WHAT IS A HOME MANAGER?

A Showhomes Home Manager is a person or family with beautiful home furnishings who lives in a vacant home for sale. In exchange for keeping it clean and letting Realtors show the home, Home Managers get dramatically reduced monthly fees, far below the market rate.

Home Managers are professionals who are:

- Relocating

- Building a New Home

- Seeking Temporary Housing

- Going Through Family Changes Such As Divorce

- An Individual or Family Looking To Reduce Expenses

- An Individual or Family Looking to Maintain Their Currently Level of Living or Lifestyle

- Looking To Get Familiar With An Area Before Purchasing

- Looking For Flexibility As There Are No Long Term Lease Requirements

WHY stage?

Competition. With 9 out of 10 buyers previewing or finding their homes online, presentation has never been more important. Staging your homes gives you a competitive edge over your competition. It also reduces low ball offers that buyers associate with vacant properties.

"Price Gets you Interest, Staging Gets you Offers." (Gary Keller, Keller Williams)

Owner Occupied Homes

Known for our success in staging vacant homes, we also help sellers with owner occupied homes. Whether it's a home on the market for sale or a new home, we can provide staging expertise to showcase your home. For occupied homes on the market for sale, we can re-design and re-purpose the existing furniture and decor of the home, and using your furnishings, create a "model home" look that buyers respond to. Staging enhances the presentation of your home and makes it more competitive in the market place, helping to capture a faster sale at a premium price (vs. a non-staged home). A professional stager can also provide useful information and often resources to help with packing, moving, de-cluttering and organizing, making your move easier and preparing the home for staging. Staged homes sell faster and for premium prices, bringing a greater net gain to the table for sellers.

Paint

While that favorite shade of purple was perfect for you, it may be a turn-off for that potential buyer. With a Showhomes Update we can provide the perfect changes with our Exclusive Color Palettes which are on-trend neutrals that will not distract from the outstanding features of your home and will provide mass appeal. Your Showhomes staging professional will help select the perfect palette for the look and feel that will place your home above the competition of similar homes for sale.

Home Managers are professionals who are:

- Relocating

- Building a New Home

- Seeking Temporary Housing

- Going Through Family Changes Such As Divorce

- An Individual or Family Looking To Reduce Expenses

- An Individual or Family Looking to Maintain Their Currently Level of Living or Lifestyle

- Looking To Get Familiar With An Area Before Purchasing

- Looking For Flexibility As There Are No Long Term Lease Requirements

WHY SHOWHOMES?

Showhomes is America's Leader in the Home Staging Industry. With over 30 years of experience, and a network from coast to coast, the Showhomes network has helped sell over 30,000 homes worth over $10 billion. We're proud to have partnered with many local and national real estate brands such as Keller Williams, Coldwell Banker, Berkshire Hathaway, Re/Max, Century 21 and more. We've successfully helped thousands of realtors, homeowners, investors, banks and builders market and showcase their listings for a faster sale and higher price. Our service speaks for itself. Our results pay for the service.

NEW HOMES

But we don't just do homes for sale, we're happy to help you with your new home too! If you're craving a new look, hungry for some new ideas or inkling to have a "makeover" of your own, we can help. Showhomes staging experts can design, re-design and provide DIY information or a full service "makeover", transforming your home in as little as 1 day. Showhomes is the leader in decorating and staging; we can help you create the home you'll fall in love with which suits your lifestyle and personal preferences.

REPLACE OLD CARPET

Worn or dated carpeting is the #1 turn-off for home buyers. The thoughts of selecting, purchasing and dealing with installation will have a potential buyer quickly check the home off their list. With a general 3 to 1 return on investment, fresh and new carpeting can be the key to a faster home sale. Coordinating with our Exclusive Showhomes Color Palettes, our light neutral warm and cool tones of carpeting will not only be pleasing to your budget but will give your home a true designer look. All home sellers want multiple offers and a quick, profitable sale. A Showhomes Update can be the answer to what you've been dreading. From palette selections through job completion and installations, we not only provide staging design but bring in qualified contractors to quickly and painlessly prepare your home for sale. The value Showhomes brings and the return on investment is why Showhomes is the nation's leader in Home Staging and Design.

