Showhomes Greenville opened in early 2008 to bring the same high-quality, whole-house staging to the Upstate at a fraction of the traditional cost. Contact us at 864.423.4936.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Just Staged in Minneapolis
Cindy Montgomery, our top stager and one our Top-Performers each year, sent these photos of some homes she staged last week. Cindy is a dynamo with an average of almost 50 homes staged at any given time. Take a look:
Showhomes Greenville opened in early 2008 to bring the same high-quality, whole-house staging to the Upstate at a fraction of the traditional cost. Contact us at 864.423.4936.
Showhomes Greenville opened in early 2008 to bring the same high-quality, whole-house staging to the Upstate at a fraction of the traditional cost. Contact us at 864.423.4936.
Monday, March 23, 2009
What is a Home Manager?
Home Managers become temporary caregivers of vacant properties while they are for sale. Home Managers benefit from reduced living expenses and they enjoy luxurious accomodations without long-term leases. Home Managers and their fine furnishings are matched to houses according to style, size and location.
If you are selected as a Home Manager, you become a vital member of a growing team that is revolutionizing the way residential real estate is marketed. Your style, flair, and fine furniture turns a vacant house into a valued home - a luxurious home that you enjoy at a cost far lower than you'd imagine.
Home Managers profit by enjoying an enviable, yet eminently affordable lifestyle. The Realtor always finds the home in show-to-sell condition. The home owner sells the home faster and for a higher price. All of the participants in the Showhomes program receive genuine value.
If you are selected as a Home Manager, you become a vital member of a growing team that is revolutionizing the way residential real estate is marketed. Your style, flair, and fine furniture turns a vacant house into a valued home - a luxurious home that you enjoy at a cost far lower than you'd imagine.
Home Managers profit by enjoying an enviable, yet eminently affordable lifestyle. The Realtor always finds the home in show-to-sell condition. The home owner sells the home faster and for a higher price. All of the participants in the Showhomes program receive genuine value.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Small Changes, Great Appeal
Steve Thomas, owner of Showhomes Naperville, sent these photos of a tricky room he and his team restaged for a Home Manager in a $700k Downers Grove home.
Here's what they had to work with to start:
Pretty crowded and not what you want to walk into when you first enter the home. The entertainment center is nice but belongs in another room, the access to the conversation grouping is tight for a Realtor and clients to navigate and there is solid furniture along the wall, especially in the dining room.
He went to work and in short order his talented team produced this:
Amazing! The Realtor and homeowner are really happy and the room works the way it should to help sell the home.
Showhomes Greenville can produce the same results for your high-end listings here in the Upstate. Contact us at 864.423.4936.
Here's what they had to work with to start:
Pretty crowded and not what you want to walk into when you first enter the home. The entertainment center is nice but belongs in another room, the access to the conversation grouping is tight for a Realtor and clients to navigate and there is solid furniture along the wall, especially in the dining room.
He went to work and in short order his talented team produced this:
Amazing! The Realtor and homeowner are really happy and the room works the way it should to help sell the home.
Showhomes Greenville can produce the same results for your high-end listings here in the Upstate. Contact us at 864.423.4936.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Property Stylist
What is a property stylist?
Here is an interview with property stylist and luxury home stager, Tanya Venable.
What do you like best about your chosen career?
One reason why I love what I do is because it creates interest all around. People are interested to know what Home Staging and ReStyles are all about. I love to educate them.
Why did you choose the title Property Stylist?
Because it really encompasses all that I do as a Home Stager. The average home stager is not average at all! Most Home Stagers provide additional services. From downsizing and organizing to restyles and/or holiday decorating, Home Stagers offer a variety of services that deal with making a home stylish and functional.
I always say “Invigorate your space, Invigorate your life.” Simple budget-friendly changes can breathe new life into a space. Property Stylists do just that and give properties style and function.
How do you help sell a home?
If your home needs staging to be sold, a Property Stylist will create a neutral and inviting palette that will appeal to the majority of buyers to get that home sold quickly and profitably.
What other services do you offer?
If you want to update the look of your home and create a dream space, we do that too. By listening to your vision for the space we will bring your dreams to life and create the space you have always wanted.
Can’t see past the clutter to determine what you want? We can help there as well.
And here's where Tanya gets to put in a shameless plug....
De-cluttering is a major aspect in Home Staging and we do it well. De-cluttering is not just for selling a home. A clutter-free home can not only help increase your creativity but also helps you feel more relaxed and you will enjoy your space more.
Do you have a special event coming up? Need to host a dinner party, a bridal shower, or holiday dinner? Property Stylists have that covered too. Most ReStyles or themed decorating can be completed in a day.
Need serious work done? Property Stylists can also oversee remodeling or renovation projects.
Realtors, Investors or Builders, we offer services for you as well. From simple design and color consultations to full service home staging, we can assist you in securing a quick and profitable sale for your property/listing.
Thanks Tanya! A few months ago, Tanya Venable became affiliated with Showhomes of Greenville. She continues to run her own company, Fresh Eye Designs, LLC, and together we offer one-stop shopping for all of your home staging and redesign needs. Contact us at 864.423.4936.
Here is an interview with property stylist and luxury home stager, Tanya Venable.
What do you like best about your chosen career?
One reason why I love what I do is because it creates interest all around. People are interested to know what Home Staging and ReStyles are all about. I love to educate them.
Why did you choose the title Property Stylist?
Because it really encompasses all that I do as a Home Stager. The average home stager is not average at all! Most Home Stagers provide additional services. From downsizing and organizing to restyles and/or holiday decorating, Home Stagers offer a variety of services that deal with making a home stylish and functional.
I always say “Invigorate your space, Invigorate your life.” Simple budget-friendly changes can breathe new life into a space. Property Stylists do just that and give properties style and function.
How do you help sell a home?
If your home needs staging to be sold, a Property Stylist will create a neutral and inviting palette that will appeal to the majority of buyers to get that home sold quickly and profitably.
What other services do you offer?
If you want to update the look of your home and create a dream space, we do that too. By listening to your vision for the space we will bring your dreams to life and create the space you have always wanted.
Can’t see past the clutter to determine what you want? We can help there as well.
And here's where Tanya gets to put in a shameless plug....
De-cluttering is a major aspect in Home Staging and we do it well. De-cluttering is not just for selling a home. A clutter-free home can not only help increase your creativity but also helps you feel more relaxed and you will enjoy your space more.
