Most agents sat on the sidelines when virtual tours made their debut. Now, they are ubiquitous.
Back in the mid to late 1990s, when virtual tours were primarily used for luxury listings, they felt clunky and slow, and often required buyers to download special browser plugins just to view a listing.
I remember vividly IPIX and its 360 virtual tour tech at the first mainstream Inman Real Estate Connect at the San Francisco Hilton. It wowed the crowd but cost $1000 a tour.
Most agents initially looked at virtual tours as a marketing gimmick until around 2010. Fast forward to today, and they are a mainstay in most property marketing efforts. What started as a novelty quickly evolved into an essential part of every real estate marketing strategy.
It was also data-driven: Over 67% of buyers expect a virtual tour on listings, according to NAR research, and it remains a Top 5 feature consumers want to see on a website.
Presale renovation is following the same path – and it’s accelerating fast.
Once viewed as something only available to flippers or luxury homeowners, presale renovation is now becoming a mainstream movement. And if you think it sounds complicated or out of reach for a typical seller, think again.
A groundbreaking new report from Revive Real Estate reveals how today’s presale renovation model is doing for homeowners what Uber did for transportation: removing friction, reducing complexity, and putting more power in the consumer’s hands.
The 2025 Renovation Report: Data that changes the game
Revive’s new white paper, “The Power of Presale Renovations: Transforming Properties for Maximum Market Impact and ROI,” is free to download and is the first of its kind. It’s an industry-deep dive into how strategic, AI-powered home upgrades are reshaping real estate.
Based on more than 1,200 completed projects by Revive, the data that explains the movement is astonishing:
- $145,000: The average added profit for a seller who completes a Revive renovation (and they stress individual results will vary, but that’s a huge average number)
- 112% ROI: The typical return sellers see on their renovation investment
- 28% increase in property value after improvements
The market also is priming the presale renovation movement as well:
- 80% of millennial buyers prefer move-in ready homes, and millennials comprise the largest group of home buyers.
Again, presale renovations aren’t a fad. They’re a movement that empowers sellers to act like flippers but removes much of the risk, the hassle, and the need for upfront cash.
Almost an “Easy Button” for strategic home flipping
Revive is leading the pack by engineering a new kind of flipping and now leaning into AI: a path where the homeowner doesn’t lift a hammer or write a check. Sellers tap into a fully managed process where Revive provides the funding, planning, and vetted contractors to complete renovations before a home hits the market. Sellers don’t pay a dime until closing.
That’s not just convenience; it’s transformative.
As Revive Co-Founder Dalip Jaggi puts it, “Presale renovations are not just about aesthetic improvements to appeal to the maximum number of potential buyers; they are also a powerful tool for wealth creation.”
AI is driving the shift
The biggest difference between past renovation strategies and today’s presale approach? Data. Revive AI, the first smart renovation planning tool of its kind, analyzes listing photos to determine property condition, suggests the most valuable improvements, and estimates the after-renovation value (ARV).
Key AI-powered features include:
- Computer vision that diagnoses what a home needs
- Market-tuned renovation recommendations based on buyer trends
- Budget estimates sourced from local contractor pricing
- A neighborhood benchmarking tool to compare local home conditions
This level of insight helps sellers make smart, profitable decisions. Perhaps more importantly, it gives real estate agents a data-backed game plan to win listings.
Meeting the new buyer mindset
Modern buyers don’t want a project. They want a lifestyle. The report notes that nearly 4 out of 5 millennials – again, the largest homebuying group – prefer move-in ready homes. These buyers are often juggling remote work, starting a family, and facing higher mortgage rates. Renovating isn’t on their radar.
Presale renovation ensures sellers don’t lose these buyers’ attention. It makes listings competitive, faster to sell, and, historically, far more likely to generate multiple offers.
Real sellers, real results: A case study from Austin, TX
In the report are several real-world case studies, including one in Austin, Texas: a four-bedroom, three-bath home was originally valued at $900,000. With a $114,346 investment fronted by Revive, the project focused on strategic, high-ROI enhancements: updating the flooring, two full bathroom renovations, fresh interior paint, repairing tree damage, and professional staging.
The result? A final sale price that was $1,205,000, a $305,000 gain over its as-is value. The seller repaid Revive at closing and captured a 167% return on investment, a profit of $190,654 for the sellers from the renovation, and a 34% increase in commission for the agent!
This is what is driving the presale renovation movement: maximizing the final sales price for sellers while increasing GCI for agents.
Agents become wealth strategists
Presale renovation doesn’t just change the listing, it also changes an agent’s role. Agents are more than marketers and negotiators. With tools like the Revive Renovation Report in hand, you become a strategic advisor guiding your client toward potentially additional six-figure profits.
When a homeowner faces foreclosure or financial hardship, a presale renovation can even serve as a lifeline, turning a potential loss into a life-changing gain.
This isn’t a trend. It’s a tipping point.
Like virtual tours, presale renovation is shifting from “nice to have” to “must discuss” for every listing presentation.
The 2025 Revive Renovation Report doesn’t just document this shift: it will help drive it. Whether you’re a real estate agent, a brokerage leader, or a homeowner exploring your options as a seller, the report is a must-read.
Download the full report for free at https://lp.revive.realestate/renovation-report
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