PRIVACY POLICY

This Showhomes Franchise Corporation Privacy Policy (this or the "Privacy Policy") explains our practices, defines our users' ("you" or "your") privacy options and describes how your information is collected and used by Showhomes Franchise Corporation ("we," "us," "our," or "Showhomes").

By using the Showhomes website or any of our features or resources you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

We reserve the right to modify this policy from time to time and will mark new versions with a corresponding effective date. We recommend you visit the Showhomes website to review any changes in our practices.

This Privacy Policy governs your use of the Showhomes® website at www.showhomes.com, www.showhomesfranchise.com ("Sites").

Our Sites may contain links to other websites. These links are not endorsements of any products or services on such websites. These websites may have privacy policies different than our Privacy Policy.

What Information is Collected?
We may collect personal information from you on our Sites or through any other digital or personal communication with you. Information collected by us is voluntarily provided by you and may include information such as your name, email address, and physical address. Our Sites may also collect general information about your technology interface or preferences (such as the type of browser used or the files requested).

The information we may collect includes, but may not be limited to:

• Your contact information, such as your first name, last name, phone number, and email address, to allow us to respond to submitted inquiries;
• For potential franchisees, your contact and financial information, such as your first name, last name, email address, physical address, cash/liquid capital to invest, and net worth, to allow Showhomes to respond to submitted inquiries;
• Information regarding your browser and other technical specifications required to use our Sites;
• Computer data or files, often called "cookies," which may be sent by your web browser and stored on an individual computer to allow our server to "recognize" you through the navigation of the Sites;
• Computer data files, often called "web beacons" that are collected from emails or links on third-party sites that allow our server to evaluate the popularity of those links or the information contained in emails or on third-party sites; and
• Your IP address to measure our website traffic and to help provide a more personalized experience.

Children Under the Age of 13
Our Sites are not designed for children and we do not knowingly collect information from any person we know is under the age of 13.

How is User Information Used and Shared?
We collect information about you in order to provide you with services and also collect information that is necessary for our Sites to work properly. We use personal information about our users for a variety of purposes related to our business, including but not limited to:

• Allowing you to receive information from us regarding Showhomes services;
• Adding information from social media platforms to our Sites where you discuss our services or use a hashtag related to our services;
• Sharing information with our local franchisees regarding your request to become a Home Manager or other request on the site;
• Tracking information about your visits to our Sites to allow us to provide better service;
• Sending or initiating direct marketing programs, such as newsletters or information about new products or services we (or any of our affiliated companies) are offering;
• Contacting you regarding an inquiry on our Sites that you have initiated; and
• Providing information about your usage or preferences to our third-party vendors and providers.

We may share information, in the aggregate, regarding your online browsing preferences to evaluate our services or allow third parties with whom we work to better serve our users. We will not share personally identifiable information in these instances, other than described in this Privacy Policy. We may, however, share personally identifiable information with franchisees or our local business partners regarding inquires you have made for a specific Showhomes® market. All financial information submitted in connection with a franchise inquiry will be kept confidential and will not be shared with third-party vendors.

We may provide user information to third-party service providers or vendors for purposes of, including without limitation, initiating direct marketing programs on our behalf, data tracking, maintenance or development of our Sites, development of online services or customer service, or other contracted promotional opportunities provided to our users. We will not share your information with third parties to directly market their products to you. We may share this information with any subsidiaries, licensees, suppliers, distributors, affiliates, assigns, successors, or other related entities and their respective owners. We may also share your personal information in connection with law enforcement requests or in response to investigations, subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims or as otherwise required by law.

Business Transfers
We may also disclose your information to a third party as part of the reorganization or a sale of the assets of Showhomes, or its subsidiaries, divisions or franchisees. Any third party to which Showhomes transfers or sells the Sites or related assets will have the right to continue to use the personal and other information that you provide to us.