Do you have a special event coming up? Need to host a dinner party, a bridal shower, or holiday dinner? Property Stylists have that covered too. Most ReStyles or themed decorating can be completed in a day.
Need serious work done? Property Stylists can also oversee remodeling or renovation projects.
Realtors, Investors or Builders, we offer services for you as well. From simple design and color consultations to full service home staging, we can assist you in securing a quick and profitable sale for your property/listing.
Thanks Tanya! A few months ago, Tanya Venable became affiliated with Showhomes of Greenville. She continues to run her own company, Fresh Eye Designs, LLC, and together we offer one-stop shopping for all of your home staging and redesign needs. Contact us at 864.423.4936.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Home Staging
Another great article that mentions Showhomes. It appeared in the New York Times.
All the Home’s a Stage
By LISA PREVOST
Published: January 2, 2009
WESTPORT, Conn.
WANTED: Compulsively neat, highly organized people to live in houses being marketed for sale. Must keep house suitable for showing at all times. Dirty dishes, used bath towels and stray newspapers strictly prohibited.
Salary? None. Length of time in house? Unpredictable.
If this description serves only to remind you what a mess your own house is, you are probably not “home manager” material. For people who simply cannot leave the house before making the bed, however, the role of home manager might actually sound appealing. And according to firms that recruit and place home managers, the bleak housing market is driving more of the naturally tidy into their programs.
A home manager is essentially a live-in stager, as well as a caretaker and cleaner extraordinaire. The service is marketed as a tool to sell a vacant property more quickly. Prospective buyers will be less enticed by an empty, stale-smelling house, the theory goes, than by a meticulously kept home decorated with high-quality furnishings.
Home managers are required to accommodate real estate agents who want to show the house any day of the week. They pay a reduced rent and their own utility costs and have to keep up the grounds.
What they get in return is the privilege of living in what are usually large, expensive homes for a fraction of what it would cost to rent such a property. And in instances where they have to leave a house because it sold, staging companies usually try to place them in another house as soon as possible.
Economic uncertainty is making it easier to find reliable, trustworthy people willing to live on a month-to-month basis, said Susan Hendee, an associate at Show to Sell, a Westport firm that offers home manager and staging services. For people who have sold their homes and don’t want to buy another right away, “we’re a very good option,” she said. “This is actually a pretty good time for us.”
Likewise for Susan Hendrickson, the owner of Unique Property Marketing, also in Westport. “In just the last month,” she said, “I’ve put three new home managers in houses.”
Before home managers are accepted into such a program, they usually undergo a rigorous screening process. Firms may do background checks and ask for financial information in addition to scrutinizing the applicant’s furniture and décor.
“You probably have friends who every time you go to their apartment they’ve moved their furniture around, right?” said Thomas Scott, vice president for operations of Showhomes, a national chain of offices offering home manager services. “Those are the people we like.”
With 44 franchises, Showhomes is wrapping up its best year ever, company executives say, and hopes to establish more of a presence in the Northeast in the coming year.
Showhomes charges homeowners a fee for their services, in addition to charging a monthly rate to the home manager.
The two Westport firms, which serve Fairfield County, provide the service to the homeowner, and make their money from the manager’s “rent” — usually $1,000 to $1,500 a month. Market-rate rents for similar properties might run as high as $4,000 a month or more.
“Financially, it was such a benefit for us,” said Sally Bohling, who, with her husband, four children and two dogs, managed two houses in the last two years. The Bohlings were building a house in Westport and didn’t want to get locked into a rental lease in the meantime. So they signed on with Unique Property Marketing.
They spent the first five months in a restored antique home on prestigious Beachside Avenue. Then, when the owner decided to rent that property, they moved their Oriental rugs and baby grand piano to a new 12,000-square-foot colonial in a gated community in Fairfield.
There were some inconveniences beyond the obvious challenge of keeping up with the clutter potential of four children. They couldn’t use the fireplaces or fancy built-in coffee maker. Last-minute Sunday showings were “precarious.” But Ms. Bohling said she treated the role as seriously as a job, and used the experience to teach her children the importance of getting chores done and respecting other people's property. The family moved into their own home last month.
Kerrin O’Brien worked with Unique Property Marketing as a house manager for two Greenwich properties after she and her partner, Tamara, sold their own home there. “We were thinking we’d be moving to New Jersey at some point,” said Ms. O’Brien, a real estate investor, “but we weren’t ready to buy or build, given the economy.”
One of the properties they moved into had been on the market and vacant for at least two years. After they moved in, it sold within a few months, she said.
Having left the second house in November, the couple now live in Monmouth Beach, N.J., and are considering starting their own home manager business.
Kim Elstein, co-owner of Gallery 33, in Westport, finds that being a home manager with Show to Sell enables her to showcase her company’s 20th-century vintage furniture, while also reducing storage costs for her inventory. Every piece of furniture in the renovated ranch she currently manages in Fairfield is for sale. Although the furniture’s sky-high prices are out of reach of the average buyer, Ms. Elstein has noticed that, because the pieces are so unusual, people tend to linger in the house longer. “It should be just enough to give an impression, without clutter,” she said.
Show to Sell’s president, Debra Grant, says most of her home managers come to her through referrals, sometimes from divorce lawyers. Divorced men, it might pain their ex-wives to know, often turn out to be very good home managers.
“We do the decorating, tell them this is how it has to be,” Ms. Grant said. “And then they don’t touch anything once it’s set up.”
All the Home’s a Stage
By LISA PREVOST
Published: January 2, 2009
WESTPORT, Conn.
WANTED: Compulsively neat, highly organized people to live in houses being marketed for sale. Must keep house suitable for showing at all times. Dirty dishes, used bath towels and stray newspapers strictly prohibited.
Salary? None. Length of time in house? Unpredictable.
If this description serves only to remind you what a mess your own house is, you are probably not “home manager” material. For people who simply cannot leave the house before making the bed, however, the role of home manager might actually sound appealing. And according to firms that recruit and place home managers, the bleak housing market is driving more of the naturally tidy into their programs.
A home manager is essentially a live-in stager, as well as a caretaker and cleaner extraordinaire. The service is marketed as a tool to sell a vacant property more quickly. Prospective buyers will be less enticed by an empty, stale-smelling house, the theory goes, than by a meticulously kept home decorated with high-quality furnishings.
Home managers are required to accommodate real estate agents who want to show the house any day of the week. They pay a reduced rent and their own utility costs and have to keep up the grounds.
