What’s that smell?
Scents and odors are everywhere and all buyers are influenced by them, particularly when looking at houses to purchase. The sense of smell is the strongest of all the senses to connect (or disconnect) buyers to your house.
When preparing to stage a house, we recommend getting rid of the sources of bad odors by making a house super clean and dealing with pet issues, to name a few. But how about subtly layering a scent through a house that has no odors, but is clean [...]
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What they are saying about us...
Like any great business concept, Showhomes enjoys a lot of attention in the press. Take a look at what they are saying about Showhomes .
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May 1, 2013 - 3:03 PM
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April 29, 2013 - 10:10 AM
When selling your house, it might seem obvious that you should pick your dirty clothes up off your bedroom floor.
Not so, says Realtor Joe Finnerty, of Prudential Patt, White Real Estate. Finnerty and his clients encounter homes with dirty dishes in the sink and an overflowing cat litter box.
"A part of you wonders: Did the agent tell them what to do?" said Finnerty, who has an accredited home stager on his team. "I have heard sellers say before, 'If somebody really wants the house, they [...]
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April 16, 2013 - 8:08 AM
TAMPA, Fl. - The Spring and Summer months are traditionally home selling season, and prospective sellers are hoping to cash in on signs that the market is improving. But how do you separate your home for sale from all the others?
“It’s the art of decorating a home so that it sells at the highest price in the shortest amount of time,” said Ann Alderson of Staging South Tampa.You may want to consider staging your home.
Sometimes an empty home just doesn’t have the warmth or sense of [...]
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April 2, 2013 - 6:06 PM
Showhomes Franchise Profile: Fred and Lorraine Pierson of Raleigh, NC
Fred Pierson’s path to entrepreneurship was anything but linear. Before becoming a Showhomes Home Staging franchise owner in Raleigh, N.C., Fred Pierson had two different corporate careers.
In college, Pierson earned a degree in aviation management and went on to manage corporate jet facilities across the United States. Due to the nature of his work, he and his wife, Lorraine, moved frequently. After years of [...]
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April 1, 2013 - 10:10 AM
By Emily Peck-Wall Street Journal
Attention desperate home sellers. Don’t want to lower the price on your house? Consider better photos. Real-estate listings that use photographs taken by the higher-end SLR cameras favored by photographers and photography enthusiasts, tend to do better than those that use photos from cheaper point-and-shoot cameras, according to a new analysis done by Redfin Corp., a Seattle-based brokerage.
Not surprisingly, listings with better photos command higher [...]
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March 21, 2013 - 12:12 PM
The Spring selling season is now upon us and millions of home owners are beginning the sales process. Here is a blog from Dallas with some good ideas on where to get started:
Q: What should I look for in a plan to sell my home?
A: When selling your home, it is important to find a neighborhood specialist with the tools, experience and know-how to present a well-planned marketingstrategy.
To start, a good real estate agent should be knowledgeable about your neighborhood and have a [...]
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March 8, 2013 - 3:03 PM
AOL Jobs in a recent article listed the "Best Jobs for 2013 and Beyond". While there were professions you would expect in industries such as "Health Care" and "Engineering" it also included "Home Staging". According to AOL :
Home Stager. The real estate market may be beginning to rebound and that means more homes on the market. In recent years, home stagers have become a de rigueur part of preparing a home for sale: Move out the moose head; move in the inoffensive but attractive [...]
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March 8, 2013 - 9:09 AM
Franchise Business Review surveyed more than 26,000 franchisees representing over 350 franchise brands based on their level of satisfaction, experience, market area, business lifestyle, and other demographic characteristics. The list of the 2013 “FBR50” received the highest ratings by their franchise owners.
Nashville, TN, March 08, 2013- Showhomes, America’s largest home staging provider, announced today that it has been awarded into the 2013 Top Franchise Systems for the fifth year [...]
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March 4, 2013 - 10:10 AM
3 real solutions to help solve the Vacant House Won’t Sell problem owners and Realtors have
There are many houses on the market that are currently sitting vacant all across the country. Many are foreclosures, short sales and bank owned properties, but thousands upon thousands that are owned by traditional sellers who are current on their mortgage and are trying to sell the property for one reason or another.
Many property owners are choosing to downsize in this tough resell market. Some [...]
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February 28, 2013 - 6:06 PM
Showhomes of Fox Valley highly awarded
By
FOX VALLEY FRANCHISE EARNS TOP HONORS
Ambassador Award, President's Club, Circle of Excellence, Most Homes Sold
Vacant homes are hard to sell! They lack buyer appeal, languish on the market and receive low offers. Showhomes, a national home staging franchise, and their franchise partners have provided successful selling solutions for real estate professionals and homeowners in all economic market cycles for the past 27 years.
At the recent [...]