Behavioral Advertising
We may also use third-party vendors, such as Google Analytics, to advertise to our users online. These third-party vendors may display Showhomes advertisements on other websites based on your internet usage. More specifically, these vendors use first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytic cookie) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) together to inform, optimize, and serve ads based on your past visits to the Site or another site affiliated with Showhomes. Any information that these third parties collect via cookies is not linked to any personally identifiable information (name, address, email address, or phone number) we collect or you provide on the website. You can opt-out of Google Analytics for Display Advertising by using Google's Ads Settings.

How is User Information Protected?
We maintain administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for all user information collected on our Sites.

How Can Users Limit Information Collected?
By providing information to us or browsing our or our franchisees' Sites, you are consenting to our use of your data as outlined in this Privacy Policy.

While we work hard to use and disclose our users' personal information only for the purposes identified above, you can choose not to provide personal information or limit the personal information obtained by us as follows:

• You may have your contact information removed from our marketing lists that are used to inform users of new or relevant products, services, and special offers by clicking on the unsubscribe link in any communication received from us or by emailing us at [ADD EMAIL ADDRESS]; and
• You may limit the collection of "cookies" from your Site usage through your browser settings. However, this may disable our ability to provide you with the most relevant information regarding the Sites.

Your California Privacy Rights
California Civil Code Section § 1798.83 permits users of our Sites that are California residents to request certain information regarding our disclosure of personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, please contact us via the Sites.

Contacting Us
For additional information pertaining to our Privacy Policy, please contact:

Showhomes Franchise Corp
2110 Blair Blvd
Nashville, TN 37212

The Biggest Eyesores in your home - and clever ways to offset them

To read full article click https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/clever-ways-to-hide-biggest-eyesores-in-your-home/

Real Producers Magazine: Profile Showhomes Houston

Read the full article at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pOnloTHTbcX_OvlqgG1KkHRL074_gJHz?usp=sharing.

Successful Living with Bill Knapick - On location with WInfrey Design Build

view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XfdzcUCay8

Texas Lifestyle: Hot Home Tios to Attract Buyers

See full article at https://texaslifestylemag.com/lifestyle/3-hot-home-staging-tips-to-attract-home-buyers/

Showhomes Houston's Shelley Barndollar voted one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate Staging

Local Business Woman Voted Top 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate Staging Atlanta, GA, June 13, 2018 --(PR.com)-- Shelley Barndollar is a professional real estate stager and an industry influencer, as well as the Houston Chapter RESA President. 

The Real Estate Staging Association® (RESA®) is pleased to announce, Shelley Barndollar, Showhomes Houston has been voted by her peers and colleagues, as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate Staging. 

3 Reasons Home Staging in Houston is Crucial to Selling a Home Quickly and at Asking Price

65-70 days. According to Zillow, that's about how long it takes to sell the average home. And while factors like market temperature, price, location, and home condition all play an important role in how long it takes to sell a home, there are strategies that can help you speed up the process. One such strategy is home staging in Houston. Let's take a deeper look at why home staging is crucial to selling a home quickly.

 

1. Home Selling is More Digital Based Than Ever

 

According to data from the National Association of Realtors, 58% of all buyers use a mobile device to find homes online before contacting a real estate agent. 89% of those potential buyers found that the photos on online listings were very useful. What this tells us is that the new generation of buyers want and need to see photos online before they even make an attempt to reach out to an agent. And how do you make those photos appealing enough that potential buyers reach out to an agent for a showing? By investing in home staging in Houston.

 

2. Creates Competition and Encourages Multiple Offers

 

Every seller's main objective is to sell the home at or above the asking price. And, as has been proven in a survey by Home Staging Resource, sellers that invest in home staging receive anywhere from 6-25% more for their homes than those that are unstaged. The reason for this is simple. With home staging in Houston, you create the opportunity for more potential buyers to reach out to the agent in charge of selling the home. And not only does this increase the likelihood of multiple offers being placed on the home, but it opens up the possibility that those offers will actually exceed the asking price.

 

3. Prevents the Need for Price Dropping

 

In most cases, when there is little to no interest in a home after 2-4 weeks, a price adjustment of around $5,000 is applied to entice more potential buyers. If lack of interest continues, so too do the price drops applied to the home. By investing a few hundred dollars in home staging in Houston from day one of selling your home, you can often avoid this price drop. In the end, the small investment that you make in home staging can often end up saving you thousands of dollars.