What they get in return is the privilege of living in what are usually large, expensive homes for a fraction of what it would cost to rent such a property. And in instances where they have to leave a house because it sold, staging companies usually try to place them in another house as soon as possible.
Economic uncertainty is making it easier to find reliable, trustworthy people willing to live on a month-to-month basis, said Susan Hendee, an associate at Show to Sell, a Westport firm that offers home manager and staging services. For people who have sold their homes and don’t want to buy another right away, “we’re a very good option,” she said. “This is actually a pretty good time for us.”
Likewise for Susan Hendrickson, the owner of Unique Property Marketing, also in Westport. “In just the last month,” she said, “I’ve put three new home managers in houses.”
Before home managers are accepted into such a program, they usually undergo a rigorous screening process. Firms may do background checks and ask for financial information in addition to scrutinizing the applicant’s furniture and décor.
“You probably have friends who every time you go to their apartment they’ve moved their furniture around, right?” said Thomas Scott, vice president for operations of Showhomes, a national chain of offices offering home manager services. “Those are the people we like.”
With 44 franchises, Showhomes is wrapping up its best year ever, company executives say, and hopes to establish more of a presence in the Northeast in the coming year.
Showhomes charges homeowners a fee for their services, in addition to charging a monthly rate to the home manager.
The two Westport firms, which serve Fairfield County, provide the service to the homeowner, and make their money from the manager’s “rent” — usually $1,000 to $1,500 a month. Market-rate rents for similar properties might run as high as $4,000 a month or more.
“Financially, it was such a benefit for us,” said Sally Bohling, who, with her husband, four children and two dogs, managed two houses in the last two years. The Bohlings were building a house in Westport and didn’t want to get locked into a rental lease in the meantime. So they signed on with Unique Property Marketing.
They spent the first five months in a restored antique home on prestigious Beachside Avenue. Then, when the owner decided to rent that property, they moved their Oriental rugs and baby grand piano to a new 12,000-square-foot colonial in a gated community in Fairfield.
There were some inconveniences beyond the obvious challenge of keeping up with the clutter potential of four children. They couldn’t use the fireplaces or fancy built-in coffee maker. Last-minute Sunday showings were “precarious.” But Ms. Bohling said she treated the role as seriously as a job, and used the experience to teach her children the importance of getting chores done and respecting other people's property. The family moved into their own home last month.
Kerrin O’Brien worked with Unique Property Marketing as a house manager for two Greenwich properties after she and her partner, Tamara, sold their own home there. “We were thinking we’d be moving to New Jersey at some point,” said Ms. O’Brien, a real estate investor, “but we weren’t ready to buy or build, given the economy.”
One of the properties they moved into had been on the market and vacant for at least two years. After they moved in, it sold within a few months, she said.
Having left the second house in November, the couple now live in Monmouth Beach, N.J., and are considering starting their own home manager business.
Kim Elstein, co-owner of Gallery 33, in Westport, finds that being a home manager with Show to Sell enables her to showcase her company’s 20th-century vintage furniture, while also reducing storage costs for her inventory. Every piece of furniture in the renovated ranch she currently manages in Fairfield is for sale. Although the furniture’s sky-high prices are out of reach of the average buyer, Ms. Elstein has noticed that, because the pieces are so unusual, people tend to linger in the house longer. “It should be just enough to give an impression, without clutter,” she said.
Show to Sell’s president, Debra Grant, says most of her home managers come to her through referrals, sometimes from divorce lawyers. Divorced men, it might pain their ex-wives to know, often turn out to be very good home managers.
“We do the decorating, tell them this is how it has to be,” Ms. Grant said. “And then they don’t touch anything once it’s set up.”
Monday, February 23, 2009
Help for Vacant REO Homes!
Showhomes, America's largest home staging company, has begun a national partnership with NRI Relocation to stage and manage REO homes while they are vacant and on the market for sale. So far this partership is generating results: the first two homes staged with live-in Home Managers sold in less than 30 days.
Here is a photo of a $500k home in Scottsdale that had been on the market for over 9 months before selling in 30 days:
We also sold a home in Portland that had been on the market for over 6 months in 15 days and are now staging a third home in Charlotte with several others in the pipeline.
NRI is a great Relo company, staffed with some very seasoned professionals. We are excited to get the opportunity to work with them nationwide and help their clients stage and sell homes using Home Managers in a really tough market.
Showhomes is in a unique position in the staging industry; with offices in 44 markets and growing, we are able to provide consistent, high quality staging services with a single point of contact. Add to that Showhome's state of the art insurance programs and we hope this is a recipe for sales success in 2009!
Here is a photo of a $500k home in Scottsdale that had been on the market for over 9 months before selling in 30 days:
We also sold a home in Portland that had been on the market for over 6 months in 15 days and are now staging a third home in Charlotte with several others in the pipeline.
NRI is a great Relo company, staffed with some very seasoned professionals. We are excited to get the opportunity to work with them nationwide and help their clients stage and sell homes using Home Managers in a really tough market.
Showhomes is in a unique position in the staging industry; with offices in 44 markets and growing, we are able to provide consistent, high quality staging services with a single point of contact. Add to that Showhome's state of the art insurance programs and we hope this is a recipe for sales success in 2009!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Why Stage?
We love these quotes by Juliet Johnson, author, speaker and leading authority on home staging luxury real estate in suburban New Jersey.
"Home staging - aka getting your home into the best possible show shape so as to trigger an emotional response in the prospective buyer - is the proven way to shore up the value of any property offered for sale. Studies have shown that a staged house sells for 20% more than non-staged homes on properties priced over $200,000 and for 10 - 15% more on homes less than $150,000 - according to Thom Scott of Showhomes. So, if you want to get rich with your investment property... or maybe just sell your house for the best possible price, stage it!
"To shore up the price of your property for sale (i.e. get rich... or at the very least get what's rightfully yours), take the time to present your property really well. (which is just another way of describing staging!)
"Show the buyer how to live in the home. We have an 'add water and stir' society; people prefer to have an expert tell them something rather than have to go down a learning curve, make expensive mistakes and not have an optimal experience. Give each room a function, some color and some style. Buyers respond to emotions, and the best way to engage the emotions is with color (hence the existence of painters for as long as there's been mankind!)
