job!"

Bill & Mary W.
Testimonial

As I am apt to do, I researched many options when choosing a Madison Realtor. Of the many possibilities, I chose Jolenta Averill of Lake and City Homes. She is a dynamo, a one-woman show, who gives you a personal touch, and I found her to be a breath of fresh air. Any concerns I'd had about not having a big "powerful" agency backing her for support quickly dissipated as she handled multiple offers in a day, and we sold our home for what we wanted with very little stress and very quickly. Her advice was strong and accurate, not always telling us what we wanted to hear, but she was honest, and has a no-nonsense approach that benefits her clients. She is professional, knows her business, and gets you where you want to be. No false promises; she will help you price your home to sell, based on value and market conditions, so you aren't sitting there needlessly waiting, which for most people is very costly. Time is money. The best thing you can do is brace yourself, (because she does not mince words), take her advice, and sit back, relax, and watch your house sell. This is very refreshing, in my opinion, in this market especially!!

Paul & Shelli T.
Testimonial

Jolenta is not only a subject matter expert in the Madison real estate market (and surrounding areas), but she is the consummate professional, kind, courteous, and an extremely hard working individual and realtor. This is the second time my wife and I have worked with Jolenta and both experiences have been exceptional. Jolenta sold us this house three years ago and it turned into a phenomenal investment. When we were ready to sell, Jolenta turned on the afterburners and had us under contract in one day, and well above listing price. We cannot say enough about Jolenta. I would highly recommend Jolenta to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the Madison area

Larry K.
Testimonial

I worked with Jolenta for the first time only a year ago, and I was very impressed with the way she went about her business. She uses her business background and education quite well in being an advocate for her clients. I have since referred several clients her way, and look forward to continuing towork with her for years to come.

Rick M.
Testimonial

I feel very lucky to have had Dan as my Realtor. As a first time home buyer, I really appreciated how attentive and helpful Dan was through the entire process. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the downtown Madison market and was a great resource to have on my side. His background as an engineer provided a unique insight when looking at properties. Dan was excellent at communicating with me and was very timely during the negotiation process. I would highly recommend Dan to any of my family or friends in the Madison area!

Catie O.
Testimonial

I could not have had a more positive experience purchasing a home than I did working with Jolenta Averill. I was so impressed with her availability to work with us. And her ease in using technology. My husband and I live in the Washington, D.C. area and were interested in lake property in Madison. I had used the Lake & City Homes website and Jolenta had emailed me to follow up with our interest. We happened to be in town and asked if she could show us some properties and she completely worked with our schedule. Not only that, her advice and assistance in getting everything together to make a successful offer was so smooth and incredibly easy for us. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone in need of a Madison Realtor. And will certainly use her again in the future for any real estate needs.

Jim & Jan E.
Testimonial

Jolenta was a great communicator; always available and quick to respond to calls or emails. I loved her capabilities for managing documents online. I finalized my offer while vacationing in Cozumel. Jolenta was a good "buyers advocate". She found properties that suited my needs and never wasted my time seeing things that just did not fit my requirements.

Mike C.
Testimonial

We bought a home and sold our condo with Jolenta's assistance and could not have asked for a better experience. She is knowledgeable about both sides of the transaction, pays close attention to details, answered all of our questions completely, and in a timely manner, and has extensive contacts in other business sectors which helped immensely when trying to make arrangements with contractors to get necessary work done. We cannot imagine having gone through this process with anyone else. Knowing that you have someone who is always looking out for your best interests and able to anticipate needs without being asked is invaluable. We have and will continue to recommend her to anyone contemplating a real estate transaction... both residential as well as business. We feel so fortunate to have been able to benefit from her expertise, kindness, and willingness to go the extra mile... thank you so much.

Angela M.
Testimonial

Jolenta is such a hard worker!  She did so much to get the house looking great, even arranging help for cleaning, clearing out, and offering paint color advice.  She's the whole package!

Ann V.
Testimonial

My husband and I were very impressed with Jolenta's expertise and honesty. She sold our old home in record time, helping as to sort through multiple offers. She was supportive and instrumental in finalizing the deal for our new home in a short time frame. We are very grateful for how well everything worked out and have Jolenta to thank for it. We would highly recommend Jolenta Averill and Lake & City Homes Realty to any of our friends and family.

Corey A. & Jennifer P., Waunakee
Testimonial

My wife and I were worried that buying our first home would be stressful and intimidating. We were told that having a good Realtor would make the experience much easier. It certainly was. Jolenta was great to work with because she was honest and informative. It felt like she was always looking out for our best interests. Being newbies, we didn't always know the right questions to ask or what flaws to look out for when viewing potential homes. She would point out good and bad things about each property, and it was clear that she was trying to find a home that was right for us - not just trying to sell us whatever came along. When we found the place we wanted, she worked very hard to negotiate with the seller and get us the best deal possible. On top of all that, she has great contacts. She was able to hook us up with a great lender and home inspector. Jolenta was always available whenever we needed her, and would always respond ASAP whenever we had questions or concerns. We will definitely call her if we ever decide to move.