 

Investing in Home Staging from Day One

 

When you're selling a home, selling it quickly and at or above the asking price is always the ultimate goal. Home staging plays a crucial role in helping you achieve that goal. In some cases, it may even help you exceed your goal and get up to 6-25% more than your asking price. With the small initial investment, and the many advantages it provides, it's easy to see why home staging from day one plays a crucial role in helping you sell your home quickly and at the price you deserve. 

Home Managers Improve Buyer Experience in Houston

Finding the perfect home is just the first step for people looking to move out of their old space. Selling a home in Houston may not only be a stressful process, but it can take an emotional toll on the owners. Sellers who have already moved out of their property have to worry about pipes breaking in the winter, the heat going out before a showing, vandals, and animal infestation, to name a few. The homeowners, having started a life in their new home, may not have the time or ability to travel back and ensure their old property is in the right shape to catch the eye of a potential buyer. Showhomes Houston is working to match high-end vacant homes with Home Managers to ensure that these homes remain full of life and are taken care of.

Statistically, empty houses take much longer to sell and grab lower offers than furnished homes. An empty home tends to draw the eye immediately to its flaws, and there is something about seeing food in the pantry that really tugs on the emotions of potential home buyers. In a staged home, buyers can actually picture themselves living in the space as is. Home Managers in the Houston area are recruited, vetted and trained by Showhomes professionals to add a personalized touch, making a home look immaculate yet feel lived in for each showing (and for a fraction of normal staging costs!). They bring with them their own beautiful furniture, artwork and accessories, which Showhomes Houston Home Designers will use to redesign the entire house to make it appeal to all types of buyers.

Home Managers are:

• Executives who have moved jobs

• Families who are building their new home or exploring an area before committing to a move

• Retirees ready to start their lives in a new, fantastic place

• Someone going through family changes, such as a divorce

• Anyone in a transitional phase of life looking for flexibility in living situation

With Home Managers, there are no lease requirements, Home Managers just have to agree to be ready for a showing between the hours of 8 AM and 8 PM. During these hours, the house must be kept in show condition, and the manager must be prepared to disappear from the home at anytime, as a showing could occur with no warning. In return, Home Managers pay one-third to half the value of traditional rent in the home's market plus utilities. The homeowners pay all taxes and take care of all landscaping and maintenance costs.

Home managers especially make a difference when high price homes sit on the market for long periods of time, but can help out homeowners at all price points. Showhomes has placed Home Managers in homes ranging from a price point of $200,000 to $12 million. Home Managers must be prepared to move out of a residence when a home is sold, but Showhomes may help offset moving costs if the manager is moving to another home in the franchise's care.

Showhomes Houston specializes in consulting with homeowners, advising them how to sell their home for the best price in the shortest amount of time. In addition to providing Home Managers, Showhomes can offer advice on minor ways to fix up a home, such as paint color or other aesthetic details, and will also aid in decluttering and staging a home. If you are interested in learning about how a Home Manager can help you sell your home in Houston, or if you're interested in becoming a home manager personally, call us today to hear about how the program can benefit you! 832-289-7513

The Benefits of Home Staging in Houston

When it comes time to sell your home, whether you are upgrading, downsizing, or making a cross country move, you probably desire it sell quickly and for a higher price than you paid. Home Staging in the Houston market is a great way to help buyers picture themselves in your home and, if you are lucky, encourage quick, generous offers.

 

The National Association of Realtors completed a study in 2017 to pinpoint the advantages of home staging and to find just how beneficial it is to sellers. Some of the report's findings include:

 

●       38% of sellers' agents stage all their sellers' homes before putting them up for sale.

●       29% of sellers' agents reported an increase of 1-5% of the dollar value offered by buyers in comparison to similar homes; 21% of sellers' agents reported an increase of 6-10% of the dollar value offered by buyers in comparison to similar homes.

●       39% of sellers' agents stated staging a home greatly decreases the amount of time the home is on the market.

●       77% of buyers' agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.

