Maximizing Your Net Proceeds: Using Commission Savings to Offset Pre-Listing Repair Costs in NOLA

For homeowners across the Northshore, the decision to sell often begins with a walk-through of your own home, but with a buyer’s eyes. You stand in your living room in Covington, your kitchen in Mandeville, or your backyard in Madisonville, and you start to see it—the little things. The scuffed baseboards from years of family life, the dated brass light fixture in the dining room, the subtle peeling on the exterior trim thanks to our Louisiana humidity.

And then the question hits: “Is it worth spending money to fix all this before we sell?”

This is the classic home seller’s dilemma, a paradox of spending money to make money. Every dollar you put into pre-listing repairs is a dollar that comes directly out of your pocket. The only way it makes sense is if that investment generates a significantly higher sale price and a faster contract. The ultimate goal for any seller isn’t just a high sale price; it’s to maximize your net proceeds—the actual cash you walk away with after every single cost is paid.

But what if you could fund those high-impact, value-adding repairs without touching your personal savings? What if the money was already there, hidden within the very cost of selling your home? At 1 Percent Lists, we pioneered a smarter way to sell right here in Louisiana, a model that has since saved homeowners millions across the country by doing just that.

Key Takeaways

• The Commission Squeeze: A traditional 5-6% real estate commission is often the single largest expense in a home sale, making it financially difficult for sellers to also fund necessary pre-listing repairs.
• Unlock Hidden Capital: By listing with a low-cost real estate broker like 1 Percent Lists, you can save thousands. This isn’t just savings; it’s capital you can unlock and reinvest into your property.
• Strategic ROI: Reinvesting your commission savings into high-return projects—like boosting curb appeal, minor kitchen and bath updates, and fresh neutral paint—can lead to a higher final sale price and a quicker sale.
• Full Service, Not Full Price: You don’t have to sacrifice expert service for a lower commission. The 1 Percent Lists model provides full brokerage services, from professional photography to skilled negotiation, for just a 1% listing fee.

The Traditional Math: How 6% Commissions Squeeze Your Net Proceeds

In the greater New Orleans area, the standard real estate commission model has remained largely unchanged for decades. Typically, sellers pay 5-6% of their home’s final sale price, a fee that is split between the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. While this has long been the accepted cost of doing business, it represents a massive financial undertaking that directly impacts your bottom line.

Let’s put a real number on it. Consider a home for sale in one of the popular Northshore subdivisions with a sale price of $450,000.

A 6% commission on that sale is $27,000.

This is, by a huge margin, the biggest single expense you’ll face. When you’re already bracing for a $27,000 deduction from your equity, the thought of spending an additional $5,000 on new paint, landscaping, and updated fixtures feels daunting. It feels risky. This financial pressure is the primary reason many sellers choose to list their homes “as-is,” potentially leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table and waiting longer for the right offer to come along.

The 1 Percent Lists Solution: Unlock Your Home’s Hidden “Repair Budget”

There is a smarter way to approach the financial equation of selling your home. As a thought leader in the real estate industry, we saw this fundamental problem and engineered a solution that puts your equity back where it belongs: in your pocket. This isn’t just about a lower fee; it’s a paradigm shift in how you fund your home’s path to a top-dollar sale.

The New Math: How a 1% Listing Fee Transforms Your Bottom Line

Let’s revisit that same $450,000 home sale in Mandeville, but this time, apply the innovative 1 Percent Lists model. Instead of a 3% listing fee, you pay just 1%. You still offer a competitive commission to the buyer’s agent (we’ll use 2.5% for this example), bringing your total commission to just 3.5%.

The difference is staggering.

With one simple choice, you have instantly saved $11,250.

Your Savings are Your Repair Budget

This is the core of our strategy. That $11,250 is not just “money saved.” It is “capital unlocked.” This is the money you can now strategically reinvest back into your property to address the scuffed baseboards, the dated fixtures, and the tired paint. This is your dedicated repair budget, funded entirely by the efficiency of a modern, fair commission structure. You can now make the improvements that attract better offers and a higher final sale price without dipping into your savings account.