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February 28, 2013 - 12:12 PM
Why Stage When Homes Are Flying Off The Shelves?
In the current hot market, it's easy to shake your head and think "Homes are selling like crazy! Why do I care about staging?". Well, it's simple. Because we all like money, we love happy sellers, and we want the referrals that gushing seller will send our way by helping them reach their goal of selling their home fast and at a premium price.
I spent many years in the auto industry before I came to real estate and design. Even when the [...]
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February 27, 2013 - 11:11 AM
Thriving Under $100K
By MATT DIAZ
FOR MANY ‘ZEES, LOW-COST FRANCHISES PROVE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL
With today’s economic climate, it’s easy to be drawn to low-cost options to help make ends meet. In the world of franchising, however, this notion has its ups and downs. Just because an opportunity is low-cost doesn’t mean its the right choice, nor does it mean you will fail. There are a number of factors that play into owning a successful franchise, and these three franchisees know just what it [...]
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February 26, 2013 - 12:12 PM
Showhomes has a number of finance partners who can help you finance your dream business. One option that is growing quickly in the franchise industry is the use of your 401K and IRA savings as an investment option. The article below from The Huffington Post provides a nice overview of how the model works.
"When starting up a new business, there are tons of funding options. Many of these involve loans, angel investors, and venture capital. Unless you're sitting on a huge pile of money, [...]
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February 22, 2013 - 3:03 PM
Home interiors are going green this year. Pantone has named “Emerald” its color of the year for 2013.
Pantone describes the jewel-like hue as a “lively, radiant, lush green” that can offer sophistication and luxury.
“Green is the most abundant hue in nature – the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation. This [...]
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February 13, 2013 - 7:07 PM
Nashville, TN (Feb 14, 2013) --) -- In a major partnership at the forefront of evolving media trends, MFV Expositions has announced a partnership with Money Magazine, CNNmoney.com and Benchmark Entertainment to produce custom videos for Showhomes that will extend their franchise presence and messaging beyond the trade show floor.
Developing custom videos at the show to reach quality franchisee prospects, ERN LIVE video, FranchiseExpo.com, and Money Magazine offer video segments hosted by [...]
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February 12, 2013 - 6:06 PM
We have a guest blog from a Broker with interesting information about how vacant homes are affected in regards to general liability insurance. Insurance companies are so concerned about the added risks of a vacant home, that they often will cancel a policy midterm and not even wait for the renewal date. Showhomes solves the problem of home vacancy with our proven home manager system.
Question: Is My Vacant Home Covered by Insurance?
A reader asks: "Our home is presently on the market as [...]
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February 6, 2013 - 9:09 AM
TOP FRANCHISES RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE
Franchise of the Year, Circle of Excellence, President’s Club and More
Vacant homes are hard to sell! They lack buyer appeal, languish on the market and receive low offers. Showhomes, a national home staging franchise, and their franchise partners have provided successful selling solutions for real estate professionals and homeowners in all economic market cycles for the past 26 years.
At the recent Showhomes Annual Conference, held at the [...]
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January 24, 2013 - 9:09 AM
SHOWHOMES HOME STAGING LAUNCHES NEW FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE
Nashville, TN (January 24, 2013) -- Showhomes Home Staging announced today a completely new and enhanced website. The leading home staging services company in the U.S., redesigned its franchise development website to provide more information, staging examples, and other resources to those wishing to start a franchise focused on helping Realtors, Home Owners, Banks and investors sell vacant homes faster and for a higher [...]
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January 22, 2013 - 9:09 AM
Here are some tips on what you can do to help you sell your home faster. Or, you can call Showhomes and we can do most of this stuff for you!
If you have a house on the market, or are considering it, read on for seven tips that will make it easier to sell your house and make a smooth transition from one owner to the next.
Maintain Neutrality
This policy has worked for Switzerland, and it can also work in real estate. Customizing your home is great if you plan to stay there, [...]
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January 7, 2013 - 12:12 PM
Showhomes Home Staging Gets Serious About Finding New Franchisees
Home improvement franchise turns to lead generators, trade show as recruitment options
CHARLESTON, S.C. (JAN 4, 2013) -- The largest national home staging franchise, Showhomes Home Staging, has partnered with the fastest-growing network of lead generation companies in the U.S. to recruit new franchisees for the home improvement franchise.
Franchise Clique, Franchise Buy and Veterans Franchise, the three lead [...]
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January 3, 2013 - 7:07 PM
The Best And Worst Time To Sell A House, Plus Home Staging Tips
The Huffington Post | By Michelle Manetti Posted: 01/03/2013 5:24 pm EST
The worst time to sell a home won't really surprise you: It's the holidays, when tensions are high and budgets are low,
according to Time. During the winter months, buyers aren't as active, making a seller more
likely to end up with low-ball offers.