●       Staging the living room for buyers was found to be the most important, followed by the master bedroom and then the kitchen.

 

Home Staging in Houston will make your house more attractive to buyers and can result in a great payoff in exchange for the initial investment sellers put into the project.

 

How Exactly Does Home Staging Work?

 

Home Staging is more than just cleaning, decluttering, and making other purely aesthetic changes to the bones of your house. Home Staging requires expertise and access to quality furniture and accessories that will appeal to a broad range of buyers who will view your home. The goal of the Home Stager in Houston is to set a mood that will influence and evoke buyers emotions as they tour your home.

 

The cost of Home Staging depends on many different factors. If the home is vacant, a seller should expect to pay more for furniture rentals and upkeep. Not every room in your house must be staged. The living room, master bedroom and kitchen will have the greatest impact on buyers. Research shows that the average cost of Home Staging in Houston varies from $500-$5000 depending on the square footage of the house and how aggressive the seller desires to be. Common costs associated with Home Staging include an initial consultation fee and monthly fee for each month your home is on the market.

 

In addition to less time on the market and higher selling price, there are several other benefits to staging your home:

 

●       Standing out from competitors in the Houston market. Making your house look better than others for sale in your neighborhood will grab a higher price, and may steer potential buys toward your property instead of new construction.

●       Staged homes are easier to market: 40% of buyers say that they are more willing to walk through a home they saw online if it is staged. Staged homes look better in pictures and will stand out from other houses online or in newspapers.

●       A ready-to-move-in home is appealing to buyers. Staged homes make it easier for buyers to visualize themselves there. Staging reduces the need for a buyer to have an imagination of how their lives will function in your space.

 

Can I Stage My Home Myself?

 

Of course! But you must have the time and patience to craft a unique look using your existing furniture that will appeal to different types of buyers. If you already own quality furniture and have a knack for interior design, staging your home yourself is a great option.

 

If you are on a budget, another great option is to seek out a professional stager who will stage you home with the furniture you already own at a reduced cost.

 

No matter your needs, Showhomes Houston is here to help you decide what will best get your home sold and off the market so you can begin your life in your new home. Our team has broad experience in real estate, design, customer service and we are dedicated to bringing you unparalleled expertise, responsiveness, professionalism and results.

Showhomes Houston on "Successful Living with Bill Knapik"

See the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTi83X8Rsos

The Process for Vacant Home Staging in Houston

Home staging is more than just pulling together pieces of furniture to fill an empty space. Vacant home staging in Houston requires a thorough process in order to style and compose a welcoming, comfortable space. These eight steps for setting up a staged home can help sellers attract offers more quickly and remain competitive with other sellers at similar price points.

1. Plan a design that will be most appealing to your target buyer.

Research must be conducted to determine what kind of people are buying homes in your area. For neighborhoods made up of primarily young families, you may want to have one bedroom set up as a child's room. If your neighborhood is mostly older, more established couples, focus more on investing in the entertaining spaces. Sketch a plan with this target buyer in mind. Compile a list of all of the different pieces of furniture and decor needed for each room.

2. Price the primary and secondary furniture rentals, and put together a project proposal.

Once a list of all of the primary furniture (beds, couches, bookcases, etc.) and secondary furniture pieces (artwork, rugs, lighting, accessories, etc.) has been completed, the rentals must be priced and ordered from vendors. High quality furniture and decor items are the best way to increase the overall value of your staging investment. Timelines, cost, and payment terms, must also be taken into account during this stage.

3. Schedule the deliveries with vendors and coordinate schedules of movers.

All furniture and decor must be delivered to the property and moved into the house in the planned time period. Start by setting a completion date before your home's first showing. Coordination can be tricky. Be sure to follow up with vendors to ensure deliveries arrive on time, and that the appropriate manpower is available to move the items into the home quickly and efficiently.

4. Develop a plan for the design of each room.

Once a date of delivery is set, create a specific plan for each room. This includes the placement of every piece of furniture, rug, artwork and decor items. Items must be placed in order to highlight architectural focal points and features of the home, while also keeping traffic flow in mind. The items should support each rooms purpose, make the room feel open and uncluttered, and maximize its spaciousness.

