According to the U.S. Commerce Department, the housing sector accounts for about 14% of the U.S. economy. For every dollar spent to buy a house, a consumer spends an additional $.20-.40 cents making it a home. Based on data tracking from the Coldwell Banker Concierge Program, the most popular home-related services toward which additional dollars are spent by consumers are:

1. Utility Hook-ups/Shut-offs

2. Moving Companies

3. Handyman Services

4. Painting Services

5. Contractors

6. Plumbers

7. Electricians

8. Cleaning Services

9. Roofing ? Repair

10. Carpet Cleaning

In 1998, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation, established the first national Concierge Program. The program has turned real estate brokerages into one-stop shops that can help homeowners arrange everything from financing and coordinating utility services, to home improvement and renovation, even after the sale.

To date, more than 80 percent of Coldwell Banker affiliates offer some form of Concierge Services. Over 106,000 customers enrolled in the Coldwell Banker Concierge program in 2001 alone, due likely to the availability of its 32,257 active local and national vendors in 240 Service Categories.

For more information about Coldwell Banker Concierge and other services access http://www.coldwellbanker.com or contact your local Coldwell Banker office.

For 95 years, the Coldwell Banker® organization, a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD), has been the premier provider of full-service real estate. Globally, Coldwell Banker franchises more than 3,000 independently owned and operated residential and commercial real estate offices with more than 75,000 Sales Associates.

Published: April 9, 2002

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