However, the magazine does note that the best time of year to sell your house is in the [...]
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November 12, 2012 - 5:05 PM
Did you know that home buyers are 80 percent more likely to purchase a home that is staged to sell than an empty home? It’s true. This means that, as a buyer, you are more likely to want to buy a staged home. Since you are more likely to buy, why not begin your search with staged to sell homes? Chances are you will waste your time with empty homes trying to visualize furniture placement, which is something not many can successfully do. Here are some of the benefits of staged to sell homes when [...]
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September 25, 2012 - 12:12 PM
DON'T WAIT TIL SPRING WHEN THERE IS MORE COMPETITION ... DO IT NOW
The fall can be a great time to sell your home. One of the biggest benefits is that inventory levels are typically lower. This means that the buyers in the market will have fewer choices and are more likely to select your home.
As Gloria says, be sure that your home is ready for market when you do list it.
Via Gloria Valvasori, ASA, Streetsville Real Estate - 100% Client Service Rating (Better Homes and Gardens Real [...]
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September 18, 2012 - 8:08 AM
SEPTEMBER 17, 2012 BY KYM TARR
When it comes to putting your house on the market, signing the listing agreement and planting a sign on the front lawn can often seem like the easier part of the equation. Why, because now after a visit from a Home Stager, your attention is now drawn to the stack of clothes in the basement that were designated for Goodwill 3 years ago or to the guest room that has now become the catch all for the trinkets you bought while on every family vacation. The [...]
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August 14, 2012 - 12:12 PM
NASHVILLE, TN August 14, 2012 -- Nashville-based Showhomes announces the addition of two new franchisees to its network of more than 70 home staging franchises.
Two new Showhomes franchisees completed training recently and will soon be offering their services in Florida.
"Whenever a new franchise is added to our network a real boost of energy can be felt. We have provided a real win-win service for the real estate community since 1986," said Matt Kelton, COO of Showhomes. "We have [...]
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August 2, 2012 - 5:05 PM
Donna and Rick Muelver have been top performing Showhomes franchisees for many years. Showhomes has truly been a family affair for Team Muelver! Multiple family members have been involved in their franchise and they continue to thrive in the Southeast Wisconsin market.
Q. Why were you interested in Showhomes, and what about it led you to purchase the franchise?
We were already in the real estate market servicing the agents with signs, photography and virtual tours. Taking photos of [...]
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August 2, 2012 - 5:05 PM
Mike and Janine Callahan are the 2011 Showhomes Franchisees of The Year. Not only are they Showhomes franchisees but they are also home managers. Over 50% of Showhomes franchisees are also home managers which allows them to enjoy an amazing lifestyle at a great price! See how Mike and Janine have been able to take advantage of the Showhomes lifestyle while building a leading business in the Chicago area.
Q. Why were you interested in Showhomes, and what about it led you to purchase [...]
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August 2, 2012 - 2:02 PM
Over the years Showhomes has proven to be a great model for spouses to work together in their business. Lisa and Chris Gulliver have been Showhomes franchisees since 2010 and were the 2011 Rising Star Award Winner. Learn more about why they chose to leave Corporate America to become their own bosses with their own Showhomes franchise.
Q. Why were you interested in Showhomes, and what about it led you to purchase the franchise?
My wife Lisa and I became interested in a Showhomes franchise [...]
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July 26, 2012 - 10:10 AM
This month Guidant Financial and Showhomes unveiled their new pre-qualification tool that will help buyers evaluate their true finance-ability before they start searching for a business or franchise. This cutting edge technology will streamline the process by which franchisees are able to obtain capital to purchase and build their small businesses.
Franchisees can pre-qualify for franchise financing through a fluid online experience coupled with a high-touch customer service to fulfill [...]
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May 24, 2012 - 12:12 PM
HomeGain.com just released the results of its nationwide home improvement and home staging survey. Past findings from the survey have been a guide for thousands of home sellers in preparing their homes for sale.
HomeGain recently surveyed nearly 500 real estate agents nationwide to determine the top 10 low cost*, do-it-yourself home improvements for people getting their home ready to sell.
The top five nationwide home improvements that real estate professionals recommend to home sellers, [...]
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May 9, 2012 - 4:04 PM
Some home sellers have to sell vacant houses because they move out before their homes are sold. Realtors say it's a challenge to sell a vacant house, which needs to be insured, maintained, staged and secured against squatters and vandals.
From using a programmable thermostat to deploying "light staging," here are some things to consider when selling a vacant house.
Insuring a vacant home
Linda Zenker, an associate broker with Re/Max Choice in Fairfax, Va., says homeowners need to check [...]
