Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on cost, timing, liens, and what happens if the house is slow to sell.
Pay-at-Closing & Alternative Financing
What is a pay-at-closing remodel?
A pay-at-closing remodel is a renovation funded by a third party (FLYP) before you sell your home, with the renovation cost repaid from the sale proceeds at closing. The homeowner pays $0 upfront and makes no monthly payments. FLYP fronts materials, labor, and project management and is repaid at closing. Every program in this category has an outer limit on how long it will wait to be paid, ours is written into your agreement in plain numbers, and you can read all of it on our How the process works page before you talk to anyone.
Can I pay for a remodel at escrow instead of upfront?
Yes, that's exactly how FLYP works. The renovation cost is paid from escrow at closing, not from your pocket or savings. Escrow holds the sale funds, deducts the agreed renovation amount, the mortgage payoff, and standard closing costs, and releases the remaining equity to you. You never write a check to the contractor.
Can I use my home equity to pay for a remodel?
Yes. There are two paths: (1) tap existing equity through a HELOC or cash-out refinance and use the proceeds to renovate, or (2) use FLYP's pay-at-closing model, which captures the equity created by the renovation itself and pays for the work from sale proceeds, so you don't have to qualify for new debt or use existing savings.
Can I remodel my home if I can't get a HELOC?
Yes. If you can't qualify for a HELOC because of credit, debt-to-income, recent loan activity, or a frozen home value, FLYP is the most common alternative. FLYP doesn't require you to qualify for new financing, we underwrite the home's renovated value, fund the work ourselves, and recover the cost from the sale proceeds at closing.
I can't afford a remodel, how can I still get one?
If you plan to sell within the next 12 months, FLYP funds the entire renovation at zero cost to you. We pay for materials, labor, and project management. Our fee is repaid only from the sale proceeds at closing. If you're not selling, your alternatives are a HELOC, cash-out refinance, personal loan, or contractor financing, each requires you to qualify for debt and pay back monthly. FLYP is the only option that requires neither upfront cash nor monthly payments.
How FLYP Works
What is FLYP and how does it work?
FLYP is a zero-cost home renovation funding program run by FLYP CO. The renovation work is performed by Green State Restoration, LLC, FLYP's licensed general contractor of record in Washington. We fund and manage strategic renovations on your home before you sell it. You pay nothing out of pocket, our costs are repaid from the sale proceeds at closing. The result: homeowners typically walk away with 30–40% more equity than selling as-is.
How much does FLYP cost the homeowner?
$0 upfront, $0 during the work, and no monthly payments. You pay the cost of the renovation out of the sale proceeds at closing, not a percentage of your sale price and not a share of your equity. Two things to know up front: the balance begins accruing 1.5% per month if the home has not closed six months after the renovation is finished, and it becomes due at ten months whether or not it has sold. You can pay it off early at any time and the interest stops that day.
How long does the FLYP process take?
Most FLYP renovations take 4–8 weeks from start to finish, depending on the scope of work. After renovation, your agent lists the home and it typically sells within 2–4 weeks. Total timeline from signing to closing is usually 8–14 weeks.
Do I need to move out during renovation?
Not necessarily. It depends on the scope of work. For lighter renovations (paint, landscaping, fixtures), you can often stay in the home. For larger projects (kitchen remodel, flooring), we may recommend temporary relocation for your comfort and to speed up the work.
What types of renovations does FLYP do?
We pick the work that usually raises value in your market, kitchens, baths, paint, flooring, curb appeal, landscaping, and fixture upgrades. Every plan is written for your house and your comps. You'll see the scope before crews start.
Can I choose which renovations are done?
We collaborate with you on the plan, and we steer toward the work that usually raises value in your market. You'll approve the final plan before any work begins.
The Fine Print
Read this before you call. This matches the contract.
Is there ever interest?
Yes, in one situation, and we would rather you hear it from us than find it on page six. There is no interest while the renovation is underway and none for the first six months after it is finished. If the home still has not closed at six months, the balance begins accruing 1.5% per month. You can pay the balance in full at any point before closing and the interest stops that day. If your home sells on a normal timeline, most do, well inside that window, you never touch this clause.
Does FLYP put a lien or a deed of trust on my home?
Yes. Before our crews start, you sign a deed of trust in front of an independent notary and it is recorded with the county. It secures the cost of the renovation the same way a mortgage secures a loan, and it is the reason we can do the work without a credit check, a deposit, or a monthly payment from you. We release it within ten business days of being paid, that is a contractual deadline, not a courtesy. We will not start work without it, and we will never ask anyone from FLYP or your agent to notarize it.
Can I lose equity doing this?
Yes, and anyone in this category who tells you otherwise is selling you something. A renovation is an investment, and investments can underperform: the market can soften, the work can uncover problems behind a wall, or the home can sell for less than the renovated comparables suggested. You still owe the cost of the work. What we can tell you is how we manage that risk, we run a coverage ratio on every deal before anyone drives out, and we will not take a project unless the projected proceeds cover everything that could become payable to us by at least 1.3x. We turn down homes that do not clear it. If your numbers are marginal, we would rather tell you that than take the job.
What do I agree to while the home is listed?
The renovation only pays for itself if the home actually goes to market, so the contract asks you to commit to that: list within thirty days of the work being finished, with the agreed broker at the agreed price, and don't withdraw the listing, switch agents, or make a material price cut without our written consent. You also agree to tell us about new offers and any new loan or lien on the property. None of this gives us a say in whether you accept an offer, it exists so the home does not sit off-market with our money in it.
What is the total I will owe at closing?
