Want to sell without fronting the cost of paint, staging, or photography, yet still hit the market looking your best? If you are in Medina or listing for Edina buyers, you have likely heard about Compass Concierge. You want clarity on how it really works, what it covers, and how fast you can get from walkthrough to live listing.
This guide gives you a practical, design-led overview of Compass Concierge tailored to Edina and Medina. You will learn eligibility, the types of improvements typically covered, realistic timelines, and how repayment works at closing. You will also see where permits can slow things down and how to decide if Concierge is worth it. Let’s dive in.
Compass Concierge, in plain English
Compass Concierge is a seller program that advances or defers approved home prep and marketing costs until closing. You list with a Compass agent, complete targeted updates and presentation work, then repay the total from your proceeds at closing. It aims to help you sell faster and for more by removing the upfront expense barrier.
Concierge is not a traditional loan. It functions as an advance or deferred payment tied to your sale. Specific terms, fees, and any interest vary by market and agreement. Your Compass agent will confirm current terms in writing before you enroll.
Who qualifies in Edina and Medina
To use Concierge, you need to list with a Compass agent and complete the program paperwork. Your agent evaluates whether proposed updates are cost-effective for your property and likely to improve marketability.
Single-family homes and condos are common candidates. Acceptance depends on condition, projected resale, and scope. Very unusual or high-risk properties may face limits. You will authorize Concierge to coordinate vendors and to be reimbursed from your closing proceeds.
Local rules matter. Edina and Medina have separate building departments. Projects that require permits can impact eligibility and timing. Cosmetic work is simplest. Larger structural changes may be excluded or delayed if permitting will push your schedule.
Covered improvements that boost appeal
With your agent’s guidance and local vendor availability, Concierge commonly supports:
Cosmetic and staging
- Professional staging, decor, and layout
- Decluttering and organization
- Interior and exterior painting
- Deep cleaning and carpet cleaning
Repairs and refreshes
- Minor lighting, plumbing fixture, and hardware updates
- Flooring repair or replacement, including hardwood refinishing
- Light kitchen and bath refreshes, such as cabinet refinishing or new hardware
- Landscaping, mulch, plantings, and exterior power washing
Marketing and presentation
- Professional photography for interiors and exteriors
- Aerial or drone visuals where local rules allow
- 3D tours, floor plans, and virtual staging
- Targeted digital advertising and enhanced listing services
Inspections and safety
- Pre-listing inspections where helpful
- Minor code-related corrections to streamline your sale-readiness
Your agent will prioritize updates buyers in Edina and Medina value most, such as neutral finishes, refreshed kitchens and baths, and polished curb appeal.
What Concierge usually does not cover
Concierge typically avoids large-scale structural remodels, additions, and other permit-heavy projects that lengthen timelines. If a task requires significant permitting or specialized inspections, it may be deferred, limited, or excluded. Your agent will align scope with realistic timing and market strategy.
Timeline you can expect
Every property is unique, but the cadence below reflects common ranges in Hennepin County:
- Planning and approval: 1 to 7 days for the agent walkthrough, scope, estimates, and your sign-off.
- Vendor scheduling: 1 to 14 days to book stagers, contractors, and photographers, depending on season and demand.
- Typical project durations
- Staging setup: 1 to 3 days
- Photography and tours: 1 to 3 days from scheduling
- Full interior paint of an average home: 3 to 10 days
- Flooring replacement or refinishing: 3 to 14 days
- Minor repairs and deep cleaning: 1 to 7 days
- Landscaping and curb appeal: 1 to 7 days
Example fast prep. Staging, photos, minor repairs, and deep cleaning can often get you market-ready in 1 to 3 weeks if vendors are available and no permits are required.
Example larger refresh. If you add flooring and cabinet refinishing, plan for about 2 to 6 weeks from scope approval to completion, plus any extra time if permits are needed.
Seasonality matters. Twin Cities exterior work gets busiest spring through fall. Interior updates happen year-round. Your agent will leverage trusted vendors, yet lead times can still extend in peak seasons.
How repayment works at closing
You repay the total Concierge costs from your sale proceeds at closing. Invoices from vendors are compiled and paid through the closing statement. You should receive an itemized summary of expenses repaid.