5. Clean the home.

Make sure all surfaces are clean and sparkling. Floors should be vacuumed and mopped. The house should appear bright and smell fresh and crisp. Be sure to keep cleaning supplies on hand during the entire selling process so that the home can be cleaned daily during the showing period.

6. Stage and style the vacant home.

Once the deliveries have been made and furniture has been moved into the home, there is no room for imperfection. Pictures must be hung straight, furniture must be centered, bedding and curtains have to be steamed, and pillows must be fluffed just right. All decor pieces should match the style and purpose of the room.

7. Professional Photography.

Most people will decide whether they even step foot inside your door based on the pictures they see in advertisements for your home. Before a photographer arrives, a final inspection of the staged home should be completed, and the angles that give the best view and overall picture of the size of each room should be pinpointed.

8. Destage the home.

Once the home sells, all of the hard work put into staging a home must be undone before the closing date. Use the original list created in step one to ensure all of the furniture and decor items are packaged, picked up, or returned to the correct vendor. Be careful to ensure no pieces are damaged during the moving process. Extra manpower may also be needed during the destaging process to ensure the move out is completed in a timely manner.

As you can see, vacant home staging in Houston is no small task. The home staging process requires that many pieces fall correctly into place. As an expert in the field, Showhomes has nailed the vacant home staging process down to a science. Let us take the stress of the vacant home staging process off your hands, and have your home sold and off the market in no time at all. Contact Showhomes Houston today and let our team of experts in the Houston, TX area work their magic for you!

Successful Living with Bill Knapik: Hear about Home staging and more....

View youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCoe0HFhWMw

Showhomes Houston's "Urban Oasis" District Magazine Spring 2018 by Laura Furr Mericas

For full article: http://online.fliphtml5.com/nxcu/brbs/#p=33

Meet The Barndollars of Showhomes Houston

VoyageHouston posted this story about the Barndollars: Meet Pratt and Shelley Barndollar of Showhomes Houston

Today we'd like to introduce you to Pratt and Shelley Barndollar.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Pratt and Shelley. So, let's start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Pratt and I have been married for 32 years and have moved over 10 times. In that time, we've purchased and sold numerous homes... which we either renovated or updated all of them. I have a certification in Interior Design and am also a certified Kitchen and Bath Designer....now I'm a certified Real Estate Stager.

So, when Showhomes Houston came available for purchase...we jumped on it! We absolutely love owning our own company and we are so thankful that we can bring our expertise of our many moves to our clients. We know how the seller and the buyer is thinking. We offer so much more than just staging to our clients...we offer peace of mind and our experience of over 32 yrs. of being exactly where they are.

Great, so let's dig a little deeper into the story - has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you've had to overcome?
When you own your own company, there aren't enough hours in the day. When you get home from either a staging or meeting a prospective client, there are a thousand other things that you have to do to keep your business going forward.

Today, social media plays a huge part of any business, esp. our business as it is so visual.

Please tell us about Showhomes Houston.
Showhomes Houston is a luxury home staging company. Our specialty is staging for estate and luxury homes.

I believe the thing that sets us apart is the fact that we are a franchise...that comes with many benefits, The biggest is the continuing learning that you have with owning a franchise.

I think the thing I am most proud of is our listen360/yelp/houzz scores. Pratt and I are conscientious and we will only give our clients 110%!! That gives me the biggest joy of all...knowing we are able to help our clients with any of their needs from painting, updates and staging!

The 8 Biggest Eyesores in Your Home-and Genius Ways to Hide Them (Realtor.com)

Those essential but utilitarian home items, such as electrical cords, radiators, and AC units, aren't exactly the prettiest room features. But you can't really rip them out-especially if you're a renter.

So what's a decor-conscious homeowner to do?

Well, we've got good news: A few cheap and clever moves will allow you to conceal them from view. Here are eight less-than-attractive hot spots and genius ways to cover them up.

1. Plaster cracks

Photo by JWT Associates

This one's easy: Turn this problem area into an asset with nice-looking paper.

"You can add an accent wall in a pattern that can't be achieved with paint-and wallpaper is long-lasting and durable," says Dan Schaeffer, owner of Five Star Painting in Austin, TX.