The contract price from the estimate you signed, plus Washington sales tax, plus any change orders you signed along the way, plus the county recording fee, plus accrued interest if the six-month clause was triggered. That is the whole list. There is no program fee, no origination fee, no percentage of your sale price, and no share of your equity. Escrow pays us out of the proceeds before the balance reaches you, which is what you authorize when you sign the escrow instructions.
What if I change my mind and want to keep the house?
You can, and people do, they fall in love with the finished kitchen. Because the cost is repaid out of a sale, keeping the home means paying the balance another way, usually a HELOC or a refinance against your now-higher value. If you can cover it, we release the deed of trust and you keep the house. If you cannot, the agreement continues as signed and the home is listed and sold. Tell us early if you are thinking about it; the conversation is far easier before the work is finished.
Do you pay my agent, or does my agent pay you?
Neither. FLYP is not a brokerage, we do not act as your listing agent, and we do not take a commission or a share of one. If you do not have an agent, we will introduce you to brokers we have worked with who know how to price a renovated home, but you are never required to use them, and using your own agent changes nothing about your terms.
Do I get a warranty?
Yes, a written one-year workmanship warranty on the renovation, included as an addendum to your contract. We are the licensed general contractor that did the work, so the company standing behind the warranty is the same company that swung the hammer.
Money & Equity
How much more will my home sell for after FLYP renovates it?
On average, FLYP homeowners see a 30–40% increase in sale price compared to selling as-is. In our Pacific Northwest projects, this typically translates to $100K–$200K in additional equity. Results vary based on the home, location, and market conditions.
What is an iBuyer?
An iBuyer ("instant buyer") is a tech-driven company that uses an algorithm to make near-immediate cash offers on homes, usually within 24–48 hours of you submitting your address. They close fast, charge a service fee, and resell the home themselves after light renovation. The biggest US iBuyer is Opendoor; other names include Offerpad. They typically offer 85–92% of fair market value plus a 5–13% service fee, which lands most sellers around 70–80 cents on the dollar after the math. iBuyers are a subcategory of cash buyers, sophisticated, algorithmic, and still discounted.
How is FLYP different from selling to a cash buyer or iBuyer?
Cash buyers and iBuyers (like Opendoor or Offerpad) profit by paying you less than your home is worth. A generic cash buyer offers 60–75 cents on the dollar. An iBuyer like Opendoor offers 85–92¢ but adds a 5–13% service fee, ending up in similar territory. Both then run the same renovation FLYP would and pocket the upside. With FLYP, you stay on title, the renovation is funded by us, and you keep the upside. We've seen homeowners net $150K–$200K more than the best cash / iBuyer offer on the same home.
What if my home doesn't sell?
We carry the cost while it sells, and there is nothing to pay out of pocket in the meantime. That is not unlimited, and you should know the shape of it before you sign: interest of 1.5% per month begins six months after the renovation is finished if the home has not closed, and at ten months the balance becomes due directly. This is exactly why we underwrite conservatively, we run a coverage ratio on every deal so the projected proceeds cover what could become payable by at least 1.3x, and we turn down projects that do not clear it.
Can I use FLYP if I still have a mortgage?
Yes. Most FLYP homeowners still have a mortgage. The mortgage, our renovation costs, and any closing costs are all paid from the sale proceeds. You keep everything that's left, which, after FLYP renovations, is significantly more than selling as-is.
Can I use my equity or a HELOC to renovate instead?
Yes. FLYP's stay-and-renovate path is built for this. You fund the work through a HELOC against your existing equity, and FLYP manages the entire build. You write zero checks upfront, you stay in the home, and the upgraded value stays with you instead of a flipper. See /stay-and-renovate for the full breakdown.
Can I get a $0-down remodel if I'm not planning to sell?
Yes. With FLYP's stay-and-renovate path, the renovation is funded by a HELOC drawn against your existing home equity, not from your savings. Contractor invoices flow to FLYP, FLYP draws on the HELOC, and you make standard interest-only HELOC payments during the build. $0 from savings on day one.
Do I have to leave my home during a stay-and-renovate project?
Usually not. FLYP phases the work so you keep at least one bathroom and the kitchen functional through most of the build. Heavy work, kitchen gut, primary-bath rebuild, sometimes requires 7–14 days of relocation, which we plan around your schedule.
Selling this house and renovating the next one
What is the FLYP Double Win?
The Double Win is our strategy for homeowners who want to upgrade to a new home. We FLYP your current home to maximize your sale price, then use that extra equity to renovate your next home, the one you're moving into. You sell high and buy smart, upgrading both properties in the process.
Can FLYP renovate the home I'm buying?
Yes. If you're purchasing a new home that needs work, FLYP can manage that renovation too. Many homeowners use the extra equity from FLYPing their current home to fund renovations on their new property, turning a fixer-upper into their dream home.
Service Area & Getting Started
Where does FLYP operate?
FLYP currently serves homeowners throughout Washington state, with a focus on the Puget Sound region including Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Olympia, and surrounding areas. We're expanding to additional Pacific Northwest markets soon.
How do I get started with FLYP?
Getting started is simple: enter your address on our website to get a free, no-obligation renovation estimate. We'll analyze your home's value drivers, create a custom renovation plan, and show you how much more equity you could walk away with. The entire process from first contact to renovation start is typically 1–2 weeks.
Do I need a real estate agent to use FLYP?
You'll need an agent to list and sell your home after renovation, but you can bring your own agent or we can connect you with a trusted local agent in our network. Either way, your agent handles the sale while we handle the renovation.
Is FLYP available for investment properties?
FLYP is primarily designed for homeowners selling their primary residence. However, we evaluate investment property opportunities on a case-by-case basis. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.
Still have questions?
Get a free, no-obligation estimate and see exactly how much more equity you could unlock.
What's My Home Worth?