Fees and interest vary by program terms and date, and your local Compass agent will confirm current details. Many sellers treat Concierge as an investment. If updates increase buyer willingness or sale price by more than the cost and any program fees, you can improve your net. Your agent will guide pricing strategy around recent comps and presentation.
Before you sign, review the scope, vendor terms, repayment authorization, fees, and any cancellation or change-order language. If you are curious about what happens if your listing does not close, ask your agent to walk through the agreement timeline and any contingencies.
Permits and local realities
Edina and Medina have different building departments and requirements. Cosmetic improvements such as paint, carpet, and hardware usually do not require permits. Electrical, plumbing, structural changes, and major window or door replacements likely do.
Permits can impact whether a project fits your timeline. Concierge favors scopes that avoid long permitting delays. When permits are essential, expect extended scheduling for both work and inspections. Your agent will help you determine what triggers a permit before you start.
Is Concierge worth it for your home
Concierge is built for situations where targeted updates are likely to improve your sale price or reduce days on market. Your agent’s market analysis will compare a modest investment against the presentation level of competing listings. In higher-price suburban neighborhoods, buyers expect move-in-ready condition and a polished look, which often supports the case for focused refreshes.
Think in terms of cost versus impact. Neutral paint, floor refinishing, light kitchen or bath refreshes, and strong photography often deliver visible results for a reasonable spend. If a proposal includes major structural changes or lengthy permitting, it may not be a fit for Concierge or your desired timeline.
Step-by-step: how to get started
Request a walkthrough. Your Compass agent will tour your property, discuss goals and timing, and identify high-impact updates and marketing needs.
Align on a scope and budget. You will receive a proposed Concierge plan that outlines tasks, estimated costs, and a realistic schedule based on vendor availability in Hennepin County.
Review and sign program documents. These include the scope of work, vendor agreements, and repayment authorization from sale proceeds. Confirm all fees in writing.
Schedule vendors. Your agent coordinates stagers, contractors, and media pros. Expect quicker starts for cosmetic work and longer lead times during peak seasons.
Complete updates and launch marketing. After work is done, professional photos, tours, and targeted digital marketing present your home at its best.
Close and repay. At closing, Concierge expenses are paid from proceeds per your itemized statement.
Why work with a design-forward team
You gain more than funding when you combine Concierge with design-led guidance. A team that understands architecture, materials, and buyer psychology can help you choose the right updates at the right price. That alignment prevents over-scoping, shortens timelines, and keeps presentation consistent from curb to closing.
At the Turnquist Spilseth Group in Compass Wayzata, integrated design insight and polished marketing meet practical execution. You get a boutique, consultative approach that aligns scope to market data and lifestyle storytelling, so your listing resonates with the right buyers across Edina, Medina, and the western suburbs.
Ready to see what your home needs and what you can skip? Reach out for a no-pressure, in-person assessment. We will review comps, a tailored Concierge scope, realistic timelines, and the path to launch with strong photography, staging, and distribution.
FAQs
How does Compass Concierge differ from a loan
- Concierge advances or defers approved prep and marketing expenses to closing instead of acting as a traditional consumer loan. Terms and fees vary, so confirm current details in writing with your agent.
Which Medina or Edina projects usually get approved
- Cosmetic updates, light repairs, staging, photography, floor refinishing, and landscape refreshes are common. Permit-heavy structural changes are less likely to fit typical Concierge scopes.
How long does it take from walkthrough to live listing
- Many homes are ready in 1 to 3 weeks for light prep. Larger refreshes with flooring or cabinet refinishing commonly run 2 to 6 weeks, plus extra time if permits are needed.
What happens if my home does not sell
- Repayment obligations in that scenario depend on your Concierge agreement. Ask your agent to explain timelines, contingencies, and any penalties before you sign.
Can I pick my own contractors for Concierge work
- You can usually request preferred vendors, but your agent may recommend vetted partners for quality, scheduling, and billing consistency.
Will improvements and repairs require new disclosures in Minnesota
- Cosmetic changes typically do not, but any material defects discovered or repaired during prep may require disclosure under Minnesota rules. Confirm specifics with your agent.