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April 16, 2012 - 11:11 AM
There are plenty of companies that will dress up a home for sale with decorative touches and temporary furnishings, but one local business goes a step further.
Lorelie and Coy Brown’s Showhomes Charleston also puts people in the vacant homes; people who move in until the house sells, keep things tidy, mow the lawn and pay the utility bills.
Showhomes is a national franchise built around the idea that occupied homes sell faster and for higher prices while reducing homeowners’ carrying [...]
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March 30, 2012 - 11:11 AM
Foreclosed homes may be an opportunity for buyers and investors, but for banks, they are a mess with no end in sight. Foreclosures cost money to maintain, create insurance problems, invite vandalism and devalue neighboring homes. Home staging company, Showhomes of Naperville, has been providing banks in the Chicago area with a tidy solution to foreclosures and vacant properties. Showhomes places a live-in home stager, called a Home Manager, who occupies the home and keeps it in show condition [...]
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March 26, 2012 - 10:10 AM
Nashville, Tennessee – Showhomes Home Staging plans to triple its United States franchise locations in the next 10 years, the company announced Friday.
The nationally franchised company has become America’s largest home staging provider since it opened its doors in 1986, and it currently has a network of more than 70 franchise locations across the country. Despite the tough real estate market, the company continues to add new, thriving locations by focusing on quality customer service and [...]
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March 20, 2012 - 10:10 AM
Minneapolis, MN – The popular design network HGTV will feature Minneapolis home staging expert Cindy Montgomery, franchise owner of Showhomes Minneapolis. Montgomery is starting the complete interior design project of a new showhome that will be featured by the prominent national network, which produces and airs popular shows such as House Hunters and Design Star, focusing on aspects of decorating, entertaining, up-and-coming designers, and more.
Montgomery is doing a complete home staging [...]
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March 15, 2012 - 2:02 PM
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Nashville, Tennessee – For the fourth year in a row, Showhomes Home Staging is ranked as one of the Top 50 Franchise Companies by the prestigious Franchise Business Review, a national franchise market research firm that surveys thousands of franchise owners per year and evaluates the comprehensive findings to reveal overall franchisee satisfaction.
“It is not surprising that Showhomes ranked again as a Top 50 Franchise,” says Lorelie Brown, franchise owner of Showhomes Charleston. “The [...]
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March 8, 2012 - 9:09 AM
SHOWHOMES FOX VALLEY WINS 2012 FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE
February 17, 2012
Batavia, IL – Showhomes Fox Valley was awarded the top honor of Franchise of the Year at the 2012 Annual Conference in Orlando this month. The award recognizes the franchisee that has consistently run a sound business with operational excellence and participation, quality dealings with customers, and helped to promote the overall vision of Showhomes with consistency throughout the year.
“It [...]
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January 19, 2012 - 12:12 PM
Nashville, Tennessee - Showhomes, America's largest home staging company, ranked high in several categories in the 2012 Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500 list. The magazine released their 33rd annual list last week, ranking America's top franchise opportunities. The list also looks at trends that are impacting the franchise industry. Showhomes ranked at #256 for in the overall Franchise 500 list.
The company ranked at #100 in the category of Fastest-Growing Franchises, which [...]
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October 20, 2011 - 12:12 PM
Home staging becomes standard part of selling a home in today’s market
In recent years, especially since the housing market tumble, home staging has become the secret to selling a home. Only it’s not really a secret anymore.
According to Matt Kelton, COO of Showhomes Home Staging, the entire mindset of home selling has shifted, and investing in home staging to help sell a home has become mainstream.
“I don’t know why a homeowner would choose not to stage a home,” says Kelton. [...]
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September 20, 2011 - 5:05 AM
Existing-home sales fell nationally in July from already-low levels, and experts say the housing market will take at least another year, or longer, to emerge from its long slump. The stock market is on a bumpy ride too; and no one has a clue when it will stabilize.
But there is good news emerging in this uncertain economic scenario, especially for homeowners trying to sell their homes and the Realtors who help them. We are thriving at Showhomes Home Staging. In fact, our growth is [...]
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September 7, 2011 - 5:05 AM
Tom Seifert is living the dream. A single guy in an 8,000 square foot house, Tom is not only free of mortgage payments and house repairs but also is able to entertain female friends and family in his million dollar home - all while saving money.
Sound like one lucky guy?
Tom didn’t win the lottery or find a recipe to get rich quick, he simply became a Showhomes Home Manager. He was in the midst of selling his house in Minnesota and didn’t plan on buying in the near [...]
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August 23, 2011 - 5:05 AM
For five months, Sandy Crawford watched uneasily from her new home in Georgia as her old home in St. Petersburg's Shore Acres neighborhood sat on the market with little interest from potential buyers. Discouraged, she turned to Showhomes, a company that places people — and their attractive furniture — in vacant houses. A fastidious man moved into Crawford's house, and things changed. "The house looked fabulous," she said. "Every little thing inside and out was constantly being [...]