"If a house costs $255,000. Your first price reduction is going to be at least $5 or 6 thousand, no? For half of that, you could have staged the whole house, or at least the principle rooms, for 3 months! Yes, you would have out of pocket expense on the staging, but what would your carrying costs have been?
"Staged homes sell 20 - 30% faster. In your market, how long is the average days on market? Chances are it's at least 60 - 90 days (and getting longer as 2008 progresses) If you can sell you home for a higher price, and not have it sit on the market deteriorating thereby saving untold amounts of money, to say nothing of time and emotional expense, wouldn't you agree, it makes financial sense to stage the home?"
Sellers often say that they can't afford to stage. If you look at it this way, you can't afford not to stage in today's market.
20% more....that's the difference between getting the $360K your house is worth or $300K a buyer might offer if your home is vacant.
10% more on homes valued $150K or less. That's $15,000 dollars you may have left on the table.
Remember this if nothing else: Staging always costs less than a price reduction!
Quotes were excerpted from Juliet's blog post: "Home Staging is a Rich Man's Game - Yeah, If You Wanna Be Rich!" To read the full article click here.
"Home staging - aka getting your home into the best possible show shape so as to trigger an emotional response in the prospective buyer - is the proven way to shore up the value of any property offered for sale. Studies have shown that a staged house sells for 20% more than non-staged homes on properties priced over $200,000 and for 10 - 15% more on homes less than $150,000 - according to Thom Scott of Showhomes. So, if you want to get rich with your investment property... or maybe just sell your house for the best possible price, stage it!
"To shore up the price of your property for sale (i.e. get rich... or at the very least get what's rightfully yours), take the time to present your property really well. (which is just another way of describing staging!)
"Show the buyer how to live in the home. We have an 'add water and stir' society; people prefer to have an expert tell them something rather than have to go down a learning curve, make expensive mistakes and not have an optimal experience. Give each room a function, some color and some style. Buyers respond to emotions, and the best way to engage the emotions is with color (hence the existence of painters for as long as there's been mankind!)
"If a house costs $255,000. Your first price reduction is going to be at least $5 or 6 thousand, no? For half of that, you could have staged the whole house, or at least the principle rooms, for 3 months! Yes, you would have out of pocket expense on the staging, but what would your carrying costs have been?
"Staged homes sell 20 - 30% faster. In your market, how long is the average days on market? Chances are it's at least 60 - 90 days (and getting longer as 2008 progresses) If you can sell you home for a higher price, and not have it sit on the market deteriorating thereby saving untold amounts of money, to say nothing of time and emotional expense, wouldn't you agree, it makes financial sense to stage the home?"
Sellers often say that they can't afford to stage. If you look at it this way, you can't afford not to stage in today's market.
20% more....that's the difference between getting the $360K your house is worth or $300K a buyer might offer if your home is vacant.
10% more on homes valued $150K or less. That's $15,000 dollars you may have left on the table.
Remember this if nothing else: Staging always costs less than a price reduction!
Quotes were excerpted from Juliet's blog post: "Home Staging is a Rich Man's Game - Yeah, If You Wanna Be Rich!" To read the full article click here.
Monday, February 9, 2009
The Secret is Out!
There's a reason the Travel Channel calls Showhomes 'The Best Kept Secret in Real Estate.' Showhomes is a niche business - unless you are a Realtor who lists high-end vacant homes, a homeowner struggling to sell a high-end vacant home in a market with a Showhomes office or you've looked for luxury single family home rentals, you've likely never encountered us. However, since 1986, Showhomes has helped over 25,000 homeowners sell vacant homes valued at well over $8 Billion.
We work with homeowners who have vacant homes for sale. As a rule, we focus on homes priced $400,000 and over. The average home staged is valued at just over one million. We have a lengthy track record of success dating back to the mid 1980's and Showhomes has gotten results for its customers in every type of market condition.
Amazing Press....
Showhomes has been so successful in its 25 year history that it has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, The Travel Channel, HGTV, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The LA Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Houston Chronicle, Budget Living Magazine, ABC, FOX, CBS, CNN and many, many other publications. These media outlets have figured out why we are worth talking about!
That's the Showhomes story....
and here's mine in a nutshell: I have worked in sales, marketing, and promotional advertising for over a decade. I am an experienced photographer, copywriter, teacher/trainer, and public speaker. So, in addition to my design talents, I can help you and your realtor market your property for maximum exposure, so that it sells quickly and as close to list price as possible.
~Natasha Little
We work with homeowners who have vacant homes for sale. As a rule, we focus on homes priced $400,000 and over. The average home staged is valued at just over one million. We have a lengthy track record of success dating back to the mid 1980's and Showhomes has gotten results for its customers in every type of market condition.
Amazing Press....
Showhomes has been so successful in its 25 year history that it has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, The Travel Channel, HGTV, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The LA Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Houston Chronicle, Budget Living Magazine, ABC, FOX, CBS, CNN and many, many other publications. These media outlets have figured out why we are worth talking about!
That's the Showhomes story....
and here's mine in a nutshell: I have worked in sales, marketing, and promotional advertising for over a decade. I am an experienced photographer, copywriter, teacher/trainer, and public speaker. So, in addition to my design talents, I can help you and your realtor market your property for maximum exposure, so that it sells quickly and as close to list price as possible.
~Natasha Little
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Lemons to Lemonade
This article appeared on the Reality on Realty blog a few weeks ago:
It's a great blog on our company, Showhomes. More than doing financially well in today's market, we are truly helping tons of homeowners and their Realtors close sales in a REALLY TOUGH market!
When the Economy Gives You Lemons…Find a Way to Make Lemonade
Published by jmiller
on January 23, 2009
in Home Selling
Amidst the bleak news about failing industries, businesses, and the economy as a whole, it was comforting to discover that some people are making a killing off of the housing crisis. Companies such as Showhomes are taking advantage of the unprecedented number of vacant homes that are currently on the market by selling the services of a “home manager” - a person or family who lives in the vacant home until it sells.
I think the business model is genius. According to a survey conducted in 2004, vacant homes (even if they’re staged) typically sit on the market for 30 to 60 days longer than occupied homes, and sell for at least 10 percent less. Owners of vacant homes pay for the upkeep and utilities of the house, in addition to the staging fees and insurance costs, only to find that the house doesn’t sell.
