You want top dollar for your Hayward home without fronting cash for fixes or juggling contractors. That is exactly where Compass Concierge can make your sale smoother. By funding and coordinating high-impact updates, you can launch with a polished look that resonates with East Bay buyers. In this guide, you will learn how Concierge works, what it typically covers, realistic timelines and budgets, and how our on-team designer ensures the process stays simple and on schedule. Let’s dive in.
What Compass Concierge is
Compass Concierge is a program that helps you prepare your home for market by identifying, funding, and coordinating pre-sale improvements. You repay the cost from your sale proceeds at closing, so there are no up-front payments during the project. Availability, terms, and any administrative fees vary by market, so you should review the agreement with your agent and escrow officer before moving forward.
Typical services include:
- Project scoping, budgeting, and scheduling
- Vetted contractor selection and oversight
- Payment of invoices during the project
- Professional staging and listing photography
- Project management and quality checks
Bottom line: you focus on your move while a dedicated team manages the work that helps your listing stand out.
Why it works in Hayward
In the Oakland–Hayward–Berkeley metro, buyers expect clean, updated spaces and strong curb appeal. Even small changes can influence how quickly you get offers. Concierge helps you:
- Avoid out-of-pocket costs before you sell
- Coordinate multiple trades through one point of contact
- Speed your time to market with a defined plan and timeline
- Elevate photos and in-person showings to compete in the broader Bay Area
What Concierge usually covers
Concierge focuses on cosmetic updates that deliver visible impact without a full remodel.
High-impact updates
- Interior paint in neutral tones
- Flooring replacement or refinishing, including LVP and engineered hardwood
- Lighting updates, including fixtures and recessed cans
- Targeted kitchen and bath refreshes such as cabinet refinishing and new hardware
- Landscaping improvements for curb appeal
- Small repairs including hardware, faucets, grout, and caulking
- Decluttering, deep cleaning, and organization
Staging and media that convert
- Partial or full professional staging
- High-resolution photography, virtual tours, and floor plans
- Twilight exterior images for added curb appeal
Timelines you can expect
Your exact schedule depends on scope and contractor availability, but these ranges are common:
- Quick refresh with paint, staging, and photos: 1 to 3 weeks
- Moderate scope with some flooring, lighting, and landscaping: 2 to 6 weeks
- Larger cosmetic program including kitchen and bath refreshes: 4 to 10+ weeks
- Staging setup typically 1 to 3 days before photos
- Photography and virtual tour delivered within 24 to 72 hours after the shoot
Sample budgets for Hayward
Actual quotes vary by square footage, materials, and vendor demand. These local ranges are useful planning guides.
Light Refresh — about $4,000 to $12,000
- Select interior paint: $2,000 to $6,000
- Minor lighting updates and partial staging: $1,500 to $4,000
- Professional photos: $300 to $800
- Target timeline: 1 to 3 weeks
Mid-Level Refresh — about $12,000 to $35,000
- Full interior paint: $3,500 to $10,000
- LVP or engineered hardwood in main areas: $6 to $12 per sq ft
- Kitchen and bath touch-ups: $4,000 to $12,000
- Landscaping plus staging: $2,000 to $6,000
- Target timeline: 3 to 6 weeks
Full Cosmetic Overhaul — about $35,000 to $100,000+
- Multiple rooms of new flooring
- Cabinet refinishing or partial kitchen update
- Bathroom resurfacing and fixtures
- Higher-end staging and landscaping
- Target timeline: 6 to 12+ weeks
Common line-item ranges
Use these ballpark figures to weigh options:
- Interior painting for a typical 3-bed home: $3,000 to $10,000
- Flooring
- LVP or engineered hardwood installed: $6 to $12 per sq ft
- Refinish existing hardwood per room: $800 to $3,000
- Lighting updates: $200 to $1,200 per fixture or $1,000 to $5,000 per room
- Kitchen refresh: $3,000 to $15,000
- Bathroom refresh: $1,500 to $8,000
- Landscaping and curb appeal: $1,000 to $7,500
- Staging
- Partial: $1,500 to $4,000
- Full home: $3,000 to $10,000+
- Photos and media package: $300 to $1,200
Permits and local rules
Most cosmetic updates do not require permits. Painting, interior flooring, light fixture swaps, deep cleaning, and basic landscaping are generally straightforward. Permits are typically needed for structural work, significant electrical or plumbing changes, major HVAC modifications, additions, and certain fences or retaining walls. Tree work can also require review, especially for protected species. If your scope includes anything beyond cosmetic updates, plan to confirm requirements with the City of Hayward Building and Planning teams. Concierge can help coordinate timing if permits are needed.
