W
hen Domingo Fernandez decided to sell his Brockton home, he knew it needed cosmetic updates to appeal to potential buyers. To make the necessary repairs without breaking the bank, he turned to a concierge program offered by his real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Realty. The RealVitalize program allowed him to complete updates and repairs with no upfront costs, using a contractor from Angi, and pay back the costs out of the proceeds at closing.

    Fernandez was approved for $8,600 in repair costs under the program, which he used to repaint the exterior and interior of his home, replacing carpeting on the steps leading to the second floor with wood. The result: after listing the house for $389,000, it sold within days for $453,000, or $64,000 over the asking price.

    Other brokerages offer similar programs, including Compass's Concierge program, which fronts the cost of home improvement services with zero due until closing. However, concierge programs come with risk and require careful vetting by prospective sellers. Terms vary, and some have proved to be more successful than others.

    To maximize the success of a concierge program, sellers should work with an experienced local agent they trust. Successful use of such a program depends on the agent's knowledge of the local market and precisely what repairs are needed to boost resale value.