By hiring a company such as Showhomes, the homeowner pays an upfront staging fee of $1000-$3000 and, after the house sells, coughs up about 0.5% of the selling price. However, the homeowner no longer has to pay for utilities or maintenance as the home manager takes care of that, and the insurance costs get covered by the company. And most importantly - the house sells. One 2007 study conducted in Chicago showed that managed homes sold at 93% of the list price, while comparable unoccupied homes sold at -14%, if at all.
But why would anyone want to live in a house that they could get kicked out of at a moment’s notice? There are a couple of reasons.
1) Many of these houses are listed at $1 million or more, and Showhomes “rents” them for about half of what they’re worth. The lowest listing price for a Showhomes house? $500,000. Not too shabby!
2) The fact that there is no lease is ideal for some folks. For example, a professional who is starting a new job in another city but needs a place to live while looking for the perfect house, or a professor looking for a temporary home while on sabbatical.
3) Did I mention the extremely low cost of “rent”?
I am impressed - and am kicking myself for not doing it first. These house management companies profit from both the homeowner and the “renter,” have minimal costs, and are currently experiencing an enormous market. Why didn’t I think of that?
It's a great blog on our company, Showhomes. More than doing financially well in today's market, we are truly helping tons of homeowners and their Realtors close sales in a REALLY TOUGH market!
When the Economy Gives You Lemons…Find a Way to Make Lemonade
Published by jmiller
on January 23, 2009
in Home Selling
Amidst the bleak news about failing industries, businesses, and the economy as a whole, it was comforting to discover that some people are making a killing off of the housing crisis. Companies such as Showhomes are taking advantage of the unprecedented number of vacant homes that are currently on the market by selling the services of a “home manager” - a person or family who lives in the vacant home until it sells.
I think the business model is genius. According to a survey conducted in 2004, vacant homes (even if they’re staged) typically sit on the market for 30 to 60 days longer than occupied homes, and sell for at least 10 percent less. Owners of vacant homes pay for the upkeep and utilities of the house, in addition to the staging fees and insurance costs, only to find that the house doesn’t sell.
By hiring a company such as Showhomes, the homeowner pays an upfront staging fee of $1000-$3000 and, after the house sells, coughs up about 0.5% of the selling price. However, the homeowner no longer has to pay for utilities or maintenance as the home manager takes care of that, and the insurance costs get covered by the company. And most importantly - the house sells. One 2007 study conducted in Chicago showed that managed homes sold at 93% of the list price, while comparable unoccupied homes sold at -14%, if at all.
But why would anyone want to live in a house that they could get kicked out of at a moment’s notice? There are a couple of reasons.
1) Many of these houses are listed at $1 million or more, and Showhomes “rents” them for about half of what they’re worth. The lowest listing price for a Showhomes house? $500,000. Not too shabby!
2) The fact that there is no lease is ideal for some folks. For example, a professional who is starting a new job in another city but needs a place to live while looking for the perfect house, or a professor looking for a temporary home while on sabbatical.
3) Did I mention the extremely low cost of “rent”?
I am impressed - and am kicking myself for not doing it first. These house management companies profit from both the homeowner and the “renter,” have minimal costs, and are currently experiencing an enormous market. Why didn’t I think of that?
Monday, February 2, 2009
Rock 'N' Roll
Showhomes Greenville owner Natasha Little will participate in the 12th annual Rock 'N' Roll Marathon in San Diego, California. She is training for this endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of the volunteers on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives.
"I lost my sister Michelle to a blood cancer in May of 2005, so this charity is close to my heart. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!"
Natasha learned about Team in Training through Phil and Amy Parham of Biggest Loser fame. "Phil and Amy sent out a newsletter that mentioned TNT in the sidebar. I went to one of the local info meetings and felt compelled to register. Team In Training® (TNT) is designed to help women and men from all fitness levels achieve their athletic dreams by offering unparalleled coaching and access to some of the best events in the world. In return, we get the added satisfaction of raising funds to help the Society find a cure and offer much needed support to cancer patients in the meantime."
This year participants have roughly five months to train for several different endurance events, including a long distance bike ride, a triathlon, and their choice of marathons.
"I lost my sister Michelle to a blood cancer in May of 2005, so this charity is close to my heart. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!"
Natasha learned about Team in Training through Phil and Amy Parham of Biggest Loser fame. "Phil and Amy sent out a newsletter that mentioned TNT in the sidebar. I went to one of the local info meetings and felt compelled to register. Team In Training® (TNT) is designed to help women and men from all fitness levels achieve their athletic dreams by offering unparalleled coaching and access to some of the best events in the world. In return, we get the added satisfaction of raising funds to help the Society find a cure and offer much needed support to cancer patients in the meantime."
This year participants have roughly five months to train for several different endurance events, including a long distance bike ride, a triathlon, and their choice of marathons.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
New Showhomes Offices Open in Tampa
Great article on Showhomes that appeared in the Tampa Tribune this past weekend. Showhomes opened two new locations recently in the Tampa area:
By Shannon Behnken, Tampa Tribune, Fla.
Jan. 25
TAMPA -- Some of Tampa's finest houses need more than impeccable maintenance or discounting to sell in this economic environment.
They may need you.
That is, if you're compulsively neat, have a home's worth of upscale furniture and don't mind moving every few months.
Though most people are familiar with staging a house using fine furnishings and decorations, a new Tampa business thinks the abundance of vacant homes on the market needs a human touch.
"There's a huge difference in the energy in a home that's staged not with just furnishings but with people," said Linda Saavedra, who's opening the Tampa franchise of Nashville-based Showhomes. "It brings a warmth to the home and helps buyers make an emotional connection to the home."
Showhomes is looking for what it calls "home managers" to move into some of Tampa's houses until they sell.
The positions don't pay a salary but offer the opportunity to live the high life for a fraction of what it would normally cost to rent the home. Home managers are responsible for maintaining the lawn, paying the utilities and keeping the home in "show-ready" condition at all times.
When the house sells, the home manager can opt to be moved to another vacant house. Some of the homes could be worth as much as $5 million or as little as $250,000. The monthly fee to live there could range from one-half to one-third of the market rental rate for the neighborhood.
"It's a great situation for everyone involved," Saavedra said. "It offers a lot of benefits for the homeowner and the home manager."
Moving people into the homes, Saavedra said, offers an option for many homeowners who can't afford traditional staging or have left town and can't maintain the home.
The Bay area has a backlog of more than 30,000 homes for sale, so Saavedra hopes the concept will take off. Real estate agents, hungry for anything to help their clients' homes stand out among the competition, are eager to learn more.
