By: KeyCrew Media

Connecticut broker Rob Marucci combines real estate and contracting licenses to transform unsellable properties – with sellers paying nothing until closing

For over a decade, Rob Marucci has given sellers the same advice: declutter, paint, and address minor issues before listing. The problem? Most homeowners either couldn’t afford the upfront costs or couldn’t find contractors willing to handle small jobs.

Now, as both a licensed real estate broker and contractor, Marucci has solved both problems with his “Home Staging Revolutionized” program—and the results speak for themselves.

The $123,000 Transformation

The program’s potential became clear with a recent estate sale. A property sat vacant for five years, accumulating animal droppings, mold, and debris. An estate attorney had secured a $202,000 offer, ready to close.

Marucci walked the property and saw something different. He calculated that $10,000 in strategic improvements could unlock significantly more value, and offered to handle everything with no money down.

His team spent two weeks filling 30-yard dumpsters (twice), clearing overgrown bushes that obscured the entire front facade, remediating mold, addressing hanging electrical wires, and tackling waist-high grass.

The investment: $10,700, paid at closing.

The result: $325,000: a $123,000 premium over the original offer.

“Basically $100,000 difference for the client, no money out of his pocket,” says Marucci, broker-owner of Better Living Realty LLC. “It took us two weeks.”

Why Timing Matters Now

Marucci’s program launches as Connecticut’s real estate market undergoes a fundamental shift. The pandemic-era seller’s market, where properties sold regardless of condition, is giving way to more balanced dynamics.

In Middlebury, where Marucci is based, the single-family inventory has tripled in the past two years. Buyers are conducting home inspections again after waiving them for years to stay competitive. Houses sit longer on the market. Price reductions are reappearing.

“Prices are still very high, interest rates are high, it’s a tough market for buyers,” Marucci explains. “The affordability just isn’t there anymore.”

That creates risk for sellers treating today’s market like 2021. Properties that would have sold “as-is” two years ago now languish or attract only lowball offers from investors.

From Investor-Only to Owner-Occupied Buyers

The program’s impact extends beyond cosmetics. Many properties requiring rehabilitation can’t qualify for FHA loans, eliminating owner-occupant buyers entirely. Only investors make offers—and they demand steep discounts.

Marucci’s team bridges that gap, handling everything from power washing and painting to plumbing, electrical work, flooring, and minor landscaping. The work converts rehab projects into move-in-ready properties that attract owner-occupants willing to pay retail prices.

Better Living Realty offers the first $1,000 of work free, regardless of project scope. Most projects cost $1,000 to $5,000 total, all paid at closing. The company completed nine projects this year, up from seven in 2024, with average documented value increases exceeding $75,000.

The program even extends post-contract. When buyer inspections reveal issues, Marucci’s team handles repairs—again, with no upfront costs to the seller.

The Contractor Problem, Solved

Obtaining a contractor’s license was the key to making the program work. For 14 years, Marucci advised sellers on improvements but was unable to execute the work himself.

“I’ve been trying to do this program for 14 years,” he says. “I didn’t have the contractors. We would give advice: you need to paint, fix that ceiling, and mulch the yard. Now we actually get it done.”

The practical challenge wasn’t convincing sellers to improve properties. It was finding contractors willing to fix a broken door, patch a ceiling, or handle other small jobs that don’t significantly impact revenue for traditional contractors.

Marucci built his own team, which includes a full-time handyman who manages routine projects and coordinates with electricians, plumbers, roofers, and carpenters for larger work.

Equity-Rich, Cash-Poor Sellers

The program’s timing aligns with a specific economic reality: many Connecticut homeowners accumulated substantial equity during the pandemic but lack liquid cash for improvements.

“Right now, a lot of people have a ton of equity, but they don’t have cash on hand,” Marucci notes. “They don’t have $4,000 or $5,000 to fix up the property. So they say, ‘I want to sell it as-is.’ When they say as-is, you’re leaving money on the table.”

His math is straightforward: invest $3,000 to $5,000 at closing to capture $75,000 in additional value, or accept as-is pricing and forfeit that premium.

Defending the Agent’s Role

Marucci sees the program as part of broader efforts to demonstrate agent value following industry lawsuits that targeted traditional commission practices. National Association of Realtors officials have warned that agents face ongoing scrutiny.

“Real estate agents have a target on their back,” Marucci says. “We need to focus on what we can bring to the table and show our value.”

His argument centers on risk mitigation. The costliest mistakes buyers make involve purchasing properties with undisclosed major issues. Professional agents minimize that risk through proper due diligence and preparation.

For Better Living Realty’s 30 agents, the program offers tangible differentiation in a market where brokerage services often appear identical—before-and-after photos document transformations from cluttered, overgrown properties to market-ready listings.

The Investment Credentials

Marucci’s expertise extends beyond brokering transactions. He owns 14 investment properties with his wife, including single-family homes, multifamily buildings, mixed-use properties, and short-term rentals, all located in Rhode Island.

He started investing in 2007, admittedly, at the worst possible time in modern real estate history, just before the crash. But that experience taught him to weather market volatility and identify long-term value.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Connecticut, Marucci worked as a Target manager before transitioning full-time to a career in real estate in 2010. He founded Better Living Realty that year and has grown it steadily, adding three to five agents annually while maintaining a focus on agent success rather than personal transaction volume.

“My biggest focus is to help my agents do well,” he says. “I don’t market myself to work with buyers and sellers. I do it because I get referrals and because I like to still understand the market by actually doing transactions.”

The Fundamentals Still Apply

Despite the program’s sophistication, Marucci’s core advice remains unchanged: every seller should clean, declutter, and touch up paint before listing—unless the house is brand new.

He cautions against major remodels, which can take too long and may not yield a return on investment. Instead, focus on repairs and improvements that add immediate value and eliminate buyer objections.

Most importantly, never assume today’s market resembles yesterday’s. Connecticut’s shift from pandemic-era frenzy to balanced conditions means preparation matters again.

For sellers navigating that transition, Marucci’s message is clear: strategic improvements delivered with no upfront cost can capture tens of thousands of dollars in additional value—if you have the right team to execute them.

About Rob Marucci

Rob Marucci is a licensed real estate broker and contractor, and founder of Better Living Realty LLC in Connecticut. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and owns a portfolio of 14 investment properties. 

Better Living Realty serves buyers, sellers, and investors throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island with a team of 30 agents.

Media Contact:

• Heather Hook
• KeyCrew Media
• heather@keycrew.co

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