Selling a home after more than three decades and simultaneously searching for a new one is a process that requires patience, preparation, and the right support. For Helene and Steve, that journey came with unexpected challenges, a steep learning curve, and a realtor who made the difference at every turn.

Starting a New Chapter in Lake Mills

After 33 and a half years in their home, Helene and Steve made the decision to downsize and move to a condo in Lake Mills. Helene described the appeal of the new location simply: "We have lake access very close, so we can kayak, and we love to bike a lot, and in Lake Mills they have a great trail. The condo itself is just beautiful. It checked all the boxes."

For Steve, the draw was the community itself. "It's a smaller town, which I've always lived in a bigger city, and it's really interesting how you see some of the people more often than you normally would."

The Challenges of Leaving a Long-Time Home

One of the most candid parts of Helene and Steve's story is how openly they discuss the difficulty of preparing a home for sale after decades of living in it. Helene described the experience directly: "I think that a really challenging part was having lived in a house for 33 and a half years, and seeing the amount of things that you've accumulated, and trying to get things stage ready for showings for the house you're trying to sell, while you're still in the process of looking for a place, your next home."

Their advice to others in a similar position is straightforward. As Steve put it, "When you have a thought of selling or moving, start then, before you get too far in the process, because there's a lot of things that you have to do. Prepare yourself for it."

How the Real Estate Process Has Evolved

Both Helene and Steve noted how much the process had changed since they last purchased a home over 30 years ago. Steve observed, "What surprised me was going back to when we first bought our home 30-some years ago to now, how much has changed. Stagers, videographers, photography, just so much to do or prepare to make sure your home sells."

Helene added a perspective on the paperwork involved: "I think it kind of gives people more of an incentive to come clean on potential problems and issues, and I think it surprised me how there are so many great steps to eliminate major surprises later." Understanding that the process has evolved is important for anyone who has not been through a transaction in the past ten to fifteen years.

The Role Realtor Iris Etheridge Played

Throughout the interview, Helene and Steve return again and again to the impact Iris Etheridge had on their experience. Helene described her simply: "Her knowledge, her expertise, everything she did felt like she was going above and beyond, and just thankful for her."

One of the details that stands out in their story is how the relationship with Iris Etheridge began. She had been sending postcards and informative notes to their home for more than two years before they were ready to sell. Steve, drawing on his background in marketing, recognized the strategy immediately: "The fact that we continued to receive, at least two years before we were even selling, things from Iris Etheridge, constantly we'd get them. There'd be little notes, there'd be things about what to do in the fall with your house. Just constant contact, which in marketing, that's the lifeblood of it." He told her directly, "That's why we contacted you."

When the process became demanding, Iris Etheridge remained a steady presence. As Helene described it, "There was just always Iris there to help us out of the holes that we might have fallen in with things that we needed to do or think about. If I'd do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing."

Steve summed up what to look for in a realtor this way: "Finding someone that you can tell there's some honesty, sincerity, and they really care about making you find the place you want."

Watch the Full Interview

Helene and Steve share their complete story in their own words, including the details that made the process manageable and the guidance that led to a successful outcome. Watch the full interview below to hear their experience from start to finish.