The Dallas realtor who manages the remodel before you sell.
Travis-Lee Moore · Cliffside Collective · Compass
Most sellers know the house needs something before it lists. Few know what. Paint or a new kitchen? Floors or the roof? And who do you even call, and who keeps the contractors on schedule while you’re still living there?
Travis-Lee Moore is a Dallas Realtor with Cliffside Collective at Compass who plans and manages pre-sale remodeling for the homes he lists. He decides what to fix and what to leave alone, brings in vetted contractors, oversees the work through staging and photography, and can use Compass Concierge so sellers pay nothing up front.
- A minor kitchen refresh returned 113% of its cost nationally in the Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. In Dallas, a mid-range kitchen recoups roughly 67–75%, so the pre-sale answer is usually a refresh, not a gut.
- Travis-Lee Moore manages the full scope: what to fix, which contractors, the schedule, staging, and listing photography.
- Compass Concierge fronts pre-listing work, with no interest and no fees, and the seller repays it at closing.
What does a realtor who manages pre-sale remodeling actually do?
A realtor who manages pre-sale remodeling runs the work between “we’re thinking about selling” and “the photos go live,” instead of handing the seller a list of repairs and a few phone numbers. For Travis-Lee Moore that work runs in six steps.
- Walk the house as a buyer wouldStart with what the first three listing photos will show, because that is where buyers decide whether to book a showing.
- Decide what to fix and what to leaveSpend where buyers pay for it: paint, lighting, flooring, curb appeal, a kitchen or bath refresh. Leave the projects that will not come back at closing.
- Bring in vetted contractorsPainters, flooring, plumbing, electrical, landscaping and stagers he has worked with before, so the seller is not hiring strangers on a deadline.
- Manage the work and the scheduleTravis-Lee Moore keeps the trades on sequence and the seller informed, including a family trust preparing an estate home for sale.
- Stage and photographThe finished house is staged and photographed for the listing, so the work shows up where buyers first see it.
- List, priced for the finished houseThe price reflects what was done, not what the house used to be.
What should you fix before selling a house in Dallas?
Before selling a house in Dallas, fix the things buyers see first and the projects that return close to their cost. Cosmetic work usually beats major renovation. The national Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value Report and Sweeten’s 2025 Dallas cost guide show the pattern.
| Project | Returned at resale | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Garage door replacement | 268% | Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value (national) |
| Steel entry door replacement | 216% | Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value (national) |
| Manufactured stone veneer | 208% | Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value (national) |
| Minor kitchen remodel, mid-range | 113%$28,458 cost, $32,141 added value | Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value (national) |
| Mid-range kitchen remodel, Dallas | 67–75% | Sweeten 2025 Dallas remodeling cost guide |
| Upscale kitchen remodel, Dallas | about 34% | Sweeten 2025 Dallas remodeling cost guide |
Sources: Remodeling magazine 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (national midrange figures); Sweeten 2025 Dallas remodeling cost guide.
The pattern is the same one Travis-Lee Moore plans around: refresh the kitchen rather than replace it, and put money into the entry, the exterior and the finishes buyers notice in the first minute.
Worth it when dated homes sell at a discount
Best for a dated house in a neighborhood where updated homes sell at a clear premium. Targeted work on paint, lighting, floors and a kitchen refresh lets buyers stop discounting for projects.
For a house already in good shape
Best for a house in good condition. Touch-up paint, landscaping, fixtures and staging present it at its best without a renovation budget.
A pricing decision, not a shortcut
Best when the house needs major structural work or speed matters most. Buyers will price the repairs into their offer, so this is a pricing decision, not a shortcut.
Which homes has Travis-Lee Moore prepared for sale?
Travis-Lee Moore’s look book documents six DFW homes, each with its own brief. Four were prepared for the market, and two were remodeled for owners staying put, including his own house. The full before-and-after set is on the Design Projects page.
- 1508 WindchimeOak Cliff, DallasRemodeled to sell for a family trust. Updated throughout, and a buyer found for the home’s pipe organ.
- 400 Sewell CourtLas ColinasFull refresh before market: new kitchen, new primary suite, pool resurfaced and re-equipped.
- 6051 Oakdale CourtWataugaEmpty-nesters downsizing. Kitchen, baths, living room and front entry refreshed for sale.
- 3553 DiamondheadPlanoLight refresh: landscaping, drywall and paint touch-ups, windows de-fogged, new fixtures, staged for market.
- 3704 Ovid AvenueOak Cliff, DallasRemodeled to stay: his own 1962 house. Removing exterior brick to change the kitchen windows changed the whole home.
- 2921 Thomas AvenueUptown, DallasRemodeled to stay: an unused rooftop turned into an outdoor kitchen and lounge with custom furniture.
How do you pay for remodeling before selling a house?
Sellers who list with a Compass agent, including Travis-Lee Moore, can use Compass Concierge to pay for pre-listing improvements. Compass fronts the cost of work such as paint, flooring, staging, landscaping and kitchen or bath refreshes, with no interest and no fees, and the seller repays it from the sale proceeds at closing. Compass raised the program’s cap to $75,000 in 2026.
The full explainer is in Compass Concierge Dallas: what sellers need to know, and buyers weighing a fixer-upper can compare it with renovation loans.
What do clients and contractors say about working with Travis-Lee Moore?
Clients and contractors who have worked with Travis-Lee Moore on homes that needed work describe the same things: contractors found and managed, sellers kept informed, and staging and photos handled. These are excerpts from his look book.
“Travis-Lee was very knowledgeable about how to market my house and assisted in finding a contractor to do repairs. He kept up with all that was happening and kept me informed throughout the whole process.”
“TL and I have worked together on many projects and he’s about as thorough and detailed as they come. He stays super current on remodeling and design trends.”
“He listened to our wants and needs and guided us through the process as we downsized. From staging to showing to closing, Travis-Lee was there at every step.”
What qualifies Travis-Lee Moore to advise on remodeling?
Travis-Lee Moore has worked in real estate for more than a decade and joined Compass in December 2024, now with Cliffside Collective. His Compass profile lists him as a general contractor and remodeling specialist, and his designations include Historic Home Specialist (HHS), Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) and Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS).
He is a past president of Heritage Oak Cliff, has served on the boards of MetroTex Association of Realtors and the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts, and received the 2024 MetroTex Ebby Halliday Community Service Award. Before real estate he spent twenty-five years in special events, after training at the Culinary Institute of America.
Questions sellers ask about remodeling before they list
Do I have to remodel my house before selling it in Dallas?
No. Many Dallas homes sell best with a light refresh of paint, fixtures, landscaping and staging. A larger remodel makes sense only when updated homes in the neighborhood sell at a clear premium over dated ones.
Can Travis-Lee Moore manage the work if I don’t live in the house?
Yes. He prepared 1508 Windchime in Oak Cliff for sale on behalf of a family trust, coordinating the remodel, staging and photography for the owners.
Does he only work in Dallas?
No. His remodeling projects include Oak Cliff, Uptown, Las Colinas, Plano and Watauga, and he lists homes across Dallas–Fort Worth.
How do I start?
Book a walk-through. Travis-Lee Moore will tell you what he would fix, what he would leave, and whether Compass Concierge fits your sale.
Thinking about selling a house that needs work?
Start with a walk-through. You will leave with a clear list of what to fix, what to leave, and what it costs.
Book a walk-throughTravis-Lee Moore · Cliffside Collective · Compass