Some homes have strong fundamentals but require significant work before they can truly shine on the market. When deferred maintenance builds up over time, sellers often face a difficult choice: invest heavily in improvements before listing or accept a lower sale price.

For Tony and Marina Accardo, real estate agents with Compass who have spent more than 16 years helping sellers navigate competitive markets, preparation is always a central part of their listing strategy.

Their goal is simple—make sure every home is presented at its best from the moment buyers first see it online.

For one property, the opportunity was clear. The home had great fundamentals: a desirable single-story layout and features that would appeal to many buyers. But years of deferred maintenance meant the property needed substantial work before it could compete with other listings.

The scope of improvements was significant. Flooring, roofing, landscaping, plumbing, and electrical updates were all needed, along with staging and cosmetic improvements that would elevate how the home appeared in photos and showings.

Completing that work would require a major investment upfront.

Through Notable’s pay-at-close home preparation funding, the sellers were able to move forward with the improvements without taking on the financial burden before the sale. With access to funding, Tony and Marina coordinated the updates, refreshed the property’s presentation, and staged the home to highlight its full potential.

Once completed, the transformation was dramatic.

The home presented beautifully online, attracting strong buyer attention almost immediately. After listing, the property sold within the first week on the market, and the final sale price exceeded the seller’s expectations by approximately $1 million.

For sellers facing significant updates before listing, access to preparation funding can turn what initially feels like a difficult property into one that stands out to buyers.