Engel & Völkers Atlanta to Offer Pre-Listing Renovations

A luxury brokerage is staging a revenue stream with pre-listing makeovers.

Engel & Völkers Atlanta is partnering with Maryland-based contractor Curbio to offer home improvement services to clients ahead of listing, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported.

The brokerage is the latest to join “Powered by Curbio” and is launching a new service tier for the brokerage, branded E&V Elevate. The initiative gives agents the ability to request pre-sale renovations through a digital platform, allowing clients to upgrade their homes without paying upfront. The financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

It aims to meet rising buyer expectations for turnkey homes, particularly in the higher-end Atlanta market.

“Buyers in today’s market are seeking properties that are move-in ready and in great shape,” said Chris Burell, chief growth officer at Engel & Völkers Atlanta.

Curbio offers next-day walkthroughs followed by full repair estimates and handles work like painting, plumbing, deep cleaning and staging. Founded in 2016 as Max Sale Price and rebranded a year later, Curbio has expanded to more than 60 U.S. cities.

The move aligns with a broader trend among brokerages catering to luxury clientele; pre-listing upgrades and concierge-level services have become a competitive edge in softening markets.

Engel & Völkers Atlanta is one of the city’s top-performing residential brokerages by sales volume, closing about $730 million last year across a team of roughly 200 agents, the outlet said.

Atlanta’s homebuying market is shifting toward a more balanced environment, with inventory levels rising to pre-pandemic norms and about 30 percent of homes listed for sale cutting prices before they sell.

Properties that have undergone recent renovations tend to sell faster and at higher prices, especially in competitive markets where buyers are looking for move-in ready homes.

Home staging is important in luxury real estate sales, and the business of staging is a growing industry. Tech-enabled and strategic staging are meant to stir emotional reactions in potential buyers.

— Judah Duke