How our designer guides the process
A cohesive design plan is the difference between a home that looks updated and one that truly shines online. Our on-team designer, April, partners with you and the Concierge project manager to select finishes, direct contractors, and stage for a polished debut.
What April handles for you:
- Walkthrough to prioritize updates for maximum visual impact
- A clear plan that separates must-fix items from nice-to-haves
- Finish selections such as paint colors, fixtures, and materials
- Vendor coordination with vetted painters, flooring installers, landscapers, and electricians
- Staging plan and furniture selection tailored to your home
- Final styling and photo-day readiness
Step-by-step workflow
- Initial consultation: tour your home and discuss priorities
- Proposal and estimate: receive a prioritized scope within 24 to 72 hours
- Approval and scheduling: you approve the plan, funding is authorized, and vendors are booked
- Execution: designer oversight and project management to keep work on track
- Staging and photography: final styling, media production, and listing launch
- Post-listing support: showing prep tips and de-staging after closing
Benefits you will notice
- One point of design decision-making to minimize delays
- Consistent, buyer-friendly finishes that photograph beautifully
- Staging that enhances room size, light, and flow
Photos that sell
High-quality media can make or break your launch. Plan for:
- Pro photos after staging, timed for the best natural light
- Twilight exteriors for curb appeal
- Floor plans and virtual tours to increase online engagement
- Responsible wide-angle and HDR use to avoid distortion
Photography packages in the Bay Area typically range from $300 to $1,200 depending on inclusions such as drone or virtual tour. Before-and-after visuals of key rooms can be powerful in your marketing and on open house materials.
Is Concierge right for you?
Ask yourself:
- Do I want to avoid up-front costs while preparing my home?
- Will paint, floors, lighting, and staging help me compete with nearby listings?
- What is my target timing to list, and does my scope fit the timelines above?
- Which improvements will best support my pricing strategy and net proceeds?
If your answers point to presentation upgrades and a smoother path to market, Concierge can be a smart option. As with any program, terms vary by market, so you should review the agreement details with your agent and escrow team.
How to get started
- Schedule a walk-through. We will assess condition, prioritize updates, and map a timeline.
- Review your scope and budget. You will see a clear plan with estimates and sequence.
- Approve and launch. Concierge funds the work and coordinates vetted vendors. You stay informed with check-ins at each milestone.
Ready to explore if Compass Concierge fits your Hayward sale? Connect with The Duarte Team for a friendly, no-pressure plan tailored to your goals.
FAQs
Who pays for Compass Concierge work?
- Concierge typically fronts the costs and you reimburse from sale proceeds at closing, subject to local program terms in your agreement.
Will pre-sale improvements delay my listing?
- For small to moderate scopes, timelines are often 1 to 6 weeks with coordinated scheduling designed to meet your preferred launch date.
Do Hayward projects need permits?
- Cosmetic work usually does not, but structural, electrical, plumbing, major HVAC, and certain fences or tree work may require permits. Confirm with the City of Hayward.
How much can staging and updates add to my sale price?
- Results vary by home and pricing strategy. Staging and cohesive updates often reduce days on market and help maximize buyer interest.
What if my home does not sell?
- You remain responsible for repayment under the Concierge agreement. Review specifics with your agent and escrow before you begin.
Can I choose my own contractors?
- Concierge often uses vetted vendors and may accommodate preferences within project scope, scheduling, and budget constraints.
Ready to plan your sale with a clear, cost-effective strategy? Reach out to The Duarte Team for a free walkthrough and personalized plan. Request a Free Home Valuation at The Duarte Team.