In the Bay area, 53,630 properties received a foreclosure filing in 2008, according to California-based RealtyTrac. Thousands of those homes are empty. Vacant homes are harder to sell, real estate agents say, because buyers can't see themselves living in the home and tend to make low offers.
Homes that are occupied and staged get 10 percent to 20 percent higher prices and sell 60 to 90 days faster than vacant homes, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Saavedra opened her business in December and is holding her grand opening this month. For those uncomfortable with a home manager moving in, Saavedra will offer traditional staging.
She hasn't staged a local home yet, but said she has a growing list of interested home managers and hopes to start placing them by the end of the month.
She said she hopes the good deals will persuade more people to try being a home manager. For example, a South Tampa home she looked at recently is listed for $670,000. The monthly fee for a home manager would be $1,000.
Most Showhomes franchises work only with higher-end homes, usually ones that start around $500,000, but Saavedra said she will consider homes in the $250,000 range because there are so many vacant in that range in the Bay area.
Even with the potential benefits of home staging, it can still be a tough sell.
Home managers can be single or bring the family, but they can't smoke or have pets. And their furniture has to pass muster. If they don't have enough furniture, they can rent it from Showhomes. The company also does criminal and credit checks on home manager applicants.
The average time a home manager stays in a home is about five months, although some have had to move in as little as 60 days. Others have stayed for about a year.
Homeowners pay a set-up fee of about $1,500 to $3,500, depending on the square footage, to place a home manager into the house. (The company is waiving the fee in January for the grand opening.) Homeowners don't collect rent, though. The monthly fee home managers pay goes to Showhomes. When the home sells, Showhomes gets 1 percent or less of the list price of the home.
Showhomes has a nice concept, said Chris Lafakis, an economist with Moody's Economy.com, but nothing is a sure thing in these economic times. Staging a home with people and decent furniture may generate more buyer interest, he said, but nothing will sell the home faster than lowering the price.
"When it comes down to it, the consumer's choice is about whether they can afford the home," he said.
The nationwide company doesn't seem to have much trouble getting customers, though.
Showhomes started in 1986 and doubled in size last year as the real estate market persuaded more homeowners to give the service a try. The company has 44 franchises nationwide, said Thomas Scott, vice president of operations.
As untraditional as the arrangement may be, some home managers say the lifestyle fits them perfectly.
Paul Huber has been living in a Minnesota Showhome for three months. With a pending divorce, Huber needed to find temporary housing but didn't want to trade in his 6,000-square-foot home for a tiny apartment. He called his local Showhomes franchise and was immediately placed into a 3,000-square-foot home in a gated community on a golf course.
Huber rents the home furnished.
"All I needed to bring was sheets, towels dishes and silverware," he said. "The place looks like it came out of Better Homes and Gardens. It's great."
The home is on the market for more than $800,000, and Huber pays $2,500 a month, plus utilities.
But there is a downside: He never knows when he will get the call to pack up and leave. Huber said the home he's managing has had 10 showings.
"Most home managers start thinking, 'Gee, I hope it doesn't sell.'" he said.
By Shannon Behnken, Tampa Tribune, Fla.
Jan. 25
TAMPA -- Some of Tampa's finest houses need more than impeccable maintenance or discounting to sell in this economic environment.
They may need you.
That is, if you're compulsively neat, have a home's worth of upscale furniture and don't mind moving every few months.
Though most people are familiar with staging a house using fine furnishings and decorations, a new Tampa business thinks the abundance of vacant homes on the market needs a human touch.
"There's a huge difference in the energy in a home that's staged not with just furnishings but with people," said Linda Saavedra, who's opening the Tampa franchise of Nashville-based Showhomes. "It brings a warmth to the home and helps buyers make an emotional connection to the home."
Showhomes is looking for what it calls "home managers" to move into some of Tampa's houses until they sell.
The positions don't pay a salary but offer the opportunity to live the high life for a fraction of what it would normally cost to rent the home. Home managers are responsible for maintaining the lawn, paying the utilities and keeping the home in "show-ready" condition at all times.
When the house sells, the home manager can opt to be moved to another vacant house. Some of the homes could be worth as much as $5 million or as little as $250,000. The monthly fee to live there could range from one-half to one-third of the market rental rate for the neighborhood.
"It's a great situation for everyone involved," Saavedra said. "It offers a lot of benefits for the homeowner and the home manager."
Moving people into the homes, Saavedra said, offers an option for many homeowners who can't afford traditional staging or have left town and can't maintain the home.
The Bay area has a backlog of more than 30,000 homes for sale, so Saavedra hopes the concept will take off. Real estate agents, hungry for anything to help their clients' homes stand out among the competition, are eager to learn more.
In the Bay area, 53,630 properties received a foreclosure filing in 2008, according to California-based RealtyTrac. Thousands of those homes are empty. Vacant homes are harder to sell, real estate agents say, because buyers can't see themselves living in the home and tend to make low offers.
Homes that are occupied and staged get 10 percent to 20 percent higher prices and sell 60 to 90 days faster than vacant homes, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Saavedra opened her business in December and is holding her grand opening this month. For those uncomfortable with a home manager moving in, Saavedra will offer traditional staging.
She hasn't staged a local home yet, but said she has a growing list of interested home managers and hopes to start placing them by the end of the month.
She said she hopes the good deals will persuade more people to try being a home manager. For example, a South Tampa home she looked at recently is listed for $670,000. The monthly fee for a home manager would be $1,000.
Most Showhomes franchises work only with higher-end homes, usually ones that start around $500,000, but Saavedra said she will consider homes in the $250,000 range because there are so many vacant in that range in the Bay area.
Even with the potential benefits of home staging, it can still be a tough sell.
Home managers can be single or bring the family, but they can't smoke or have pets. And their furniture has to pass muster. If they don't have enough furniture, they can rent it from Showhomes. The company also does criminal and credit checks on home manager applicants.
The average time a home manager stays in a home is about five months, although some have had to move in as little as 60 days. Others have stayed for about a year.
Homeowners pay a set-up fee of about $1,500 to $3,500, depending on the square footage, to place a home manager into the house. (The company is waiving the fee in January for the grand opening.) Homeowners don't collect rent, though. The monthly fee home managers pay goes to Showhomes. When the home sells, Showhomes gets 1 percent or less of the list price of the home.