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August 18, 2011 - 5:05 AM
Showhomes Home Staging was recently recognized for being a Top 50 franchise in The Franchise Business Review. Cindy Montgomery, franchise owner in La Jolla, Calif. was recently featured in The La Jolla Light. Read more about why Showhomes is a franchise to be a part of in the article below.
Showhomes among top franchises
For the third year in a row, The Franchise Business Review ranked Showhomes Home Staging one of the Top 50 franchise systems based on franchise owner [...]
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July 22, 2011 - 9:09 AM
Bob Kohlruss, owner of Showhomes Folsom Lake talked about his experience as a Showhomes Home Staging franchisee. The article, written in Mountain Democrat, also points out several of the reasons why owning a home staging franchise is very advantageous during the current economic downturn. Read more about this in the article that follows:
Showhomes Home Staging ranked in Top 50 by Franchise Business Review
For the third year in a row the Franchise Business Review ranked Showhomes Home [...]
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June 30, 2011 - 2:02 PM
Vacant houses are a tough sell in any market and getting them to stand out in the minds of Realtors can be equally difficult.
Showhomes Home Staging is shining the spotlight on the dilemma by hosting successful open houses specifically tailored to Realtors and brokers. The highly effective events take place onsite at previously vacant properties, many of which have lingered on the market for months or years before being staged and maintained by Showhomes.
The 25-year-old national home [...]
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June 28, 2011 - 12:12 PM
It’s no secret that the economic tumble of 2008 hurt many professionals in the real estate industry -- Realtors, mortgage brokers, contractors and home builders among them. Many have scaled back their careers, left them altogether or are searching for a related alternative.
For many, Showhomes Home Staging has emerged as a profitable career option. Multiple Showhomes franchisees are current or former licensed real estate agents, mortgage brokers or property management specialists, allowing [...]
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June 21, 2011 - 12:12 PM
Franchises costing less than $50,000 to start gaining popularity
With the economy struggling to recover and the housing market showing little life, one franchise industry sector has a healthy pulse: franchises that cost $50,000 or less to start.
Entrepreneur Magazine, considered by many as the bible for small business owners, listed Showhomes Home Staging on its annual low-cost list of franchises to watch.
Here’s what the magazine said about the low-investment sector:
The economic [...]
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June 16, 2011 - 12:12 PM
Cutting-edge home staging pioneer marks 25th anniversary
When Showhomes Home Staging launched in 1986, few people understood what home staging was, much less the critical role it played in selling a house faster and for a higher price.
The Nashville-based franchisor changed all that with its dynamic ‘home staging with a twist’ concept that combines live-in Home Managers with impeccable home staging standards.
Now in its 25th year, Showhomes Home Staging is the only national [...]
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June 10, 2011 - 5:05 PM
Showhomes has industry high franchise owner satisfaction
For the third year in a row, the Franchise Business Review ranked Showhomes Home Staging one of the Top 50 franchise systems based on franchise owner satisfaction.
The Franchise 50 - 2011 Franchisee Satisfaction Awards ranked franchisors by their overall levels of franchise owner satisfaction. The Top 50 ranking puts Showhomes in a select group of the best franchise companies in the country, and only companies with excellent [...]
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May 25, 2011 - 8:08 AM
Five reasons vacant houses are hard to sell
Musty smelling, bare-walled, vandal-prone properties just don't sell, said Bob Kohlruss, franchise owner for Showhomes — Folsom Lake.
Last year’s U.S. Census figures show that, of the estimated 130 million housing units in the United States, 11.3 percent, about 14 million stood vacant, according to Kohlruss. A large portion of these houses are vacant and for sale, leading to a glut of vacant houses crowding the market. Given the vast [...]
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May 24, 2011 - 10:10 AM
May 22, 2011 | By Al Heavens, Philadelphia Inquirer Real Estate Columnist
American Public Media's Marketplace radio program appears to be fascinated by unusual trends in real estate.
(I hate to pick on the program, which I listen to frequently, but I didn't start this.)
Two years ago, it reported on real estate agents in Los Angeles hiring professional actors to populate a neighborhood during a weekend tour by buyers. Consumer advocates cried foul, and the buyers were ticked off, too. It [...]
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May 12, 2011 - 1:01 PM
Linda Saavedra’s Showhomes Tampa franchise has soared since opening in 2009, despite its launch during tough economic times. Just two short years later, Saavedra, a former corporate executive and veteran small business owner, picked up Showhome’s most prestigious award – Franchise of the Year.
When Saavedra first encountered the Showhomes Home Staging business model, she had a hunch that it would take off in Tampa’s hard-hit housing market. “I loved it from the beginning,” she says. [...]
