this home · the vault
Undocumented work is invisible to a buyer — and to the IRS. Here's how to capture every renovation so it actually pays off when you sell.
Full refund within 14 days. No questions asked.
Two homeowners do the same $48,000 kitchen remodel. One keeps the contract, permits, change orders, and contractor info in a folder; takes before/after photos; saves the appliance manuals and paint codes. The other does none of that. Three years later, both sell. The first lists "fully permitted 2022 kitchen — Wolf range, quartz counters, all warranties transfer" and gets close to asking. The second writes "updated kitchen" and gets nickel-and-dimed in negotiations because the buyer can't tell what's actually new versus cosmetic.
Documentation is the cheapest renovation upgrade you can buy. It takes minutes during the project and pays for itself at closing — both in sale price and in capital-gains tax basis.
The this home side of the vault by BuildTrust is a per-property record built specifically for this. Forward receipts to your personal BuildTrust inbox and AI files them automatically. Snap a photo of an appliance plate and we extract the model and serial. Permits, paint by room, contractor roster, maintenance log — everything lives in one searchable record that follows the property for life.
When you list the house, the vault generates a BuildTrust Report — a buyer-facing summary of permits pulled, renovations completed, appliances with active warranties, maintenance history, and contractor track record on the property. Buyers see proof, not promises. Agents use it to support asking price during negotiation. And at closing, the live vault transfers to the new owner, giving them a 90-day free trial to take ownership of the record.
Sellers who hand over a real property record sell faster and concede less. Roughly 83% of buyers ask for price reductions after the inspection, averaging around $7,200 in concessions. A documented maintenance and renovation history is one of the strongest tools sellers have for pushing back.
Save the contract, every permit pulled, itemized receipts, contractor info and license number, change orders, before/during/after photos, material specs (paint codes, SKUs), and appliance models and serials. The vault by BuildTrust captures all of this automatically as you forward receipts and snap photos.
Buyers and appraisers can only credit work they can verify. Without permits, receipts, and contractor records, a $48,000 kitchen remodel reads as 'updated kitchen' — and gets the same treatment as cosmetic touch-ups. Documentation is what turns work into value at closing.
Yes. Qualifying capital improvements add to your cost basis, reducing taxable gain when you sell. The IRS requires receipts to substantiate the basis adjustment, so receipts from renovations done years ago still matter when you sell.
When you list your home, the vault generates a buyer-facing summary of permits pulled, renovations completed, appliances with active warranties, maintenance history, and contractor track record on the property. It's the document agents use to support asking price during negotiation.
Transferable to the next owner at closing Supports stronger asking price
Founding member $49/yearFull refund within 14 days.