Showhomes has a nice concept, said Chris Lafakis, an economist with Moody's Economy.com, but nothing is a sure thing in these economic times. Staging a home with people and decent furniture may generate more buyer interest, he said, but nothing will sell the home faster than lowering the price.
"When it comes down to it, the consumer's choice is about whether they can afford the home," he said.
The nationwide company doesn't seem to have much trouble getting customers, though.
Showhomes started in 1986 and doubled in size last year as the real estate market persuaded more homeowners to give the service a try. The company has 44 franchises nationwide, said Thomas Scott, vice president of operations.
As untraditional as the arrangement may be, some home managers say the lifestyle fits them perfectly.
Paul Huber has been living in a Minnesota Showhome for three months. With a pending divorce, Huber needed to find temporary housing but didn't want to trade in his 6,000-square-foot home for a tiny apartment. He called his local Showhomes franchise and was immediately placed into a 3,000-square-foot home in a gated community on a golf course.
Huber rents the home furnished.
"All I needed to bring was sheets, towels dishes and silverware," he said. "The place looks like it came out of Better Homes and Gardens. It's great."
The home is on the market for more than $800,000, and Huber pays $2,500 a month, plus utilities.
But there is a downside: He never knows when he will get the call to pack up and leave. Huber said the home he's managing has had 10 showings.
"Most home managers start thinking, 'Gee, I hope it doesn't sell.'" he said.
Monday, January 26, 2009
About Their Partnership
Tanya and Natasha were introduced in May of 2008 and became fast friends. They discovered that they had many things in common. Both relocated from the D.C./Baltimore area. Both have an entrepreneurial spirit. And both of them love to shop for home furnishings and accessories.
"What's my favorite thing about Tanya? The thing I noticed instantly was her willingness to cooperate and share resources and ideas. She was clearly very ambitious, but also very helpful and supportive and sincere. I knew immediately that we would be able to form a profitable partnership and I am happy to say that we have become good friends as well." - Natasha Little
“Natasha is very outspoken and she’s a go-getter. Once I realized that we share the same vision and are each willing to do put in as much work as it takes accomplish our goals, even when it means long days and sleepless nights, I knew that we could form a successful partnership. Our styles are very complimentary, so working together is easy. It just flows. We both have a passion for all things real estate and helping others. We share a mutual respect for each other’s businesses and support one another completely. It’s the best of both worlds.” - Tanya Venable
Tanya and Natasha remain independent owners of their respective companies, Fresh Eye Designs, LLC and Showhomes Greenville, but continue to collaborate to provide a full-range of design services and marketing support to local Realtors and homeowners.
Contact Natasha at 864.423.4936
Contact Tanya at 864.351.8305
"What's my favorite thing about Tanya? The thing I noticed instantly was her willingness to cooperate and share resources and ideas. She was clearly very ambitious, but also very helpful and supportive and sincere. I knew immediately that we would be able to form a profitable partnership and I am happy to say that we have become good friends as well." - Natasha Little
“Natasha is very outspoken and she’s a go-getter. Once I realized that we share the same vision and are each willing to do put in as much work as it takes accomplish our goals, even when it means long days and sleepless nights, I knew that we could form a successful partnership. Our styles are very complimentary, so working together is easy. It just flows. We both have a passion for all things real estate and helping others. We share a mutual respect for each other’s businesses and support one another completely. It’s the best of both worlds.” - Tanya Venable
Tanya and Natasha remain independent owners of their respective companies, Fresh Eye Designs, LLC and Showhomes Greenville, but continue to collaborate to provide a full-range of design services and marketing support to local Realtors and homeowners.
Contact Natasha at 864.423.4936
Contact Tanya at 864.351.8305
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Can-Do House
The Home Builders Association of Greater Spartanburg, in partnership with Ingles, YouthBuild Spartanburg, Stock Building Supply, MY 102.5, and WSSL 100, announces the construction of the “Can Do House” at the upcoming 7th Annual Home and Garden Show at WestGate Mall.
This “house” constructed out of cans will benefit two local worthy charities: Miracle Hill Food Bank and the Second Presbyterian Church Soup Kitchen. To encourage donations, any person who brings 5 or more canned good items to the Home and Garden Show will be eligible to enter a drawing for a $500 gasoline gift card!
“Can Do House” Chairman Dale Burnett says, “The HBA of Greater Spartanburg is pleased to have the opportunity to give back to the community by supporting such worthwhile charities. We are keenly aware of the impact these two charities have in our community, and we hope our involvement will increase both awareness and contributions.”
The framing of the house – constructed by YouthBuild students using donated materials – has already begun, and it will be transported to WestGate Mall Thursday morning, February 5th. Each day, the donated cans will be added to the structure. Visitors to the Show can watch the house grow, and they are encouraged to return Sunday to see the final product!
“We are elated at this unique partnership. Ingles has been exceedingly generous in their contribution of canned foods and the offer to match Laura Lynn brand donations collected at the ‘Can Do House’ while YouthBuild Spartanburg undertook the construction and painting of the frame of the House. To see all of these entities working together to benefit the hungry in Spartanburg County is such a blessing,” said Jennifer Bradey, Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Greater Spartanburg.
The Upstate’s only FREE Home and Garden Show will be held February 5 – 8, 2009 at WestGate Malls. Show hours are 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information on the Show, please visit www.hbaspartanburg.com.
Showhomes will have a booth at the show, please come and see us!
This “house” constructed out of cans will benefit two local worthy charities: Miracle Hill Food Bank and the Second Presbyterian Church Soup Kitchen. To encourage donations, any person who brings 5 or more canned good items to the Home and Garden Show will be eligible to enter a drawing for a $500 gasoline gift card!
“Can Do House” Chairman Dale Burnett says, “The HBA of Greater Spartanburg is pleased to have the opportunity to give back to the community by supporting such worthwhile charities. We are keenly aware of the impact these two charities have in our community, and we hope our involvement will increase both awareness and contributions.”
The framing of the house – constructed by YouthBuild students using donated materials – has already begun, and it will be transported to WestGate Mall Thursday morning, February 5th. Each day, the donated cans will be added to the structure. Visitors to the Show can watch the house grow, and they are encouraged to return Sunday to see the final product!
“We are elated at this unique partnership. Ingles has been exceedingly generous in their contribution of canned foods and the offer to match Laura Lynn brand donations collected at the ‘Can Do House’ while YouthBuild Spartanburg undertook the construction and painting of the frame of the House. To see all of these entities working together to benefit the hungry in Spartanburg County is such a blessing,” said Jennifer Bradey, Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Greater Spartanburg.