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May 5, 2011 - 4:04 PM
Showhomes home staging was featured in The Times of London, the UK's largest newspaper today by US Business columnist Alexandra Frean:
By Alexandra Frean American Notebook
May 5 2011
It’s tough to sell an empty home. Buyers can be put off by the bare surroundings and a single nail hole in the wall can assume cavernous proportions.
So, as tens of thousands of vacant houses remain on the market, many of them foreclosed properties owned by banks, one real estate company has come up [...]
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April 19, 2011 - 2:02 PM
Stingy Banks Come Around to Quirky Home Staging
Tuesday, April 19th, 2011, by Blake Farmer, NPR
Tens of thousands of empty houses remain as evidence of the mortgage crisis. In Tennessee alone, census data show nearly 320,000 vacant properties. Some are houses that just won’t sell. Others are foreclosures – bank-owned properties. And now a handful of financial institutions are turning to a Nashville-based company that uses human props to sell a home – live-in staging.
There’s an [...]
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April 15, 2011 - 4:04 PM
Mary Ellen Podmolik
The Home Front
April 15, 2011
When does a vacant home for sale, foreclosure or not, have that lived-in look? When someone is living in it.
Arnold and Mary Jo Baratz just moved into, but have no intention of buying, a sprawling 7,500-square-foot home in Wayne that includes a sweeping cherry staircase, an elevator and a two-bedroom coach house with its own kitchen.
The couple doesn't need the space. In fact, with their youngest child headed to college in the [...]
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April 15, 2011 - 4:04 PM
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011 | Posted by Marni Jameson
I should be in Vegas. Just when I thought my luck had run out I won a long shot with 100 to 1 odds. Partly because I make my bed every day.
The lucky streak began with a great job offer — except that it was out of state. More luck followed when my youngest daughter, who’s in high school, not only didn’t mind changing schools but also wanted to move to Orlando, where the job was. Then a lovely family came out of the blue and asked to [...]
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April 15, 2011 - 4:04 PM
Staging: Get Your Property Ready For Its Close Up
What are the benefits to using a professional stager?
Although not a new concept, staging homes has come more into focus with the abundance of homes on the market -- especially vacant properties.
Staging a home allows that home to sell for a price that is 10 percent to 20 percent higher than a home that is not staged, according to a 2004 National Association of Realtors survey.
So, what exactly is staging a home?
There are [...]
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April 15, 2011 - 4:04 PM
April 15, 2011, Examiner.com National Edition
A vacant home is a tough home to sell, and a growing number of them are clogging the pipeline.
Of the nation's estimated 130 million housing units, 11.3 percent or some 14 million units stood vacant last year, according the U.S. Census.
Among properties defined as "vacant" are rental units, vacation homes, properties rented or sold but not occupied and others, but a growing number are foreclosed, abandoned, distressed or otherwise [...]
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April 1, 2011 - 7:07 AM
Live-In "Managers" Make Show Homes a Living Stage
By Gita Sitaramiah, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
March, 2011 - - Instead of buying their own home, Kim Gaddes and her husband live in a high-end Sunfish Lake house staged for sale. In exchange, they pay a really cheap monthly fee.
The catch is that they have to keep the four-bedroom house ready to show at all times and be prepared to move to another listed property when the $749,900 house sells. In this case, that's May when a [...]
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March 16, 2011 - 7:07 AM
Showhomes Home Staging in Orlando was featured on FOX News this week:
Franchise owners Jeff and Nancy Smith have been operating a Showhomes home staging franchise in Orlando for 17 years with great success.
Home staging for years was a well-kept secret of only the most successful Realtors. Today, virtually all Realtors agree that professional home staging will help you sell your home faster while commanding the best possible price.
On the web: [...]
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March 1, 2011 - 2:02 PM
Million-dollar lifestyle on a middle-class income
Showhomes Orlando puts "home managers" in homes for sale to help attract buyers
By Jon Busdeker, Orlando Sentinel
March 1, 2011
John and Faith Forsythe live in a million-dollar mansion on Deer Island, but they don't own it. And they're not renters, house sitters or squatters either.
The Forsythes are "home managers" with Showhomes Orlando, a home-staging company that specializes in placing individuals and families in upscale homes [...]
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February 24, 2011 - 3:03 PM
New Business Helps Occupy Local Luxury Homes
Showhomes works with "home managers" who fill vacant luxury homes in Potomac, Bethesda and Chevy Chase to help sell them on the market
By Sarah Beth Hensley | Email the author | February 23, 2011
You could have a new (temporary) neighbor in Potomac, thanks to a newly launched luxury home staging company in the area.
Showhomes, which opened an office on Foxcrest Court in Potomac in January, is working to fill vacant luxury homes in Potomac, [...]