Or try removable or decal wallpaper, suggests Drew Henry of Design Dudes: "It's easy to put up, hides the cracks, and peels right off when it's time to move," he says.

You can also look to greenery to mask these spots.

"Hanging potted plants from the ceiling or mounting them to a wall over a crack would be an especially good solution for a renter who's unable to do an apartment renovation," says Katie McCann, an organizer with Haven.

2. AC unit

Sometimes it's wise to draw the eye away from a sore spot, rather than try to mask it, says Shelley Barndollar of home staging company Showhomes. For instance, she was once charged with staging a home that contained a very old, rusted air-conditioning unit right outside the window.

"When you walked into the room, it was the first thing you noticed," she recalls.

To fix it, she placed a seating arrangement near the room's entrance to distract from the unit. The AC was still visible if you walked over to it, but the conversation area made up for it by luring eyes in another direction.

3. Control panels and thermostats

Photo by Jessica Forbes Interior Stylist

Artwork is your friend when it comes to concealing knobs, temperature controls, and other boring gadgets attached to walls. Consider a bright tapestry, a photo gallery, or a piece of sculpture to hide these items.

"Specifically, take a look at artwork that's a bit raised off the wall so that if the area is uneven, you won't notice," McCann suggests.

4. Old radiators

Photo by Архитектурная мастерская Акант 

Here's a double play for a radiator that's less than aesthetically appealing: a folding screen. Henry says you'll be hiding this spot while also adding interest to the room.

Or, try a metal cover or custom box to cover the radiator-or a sized-to-match piece of wood or marble that can handle the heat, recommends Denise Palmer of Piper Classics.

"Use the space on top as a shelf for books, faux plants, or seasonal decorations," she says.

But you don't have to cover radiators up at all. Even this tangle of metal can be beautified, says Sara Chiarilli, an interior designer with Artful Conceptions.

"We have had such a resurgence of historical buildings and design today, so I would not hide these," she says.

Instead, scrape off the old paint and add a fresh coat. It'll make a big difference.

5. Bulky TVs

An armoire with doors is the classic way to hide the boob tube, but there are newer options, including a piece that allows the TV to drop in and then be pulled out when in use.

"The prices on these have really come down, making them much more affordable," Chiarilli says.

Or you can always install a pull-down map in front of the TV or hang a canvas over it, Palmer adds.

And here's another clever pro tip: Make your TV part of your decor.

"One of the most creative ways that we've seen to hide a TV is to create a tonal wall blending the black rectangular shaped TV into a wall lined with black and white prints and photos," Palmer says. (Check out this lookfrom blogger Kelly Elko to inspire your new aesthetic.)

6. Open closets

Photo by Luke Gibson Photography

Simple tension rods with a plain curtain can hide myriad of eyesores, including your shoe closet, home office supplies, or a washer and dryer, notes Sarah Hollenbeck of Offers.com.

7. Modems, routers, and other internet gadgets

Photo by Rikki Snyder 

"While these boxes are necessary, they aren't always the most aesthetically pleasing," Hollenbeck admits.

To hide one, cover the item with decorative paper or removable wallpaper and then place it in a stack of books.

8. Dangling cords

Photo by The Cabinet Shoppe 

If you're on a budget, there's a simple solution for your tangled mess of cords: Get cord covers painted to match your wall color.

Looking for something a bit more imaginative? "If the wall with your TV on it is relatively small, you could consider creating a pallet or shiplap wall to cover up the cord and add an interesting design element to your home," Hollenbeck suggests.

Forecast on the 2019 Home Staging Market

The time is ripe to invest in Showhomes.

A stable economy and a real estate market that consists of homes taking a longer-than-usual time to sell mean that business will be booming for the home staging market in 2019.

Showhomes Chief Operating Officer Matt Kelton recently attended the 2018 Realtors Conference & Expo in Boston and cited information presented by Lawrence Yun, the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS. The real estate market, Kelton learned, is seeing stable growth with no housing bubble. Home prices will also see modest growth, with about 4.7 percent growth in 2018, 3.1 percent growth in 2019 and 2.7 percent growth in 2020.

