Frequently Asked Questions

We're honored to help you find answers to your questions. Below you will find answers to dozens of the questions we're asked most commonly but we fully understand there's more. Please reach out, ask a question, don't be shy. We're here to help. We have a service mentality and we are more than happy to be a friend to you on your journey whether you do business with us or not

Selling your home

  • A homeowner has a few options when selling: selling to an investor, flipper, or cash buyer can result in a quick sale but usually yields the lowest price. For sale by owner (FSBO) could yield a higher amount but requires the most work. Hiring a listing agent to market your home requires less work and usually yields the highest sales price.

  • No. A homeowner may sell their own home without a realtor (FSBO), handling paperwork, showings, and staging. If you already have a buyer, a Real Estate Attorney can handle the transaction. That said, hiring a realtor is ideal — they have local market knowledge, marketing tools homeowners can't access, and a network of buyer's agents, inspectors, stagers, and contractors.

  • Yes. Selling as-is can be the quickest option but usually yields the lowest price, as it tends to attract investors and flippers. Selling to a single-family resident is possible, though the timeline and price can vary depending on the home's condition, occupancy, and the time of year you list.

  • Close of Escrow (COE) typically takes 30–45 days. Cash and non-contingent offers can close much faster.

Renovations & construction

  • Homeowners typically pay for repairs — whether out-of-pocket, through a construction loan, or by working with Nurture Source to fund the project and repay from home equity at close of escrow.

  • Our in-house designers are experts at selecting finishes for any aesthetic. Selections vary depending on budget, age, style, and location. Homeowners may also choose finishes, though this requires additional time to coordinate, procure, and confirm sizing and fit.

  • In our experience, a well-designed kitchen, continuous flooring, updated lighting, and staging add the most value. It's also important to ensure roofing, mechanical systems (electrical/plumbing), and exterior work are in good shape so the new buyer can obtain homeowners insurance.

  • Timelines depend on the scope. Basic cosmetic work takes 3–6 weeks. Permitted work involving walls or mechanical systems takes 12–16 weeks. Projects adding square footage or height can take 6–12 months.

  • Every Scope of Work includes a Project Contingency budget for unforeseen issues, estimating errors, or cost overruns. If additional work beyond the contingency is needed, the Project Manager will issue a change order.

  • Nurture Source manages the remodel using our in-house project managers and designers.

The partnership process

  • If you're selling a home, you may have the option to partner with Nurture Source. We offer a cash price or guaranteed minimum based on the home's as-is value, provide financing for the project, and then share in the profit from the net positive amount.

  • We conduct a proforma analysis covering as-is values, after-repair values, commission, financing costs, existing loans, and taxes to determine if a home qualifies for the partnership approach.

  • Profit shares range from 70/30 to 50/50 depending on our proforma analysis.

  • Escrow distributes funds to each party. Prior to closing, escrow will provide a payoff statement.

  • We track costs throughout the project. If unforeseen costs arise, the Project Contingency budget is utilized or a change order may be required.

  • Nurture Source works with your Real Estate Agent to determine appropriate as-is and after-repair values. Using this delta, we determine the right investment amount to maximize your chances of selling at top dollar while managing downside risk.

Financing & Funding

  • Projects may be funded by the homeowner, or — if you're selling — you may elect to have Nurture Source fund the project. Financing charges are 1% per month of the project total, plus a one-time management fee of 1.5–2%. To qualify, we review the preliminary title report, existing mortgage balance, and the agent's comparative market analysis.

  • If you elect Nurture Source financing, the loan is secured by a Deed of Trust and takes a position on title. You then receive a Promissory Note to be signed and notarized.

  • Yes. The mortgage along with any outstanding lien balances are paid off at the close of escrow.

  • The home should have enough equity to cover the mortgage and construction costs. Nurture Source can finance almost any project with a 70% loan-to-value ratio, though exceptions may exist depending on the after-repair value.

Real estate & market questions

  • Ultimately, a ready and willing buyer determines your home's value. A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) helps establish an appropriate list and sales price, using recently sold nearby homes with similar square footage, bed/bath count, and condition.

  • We serve Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, Orinda, San Francisco, and Marin.

  • Home prices inform the proposed scope of work — how much to invest, how extensive the project should be, and even finish selections.

  • The best time to sell is when you're ready. If you're not in a rush, an agent can help identify the most favorable market conditions.

Risks & comparisons

  • Cash offers are quick but typically yield the lowest price — investors build renovation and holding costs into their offer (e.g., a $1,000,000 retail home may only attract $600,000 cash offers). The partnership approach provides cash at the time of sale plus a profit share on the net positive amount.

  • Renovation financing lets the homeowner retain full control and all proceeds — a higher return than a partnership, but higher risk. The partnership approach reduces risk since you receive cash at the time of sale as a guarantee.

  • The partnership includes Nurture Source's professional services, bi-weekly status reports, accounting, visual designs, timelines, and a vast vendor network. While some homeowners are construction-savvy, most find difficulty pulling permits, managing trades, and tracking costs.

Legal & ownership

  • For a typical renovation, the client remains the owner. In the profit share model, Nurture Source will own the home with the client as an interested party.

  • A Deed of Trust will be recorded, and a Promissory Note will be signed.

About nurture source

  • Gary Faber founded Nurture Source over 20 years ago as a staging company. As projects grew larger, the company merged with Benjamin Kimmich to become a full-service Design, Build, and Investment firm.

  • Over 2,000 projects in 20 years. Nurture Source can work on up to 30 projects simultaneously and completes 60–80 projects annually.

  • Projects range from stage-only work around $10,000 to $1,000,000+. As a General Contractor, we manage projects of any size — including floor plan redesigns, home additions, and ADUs.

  • No. We work with homeowners, new home buyers, and investors.

  • Our team's expertise and agent-partner network set us apart. Completing 60+ projects a year has made us experts in local values, scope planning, and client needs. Our vendor network allows for faster project completion, and all work comes with a 1-year transferable warranty.

  • Yes! Did you know that not everyone in the home renovation game is fully licensed and insured? We make sure we are covering all of our bases to fully reduce liability for listing agents, sellers, and even future buyers. We are committed to doing it right.

  • We are proud to be known as leaders in the industry; we know when to take the work off of your plate and when to let you step in and shine. After nearly two decades of experience, our process perfectly centers beautiful design that works—we know how to drive value and do it in a way that’s high-quality, easy, quick, and safe.