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February 1, 2011 - 3:03 PM
By: Aaron Park
January 18, 2011
Do you have a Vacant Home? Take a look at this idea...
What’s at risk when your vacant home is for sale?
It’s not a matter of selling your house, packing up your stuff and moving on. Now there’s the issue of your vacant, unfurnished house that remains on the market. Worse, your homeowners’ insurance rates just went through the roof because of the extreme risks of a vacant dwelling.
Picture this: A Realtor’s lockbox hangs off your home’s front door, [...]
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January 25, 2011 - 10:10 AM
Staging Dreams
STACEY WIEDOWER | Special to The Daily News
Jan, 2011: With a plethora of homes on the market – many of them languishing there for months – home staging is one of those rare subsets of the housing industry that’s benefited from the economy’s downturn.
Home stagers specialize in arranging furniture, decluttering and accessorizing a house to make it as appealing as possible to prospective buyers. On a street with multiple “For Sale” signs in the yards, staging a house [...]
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January 8, 2011 - 2:02 PM
Real Estate News
Local couple to run Charleston home staging company
Jan 8, 2011
An Isle of Palms husband and wife have lined up the Charleston home staging franchise for a company that ensures houses for sale look their best when shoppers visit.
Lorelie D. Brown and her spouse Coy Brown head up Showhomes Charleston, which will serve Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties.
“We’re here to create major buzz about a home by staging it perfectly and offering [...]
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January 4, 2011 - 11:11 AM
Dena Kouremetis, Housing Examiner 12/30/2010
The once-elegant, sprawling home now sits empty, silent in it memories of warmth, laughter and belonging. The ‘for sale’ sign swinging in the winter wind invites prospective buyers, but the brochure box hasn’t seen a fresh brochure in a while and the lockbox is accumulating cobwebs. Agents showing homes in this lofty price range find that most of their buyers tend to rush through cold, vacant rooms unable to picture the purpose of lovingly [...]
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December 27, 2010 - 10:10 AM
By KAREN RIVEDAL, Dec 23, 2010
As if the owners of mansions weren't burdened enough.
Now comes a report from Showhomes, a nationally franchised network of home stagers based in Tennessee, that the number of ne'er-do-wells shacking up in vacant mansions is on the rise.
The increase is tied to the wave of temporarily vacant homes being created by the struggling home market, Showhomes said.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported vacant homes increased to 19 million in the first quarter [...]
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October 15, 2010 - 4:04 PM
Showhomes staging vacant homes with occupants to help sell homes
Been in a home for sale recently and really checked out the furniture and family photographs?
Well, they may not belong to the actual owner but to a stand in occupant hired to give the home a lived in look.
Jeff Ross, owner of the Showhomes Memphis and Showhomes Little Rock home staging franchises, firmly believes the old adage that an occupied home always sells faster and for more money, even if the occupant is just [...]
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October 15, 2010 - 1:01 PM
Occupants also are home managers who will move when house is sold
By Nancy Mueller • FOR WILLIAMSON A.M. • October 15, 2010
If you are neat, looking for a house to rent and have good furniture, a local home staging company might have a deal for you.
Showhomes Nashville offers discounted monthly fees to those who qualify, provided they are willing to act as live-in "home managers" who furnish the rooms, keep the place perpetually clean for showings and are willing to move out when [...]
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August 19, 2010 - 8:08 AM
Showhomes – a home staging company – allows a hired home manager to live within vacant homes for sale with the intent of making the environment more welcoming to potential buyers.
By Nicole DeCosta
The West Linn Tidings, Aug 19, 2010
Vern Uyetake / West Linn Tidings
Edie Moll with Showhomes in West Linn — a home staging company — visits the house for sale at 2335 Oswego Glen Court in Lake Oswego. Her company places home managers and furniture within vacant homes for [...]
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August 18, 2010 - 10:10 AM
Showhomes' Extreme Home Staging Spotlights Human Props
National Public Radio featured Showhomes Home Staging on its Morning Edition radio show, August 18th, 2010.
NPR reporter Carolyn Beeler interviewed Jonathan and Carla Chiefetz, franchise owners of Showhomes Home Staging in Princeton, NJ, and interview Showhomes Home Manager Bill Worthington.
Here's a link to the full NPR story which talks about new forms of Home Staging including Showhomes' highly successful use of 'human [...]
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August 18, 2010 - 6:06 AM
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (CBS 8) - David Wiemers is trying to sell his lovely townhome in Rancho Santa Fe.
"It's three bedroom, three bathrooms, 2,129 square feet," he said.
It's filled with beautiful furniture. None of it is his. The furniture belongs to the home's current occupants, Darla Allen and her husband.
"We just relocated here from another state for my husband's business," Darla said.