Full Service, Not Full Price: The Best of Both Worlds

The most common question we get is, “What’s the catch?” The answer is simple: there isn’t one. We are a full-service, low cost real estate broker. When you list for 1 percent commission with us, you receive the complete, professional representation you expect and deserve, including:

• Full MLS Listing: Your home is syndicated to Zillow, Realtor.com, and thousands of other sites.
• Professional Photography: We capture your home’s best features to make a stunning first impression online.
• Yard Sign & Lockbox: The essential tools for marketing and showings.
• Expert Pricing Strategy: Leveraging deep knowledge of the Mandeville housing market trends and beyond.
• Showing Coordination: We manage the logistics so you don’t have to.
• Skilled Negotiation and Contract Management: An expert agent guiding you from offer to closing table.

You get the best of both worlds: premium service and maximum savings.

Strategic Repairs: How to Invest Your Commission Savings for the Highest ROI in NOLA

Now that you have your “unlocked” repair budget, the key is to invest it wisely. Not all repairs are created equal. As your strategic partner, we guide you toward the improvements that deliver the highest return on investment in the Northshore market. According to the Remodeling 2023 Cost vs. Value Report, exterior improvements and minor kitchen remodels consistently offer some of the best financial returns for sellers.

First Impressions: Boosting Curb Appeal for the Northshore Market

Curb appeal is everything. It’s the first photo buyers see online and their first feeling when they pull up to the house. In a place like Louisiana, a little attention here goes a long way.

• Smart Investments: Use a portion of your savings to pressure wash away a year’s worth of humidity and pollen from the siding, driveway, and walkways. Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door and shutters for a dramatic pop of color. Update exterior light fixtures and house numbers for a modern touch. Finally, finish with fresh pine straw or mulch in all the garden beds—it’s an inexpensive touch that makes a property look clean and well-maintained. The charm of life in Covington, Louisiana starts at the curb.

The Heart of the Home: Minor Kitchen & Bath Facelifts

Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes, but you don’t need a full-gut remodel. A strategic facelift can have just as much impact for a fraction of the cost.

• Smart Investments: Instead of replacing cabinets, have them professionally painted in a modern neutral like white or gray. Swap out dated hardware for sleek, new pulls and knobs. Replace old faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms with stylish, updated models. A new tile backsplash in the kitchen is a weekend project that adds immense perceived value.

Light, Bright, and Neutral: The Power of Paint

Without question, the most cost-effective, highest-ROI improvement you can make is a fresh coat of paint. It instantly makes a space feel larger, brighter, cleaner, and newer.

• Smart Investments: Neutralize any bold or taste-specific wall colors with a universally appealing shade like Sherwin-Williams’ “Agreeable Gray” or Benjamin Moore’s “Revere Pewter.” This creates a blank canvas, allowing potential buyers to envision their own furniture and lives in the space, rather than being distracted by your design choices.

The Original Low-Cost Broker, Born Right Here in Louisiana

We’re not just another discount real estate broker. The 1 Percent Lists model that has grown into a nationwide franchise, saving homeowners millions of dollars, started right here. We pioneered this smarter, more equitable way to sell real estate because we believe homeowners deserve to keep more of their hard-earned equity.

We know the NOLA market—from the historic homes of the Garden District to the waterfront communities of Eden Isles—because it’s our home. Our deep local roots mean we provide unparalleled market insight combined with a revolutionary business model. You no longer have to choose between a full-service agent and keeping more of your money. You deserve both.

Stop Leaving Money on the Table: Calculate Your Savings Today

The traditional way of selling a home forces you into a false choice: either sell “as-is” and risk a lower price, or drain your savings on repairs while also paying a massive commission.

There is a better way. By switching from a 6% commission to a 1% listing fee with 1 Percent Lists, you can unlock thousands of dollars in your own equity. This newfound capital can be strategically reinvested into your home to command a higher price and attract buyers faster. The result is a smoother sale and, most importantly, maximized net proceeds at the closing table.

Your Simple Next Steps

1. See Your Potential Savings. Visit our online Savings Calculator to see exactly how much you can save by listing with us.
2. Get a Free, No-Obligation Home Valuation. Let our experts provide a complimentary analysis of your home’s current market value and suggest a powerful pricing strategy.
3. Schedule a Consultation. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you fund your pre-listing repairs and put more money in your pocket at closing.