Don & Christine N.
Testimonial

Jolenta was a joy to work with as she patiently guided me through the process of purchasing my first home. She was always available for questions or advice and was a very strong advocate for me in the negotiations. She listened carefully to what I wanted while also offering me the benefit of her experience and did all the "heavy lifting" necessary to make the sale go off without a hitch. I would recommend her to anyone and would happily use her services again.

Julia L.
Testimonial

I wanted to say thanks, almost a year later, for helping me find my new house. I love my little place so much! The sun and the light make it so cheerful. With a new kitchen and the bar in the basement gone, it's perfect. You did such a good job making that big transition happen for me (selling and buying simultaneously). I really appreciate it!

Angela W.
Testimonial

Jolenta helped us buy a fantastic home in the Madison area. She is professional, prompt, intelligent and very savvy at real estate dealings. I found her to be personable, easy-going and direct. Her business is current with all forms of electronic media, which made paperwork and legal interactions seamless and quick. I would highly recommend her services if you're looking for a great Madison Realtor.

James O. & Janet B.
Testimonial

I would recommend Jolenta based not only on her knowledge of marketing strategies to best sell our home, and not only based on her expertise in positioning us in the drivers seat when negotiating a home purchase, but also because of her knowledge of staging and how to best prepare a home to sell. Jolenta strives herself to be knowledgeable on all aspects of the realty business and that proved instrumental in getting my wife and I to where we wanted to be. She was candid throughout the process and always negotiated in our interests
while at the same time being able to respectfully give her opinion when it differed from ours and explain her reasoning.

If you're looking for someone who understands the market and will put you in the best position to succeed, look no further than Jolenta.

Chris & Megan S.C
Testimonial

Jolenta's vision for marketing my house & her visually stunning whole-house professional staging was instrumental in getting my Dudgeon-Monroe home sold for nearly full price after a disappointing experience with another Realtor that lasted an agonizing 9 months. Instead of hitting me up for price reduction after price reduction like my previous listing agent did, Jolenta told me why my house wasn't selling and sprung into action, giving my house a fresh, updated look by making a few key, yet affordable, changes. Jolenta then hand-picked furniture & furnishings for every room, including beautiful vignettes for the living room, dining room, sunroom, kitchen, bar, Master bedroom, guest bedroom, mudroom & both bathrooms. She even had the 2-car garage floor acid washed and epoxied! Having already relocated to FL, I was 100% reliant on Jolenta to coordinate with contractors to accomplish the rehab on my house, with estimators and HVAC technicians when my furnace gave out (this alone involved six visits in total!), and with a variety of other people when it came to sprucing up the yard, holding multiple open houses, coordinating repairs, inquiries from neighbors, and more. Jolenta even sought out quotes and architectural renderings from two different contractors to design a stairway, walkway, landscaping and formal front entrance so that prospective buyers could get past that objection and not get hung up on the home's current limitations. But don't just take my word for it, the entire neighborhood was blown away by Jolenta's industriousness, cheerfulness, and professionalism. Jolenta subsequently listed the house directly behind mine & collected three offers on the first day….but that's another story. My point is that Jolenta gets results regardless of the nature of the project or of current market conditions. I can't thank Jolenta enough for wrapping up this final piece of business for me so I could move on with my life. I purchased my home with Jolenta prior to listing it for sale and would recommend her without reservation to anyone buying or selling in Madison WI or anywhere in Dane County!

Michelle K.
Testimonial

Jolenta was truly amazing from start to finish as our buyer's agent. We made our initial contact around noon one day, and by the end of the day, she had gotten us in to see several units. She was great at picking up on precisely what we wanted, and within a week, she'd led us to the perfect home. Throughout the process, she was always super quick to respond to our questions and needs, and she took us through the whirlwind negotiation process so smoothly. I'll certainly recommend her to anyone looking for a terrific buyer's agent.

Peyton E. & Maureen H.
Testimonial

I was first referred to Jolenta by a friend who had worked with her about a year prior and spoke highly of the experience. As a first-time buyer who is terrified of big decisions, working with Jolenta was everything I could have asked for. The market is much more aggressive and competitive than I would have ever thought, and Jolenta led me through it expertly, ultimately securing me the perfect condo! She was straight-forward, honest, and communicated timely by phone, text, and email. I also very much appreciated that she wore a mask during all of our in-person interactions. She was able to answer all the questions I had / was able to direct me to the appropriate resource as necessary. Overall great experience.

Colin K.

Looking for personalized service from a top-notch Madison WI real estate agent? Contact Lake & City Homes Realty and an experienced Realtor will be in touch shortly to assist you.