"Inventory and shortages will still be an issue but we're starting to see inventories pick up," Kelton said. "That's good for us because one of our struggles is a lack of inventory."

For Showhomes, inventory refers to the number of empty houses that are awaiting sale.  

"We talk to franchisees around the country, from California to Florida, and we're beginning to see that inventories are increasing," Kelton said. "Homes are taking longer to sell. There are regional differences. Boise, Idaho, for example, is booming because people are moving from California. For the most part, though, I'm hearing the same thing across the board, that inventories are getting higher and taking longer to sell and that can be a good thing for us."

Kelton has been with Showhomes for 12 years and the industry has come a long way in that time. More and more people are interested in home staging, which can provide a higher return.  

"There are lots of statistics out there indicating that show homes sell 90 percent faster than a vacant home and for 15 percent more," he said. "Staging brings up more money in a faster period of time."

Kelton said half of his phone calls used to consist of him having to explain the concept of home staging. He said that 95 percent of people are finding homes online, so homeowners who don't play what he refers to as "the beauty contest" can have a harder time selling.

"Home staging is now a known commodity and an expected thing," he said. "People understand it's become part of the real estate industry."

Showhomes sees regional variations. Santa Fe, New Mexico, Kelton said, is the most unique market the company has seen.

"There are differences in terms of specific buyer types and international ownership," Kelton said. "Clearly the designs in the Midwest are different from Phoenix, Arizona or Orange County, California."

Catherine Chandler is a Showhomes franchisee in Portland, Oregon. She purchased her Showhomes franchise in April of 2017 and opened it in August of that year.

It was a timely decision. She noted that Portland is seasonal like any other real estate market, but a little less so thanks to a lack of snow and ice that plague other parts of the country.

"The Portland market has been on fire for the past couple of years," she said. "It's starting to happen now where the rising interest rates and the general increase in the number of properties available are returning our market to what's a little more normal."

Population growth in Portland, she said, is "massive" due to the high number of people moving there from California. She noted that Portland is still one of the most affordable cities on the West Coast.

"What the expectation is for 2019 is a return to normal where you list your house, some people look at it and a sale is not going to happen immediately," she said. "That's a really good thing for our industry."

The home staging market in Portland, she said, is also a highly-established one.

"People here understand the value of staging," Chandler said. "There are some fantastic staging companies that are already here and that are well-respected on the national stage. I've gone to national conferences and a lot of the people I've met are in Portland's staging market."

Such an established presence makes the job simpler for Chandler.

"Both homeowners and real estate agents understand the importance of staging and that it really does work," she said. "What that's meant to me, starting a new business, is that I don't have to sell people on the concept of staging. I just have to sell myself and Showhomes."

The wave of demand for home staging has already started in Portland.

"People are more receptive to staging but they are also more receptive to doing what they need to do to sell their home," she said. "Stagers here have talked about seeing an increase in business in what is supposed to be the slow time of the year. That will probably continue."

A strong real estate market and multiple revenue streams make Showhomes a great franchising option in 2019.

"We do makeovers for existing homes, homes updates and minor remodeling," Kelton said. "We're the only company that has this broad menu as being a full-service staging company and design organization. We're getting a bigger and bigger market share."

What ultimately sets Showhomes apart from the competition is the company's Home Manager program, in which the company has executives living in homes that are for sale. This helps the house have a homier, more lived-in look when prospective buyers come to see the house.

"When a home is vacant and has that empty house smell it can be a weird stagnant feeling," Kelton said. "If buyers walk through the house and see food in the pantry, for example, and smell home cooking, we can usually sell that home faster. You're trying to get someone to fall in love with a home and it's very much an emotional aspect."

Kelton expects that 2019 will be an excellent year for the home staging market and for the Showhomes brand.

"When you look at the consolidation and the inventory levels that will be increasing, you're seeing more and more of a need for staging," he said. "The demand is there. This is an extremely under-served market in a fragmented industry. We see this increasing as far as a demand for the general public. It's really a good time to join Showhomes. This is a big time for us, as we mirror the traditional real estate market."