Thinking about selling your home in 2026? Learn how the right preparation and our Compass Concierge program can help you sell faster and for more money. No upfront costs required!

You heard through the neighborhood grapevine that your neighbors just sold their home for an incredible number. Now, you're wondering: could that be me? The short answer is yes. But only if you know how to prepare.

We love a good success story, and we have plenty of them. Time and again, we've helped sellers walk away with more money than they thought possible, in less time than they expected. The secret? It usually comes down to making the right repairs, refreshing a few key spaces, or staging the home with on-trend furniture and accessories that help buyers fall in love the moment they walk through the door. The best part?? You don't have to use your own money to do it. That's exactly what the Compass Concierge Program is designed for. Keep reading to find out how it works.

The market has shifted. We’re moving away from the chaos and frenzy of recent years and trending toward more balanced, and in some areas, buyer-favorable conditions. What exactly does that mean? It means right now, in most neighborhoods, roughly the top 10% of homes for sale are the ones that are getting real interest and strong offers. The rest sit. That makes preparation more critical than ever. Buyers still aren’t willing to overlook deferred maintenance and outdated finishes. In a flatter market, they have the luxury of being very selective. If your home isn’t showing at its absolute best, don’t expect top dollar. I know this sounds harsh, but it's the reality of today's market. The homes that generate the most buzz and the best offers are the ones that are priced right, marketed strategically, and above all, prepared with intention.

The Right Agent Makes All the Difference

Knowing how to prepare your home for the market is both an art and a science. A great agent won't let you waste money on projects that won't move the needle. Instead, she'll help you identify exactly what to fix, update, and refresh with your budget and timeline in mind. My personal benchmark with every seller? Every dollar spent should return at least two at closing. That's the standard we work toward every time.

The idea of spending money on a home you're about to leave can feel counterintuitive, especially when moving costs are real and your next purchase requires cash. Here's the good news: you don't necessarily have to spend your own money upfront.

Introducing Compass Concierge

Our brokerage offers an incredible program called Compass Concierge. It’s a game-changer for sellers.

Compass Concierge provides qualified sellers with funds upfront to make the repairs, updates, and improvements that will maximize their home's value. We're talking about everything from staging and painting to new flooring, updated kitchens, fresh landscaping, and beyond. You simply pay the money back at closing. There are no hidden fees, no interest charges, and no restrictions on which vendors you choose to do the work. It's the only program of its kind, and the results speak for themselves.

Dozens of my sellers have used Compass Concierge, with an average investment of around $18,000. Every single one of them more than doubled what they put in. That's not luck, that's strategy.

Success Story: 11120 Crofton Overlook

When these sellers came to us, they had already relocated out of state, leaving behind a vacant home that needed attention before it was ready for the market. Together, we talked through which updates would deliver the highest return, established a realistic budget, and put Compass Concierge to work.

Here's what we tackled:

• Removed dated wallpaper in the kitchen and primary bath
• Painted the entire interior, including the stair railing
• Replaced the carpet 
• Replaced flooring in the laundry room and primary bath
• Added new lighting throughout the home
• Replaced the vanity and toilet in the powder room
• Installed a brand new deck
• Staged the home with furniture, artwork, linens, and accessories

Because our sellers were out of state, our Team handled everything: every vendor, every decision and every detail from start to finish. They didn't have to fly back, coordinate contractors, or lose a single night of sleep over it.

The result? Their home sold faster and for more money than they expected. Also, perhaps just as importantly, it was the most stress-free selling experience they'd ever had! That's exactly what we show up to do.

What About the Timeline?

One of the most common concerns I hear is, “I don't want to wait. I want to list my home now.” I completely understand, and I promise you, we've got it covered.

Our Team has deep, established relationships with tradespeople, contractors, and stagers who work efficiently and to the highest standard. We handle all the scheduling and coordination, so you don't have to. While the work is underway, we're not sitting still! We're actively pre-marketing your home.

We promote all our coming soon listings on social media, our website, Compass.com, Zillow, and across the Compass national network. That last piece matters more than you might think. We regularly connect with agents across the country who have clients relocating to the Atlanta area and are actively searching before they ever set foot in Georgia.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Still on the fence about investing in preparation before you list your home? Consider this:

• 7 days — that's how long your home receives peak buyer attention after it goes active on the market
• 9% — the average amount below market value that homes sell for after sitting on the market for six months

You only get one first impression. Make it count.

Preparation is Everything!

The bottom line is this: preparation is everything. Not sure where to start? We've got you covered, our Your 2026 Home Refresh Guide-Realtor Approved, breaks it all down for you. The sellers who take the time to do it right, with the right agent and the right program behind them, are the ones walking away from the closing table with the biggest smiles.

If you're curious about how Compass Concierge could work for your home, or you simply want to talk through the idea of selling, even if it's a year or two down the road, I'd love to be your sounding board. There's never any pressure, just honest conversation. Let's chat. 

About Sherry

Sherry Ajluni has been a licensed real estate agent since 2005 and founded her team 20 years ago to serve the North Atlanta suburbs. Today, the Home with Sherry Team includes four full-time agents and three full-time staff members and is consistently recognized as one of Real Trends® Top Teams in Georgia. Sherry is passionate about finding the best tools and technology to serve her buyers and sellers and is equally passionate about giving back. She proudly serves on the board of The Place of Forsyth, dedicating her time and resources to those in need in the community.