Darla and her husband aren't renting or leasing. They are home managing.
"We manage the [...]
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July 21, 2010 - 3:03 PM
Jack Hungelmann, an insurance industry expert and author of the bestselling 'Insurance for Dummies' book, recently published an online article about the issues owners of vacant homes have with homeowner's insurance.
In his article: "Showhomes" Solves the Coverage Problems of Home Vacancy", Hunglemann had this to say about Showhomes:
How Showhomes Works
Showhomes solves both the vacancy and unoccupancy problems. A resident manager moves in and completely furnishes the place. The [...]
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July 21, 2010 - 3:03 PM
Pat Hermann poses before the mansion she stages in Minnetonka, Minn. AP
Steve Ladurantaye, Real Estate Reporter
Globe and Mail
Forget fresh flowers and percolating coffee, human stagers are where it’s at in the tough, high-end U.S. home market
Patricia Hermann is the ultimate house sitter.
In the past four years, she has lived in six monster homes in Minnesota, where she works as a nurse at the Minneapolis Heart Institute. The average emergency room nurse in the state makes about [...]
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July 21, 2010 - 3:03 PM
June 03, 2010 — TAMPA - FOX 13 News: Selling a home in today's economy isn't easy, but there are ways to speed up the process.
The last two years have been a rollercoaster ride Jim and Nancy Ward. They have been realtors in the Bay Area for nearly 16 years, having gone through the boom and the bust.
"It takes more creativity to showcase a home," said Nancy, "to put it in its best light, because there is so much competition."
To help them showcase, they've teamed up with a company [...]
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May 10, 2010 - 9:09 AM
By Tom Bailey Jr. / Memphis Commercial Appeal
May 5, 2010
About a year ago, the same Brandi Jackson left a $700,000 home in Collierville’s Braystone neighborhood after living in luxury there just 30 days.
Photo by Karen Pulfer Focht / Memphis Commercial Appeal After a successful staging, Brandi Jackson loads up her belongings in a Germantown house for mover Sherrod Farmer on Tuesday. Jackson lived in the Oakleigh subdivision house for six months as a “manager,” helping [...]
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May 4, 2010 - 3:03 PM
By K.A. Turner, Mobile Register
Custom builder Jerry Smith of Fairhope staged a few rooms in an empty, high-end house to make it more homey, then liked it so much he staged most of the house.
Kate Mercer/Press-RegisterAngela Blankenship and Tammy Boothe of Show Homes stage the dining room in home in Fairhope’s Rock Creek.
“A lot of times people will walk into an empty home and it feels kind of cold,” he said. “They can’t envision how to decorate it. Staging has made a big [...]
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April 20, 2010 - 1:01 PM
Wall Street Journal Features Showhomes and its Innovative Internal Financing Solution
by Julie Bennett, 3.25.2010
During the worst credit crunch in decades, franchise companies have been finding creative ways to open new units.
While banks are expected to lend $6.7 Billion to US franchises this year, it would take $10.1 billion in lending to fully fund newcomers who want to start franchised businesses and existing franchisees who hope to expand, according to Frandata, a reserach [...]
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April 19, 2010 - 2:02 PM
To get a leg up in a buyer’s market, the real estate industry turns to a little-known niche: professional house sitters.
by Amy Biegelsen
Last weekend, Michelle Sifford and Jennifer Ding helped the Armstead family move into a house in Church Hill with lightning speed. In five days’ time they fully arranged the furniture in the three-bedroom renovation, made sure the décor tied everything together and removed every speck of dirt. Most importantly, they made sure the family was ready to [...]
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April 1, 2010 - 2:02 PM
Home Staging Franchise Showhomes listed as best bet in down market by The Street.com:
The Great Recession has made some would-be entrepreneurs skittish about starting a business from scratch.
For them, it may make sense to buy a business franchise. While franchises have taken a hit, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) forecasts that the number of franchises will expand 2% from 883,292 last year to 901,093 in 2010.
"Franchising lets people get into business for themselves, but not by [...]
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March 16, 2010 - 12:12 PM
March 13th Marketplace: Parkites make home staging easy and affordable
Showhomes Park City says there's no reason to leave a house vacant
by Andrew Kirk, Park City Record
http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_14665400
Ryan Sapp is a developer and Realtor. His wife Angie is an interior designer. They're painfully aware of how long some homes take to sell in the current market and how dangerous it is for a house to remain vacant during that time.
That's why they and friends Drew and Katja [...]
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March 15, 2010 - 10:10 AM
Showhomes franchise owner Donna Mulever was featured on The Morning Blend, a popular morning TV show in the Milwaukee market. Donna brought along Michael Samik, a happy home owner and builder who has used Showhomes to talk about his expereince:
What do you [...]
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