The Upstate’s only FREE Home and Garden Show will be held February 5 – 8, 2009 at WestGate Malls. Show hours are 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information on the Show, please visit www.hbaspartanburg.com.
Showhomes will have a booth at the show, please come and see us!
Monday, January 19, 2009
About Tanya
Tanya was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. At a young age she developed a love for real estate and interior design. Early on Tanya worked in construction, learning the ins and outs of demolition, put-back, and basic carpentry skills. All her life she's used her natural talent for creating functional spaces to help family and friends transform their homes.
In 2005, Tanya was relocated to Greenville for a temporary work assignment. However, once here, she fell in love with the beauty of the Upstate and decided to make Greenville her home. Tanya soon realized that there was a need and became one of the first pioneers to bring Home Staging services to Upstate, SC.
For the last three years, Tanya has been educating realtors and home sellers on the benefits of Home Staging. She has helped numerous Upstate families get their homes sold. She has a passion for what she does and loves to help people.
Tanya has successfully trained as a real estate agent and Home Staging Professional. She continually strives to perfect her craft by keeping abreast on current issues in the staging and real estate industries and takes on-going training courses.
Tanya is a proud to be a local SC business owner, who loves giving back to her community. Tanya believes in providing all of her clients with the highest level of service possible. Her mission is to help her clients achieve their goals.
In 2005, Tanya was relocated to Greenville for a temporary work assignment. However, once here, she fell in love with the beauty of the Upstate and decided to make Greenville her home. Tanya soon realized that there was a need and became one of the first pioneers to bring Home Staging services to Upstate, SC.
For the last three years, Tanya has been educating realtors and home sellers on the benefits of Home Staging. She has helped numerous Upstate families get their homes sold. She has a passion for what she does and loves to help people.
Tanya has successfully trained as a real estate agent and Home Staging Professional. She continually strives to perfect her craft by keeping abreast on current issues in the staging and real estate industries and takes on-going training courses.
Tanya is a proud to be a local SC business owner, who loves giving back to her community. Tanya believes in providing all of her clients with the highest level of service possible. Her mission is to help her clients achieve their goals.
Monday, January 12, 2009
About Natasha
Natasha Little was born in Washington, D.C. and moved to South Boston, Virginia when her father retired from the Treasury Department. Having lived in our nation’s capital and a rural small town gave her an appreciation for both lifestyles.
She loves being able to go the theater and museums as much as she loves walking down tree-lined main streets bordered by little shops and that’s why she decided to make Greenville her home.
Here’s a little more about Natasha in her own words:
I came to Greenville in 1998 when I was just out of school. I was house-sitting for a friend of mine who was out of the country. Her parents needed someone to care for their home when they were relocated to Ireland because of a job assignment. It was supposed to be a one-year gig, but to my surprise, I fell in love. (With Greenville, that is!)
I’ve always enjoyed touring houses and rearranging living spaces and I was fascinated with all kinds of design from a young age. When I was in seventh grade, I started sketching plans to remodel my family home. I still have the drawings. I clipped articles from magazines, compiled samples from furniture catalogues and saved swatches from fabric stores. I designed and redesigned my own house and bedroom (on paper) dozens of times…. but I could never quite convince my parents to bankroll my projects.
Note to self: beef up sales and marketing skills. (Which I did, incidentally.)
I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to be an architect or an interior designer or real estate agent. I eventually went to school to learn more about graphic and web design.
I held several sales and marketing jobs (assistant to an insurance agent, appointment setter, promotional advertising rep) while I was in college.
I also worked as a substitute teacher for 5 years while I honed my design skills and worked on my business plan. During my summers off, I took different temporary assignments with small businesses and large corporations alike; it was a great way to educate myself about Greenville business ownership and real estate.
I eventually left the Greenville school district for a private industry job. As I approached the age of thirty, it seemed the prudent and responsible thing to do. I knew I wanted to work for myself when I was still in high school, but after I entered the working world it was hard to leave the security of a steady job with a regular paycheck. I wanted to start my own company, but I was apprehensive.
In February of 2007 I got the nudge that I needed when I was laid-off. Since I no longer had the regular job and the steady paycheck I decided there would never be a better time to strike out on my own. I’d been designing independently for over ten years and learning about the local real estate market – why shouldn’t I make it my livelihood? So I formed my LLC (A Little Luxury) and didn’t look back.
As much as I love home staging (HGTV junkie for sure), I looked around and noticed that the vast majority of staging companies were small and struggling. There had to be a better way. During my diligent Internet research, I discovered Showhomes – America’s Largest Home Staging Company!
Showhomes is different. I believe we provide a superior service at a more reasonable price than all of our competition. That’s precisely why I bought into the franchise a little over a year ago, even though I had established my own successful enterprise.
Showhomes consistently beat market conditions, while Showhomes offices charge Realtors nothing for their services and homeowners get a fully staged home for only a fraction of the cost of traditional staging. For more info, visit www.showhomes.com. Or call 864.423.4936
I love being a home stager. I get to help people sell their homes and shop for a living – what could be more fun? I’ve been able to bring together my different skill sets: my love of marketing, my passion for design, my love of real estate, and my desire to help people. Some days I wake up and think: this is so much fun! I can’t believe I get paid to do this!
She loves being able to go the theater and museums as much as she loves walking down tree-lined main streets bordered by little shops and that’s why she decided to make Greenville her home.
Here’s a little more about Natasha in her own words:
I came to Greenville in 1998 when I was just out of school. I was house-sitting for a friend of mine who was out of the country. Her parents needed someone to care for their home when they were relocated to Ireland because of a job assignment. It was supposed to be a one-year gig, but to my surprise, I fell in love. (With Greenville, that is!)
I’ve always enjoyed touring houses and rearranging living spaces and I was fascinated with all kinds of design from a young age. When I was in seventh grade, I started sketching plans to remodel my family home. I still have the drawings. I clipped articles from magazines, compiled samples from furniture catalogues and saved swatches from fabric stores. I designed and redesigned my own house and bedroom (on paper) dozens of times…. but I could never quite convince my parents to bankroll my projects.
Note to self: beef up sales and marketing skills. (Which I did, incidentally.)
I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to be an architect or an interior designer or real estate agent. I eventually went to school to learn more about graphic and web design.
I held several sales and marketing jobs (assistant to an insurance agent, appointment setter, promotional advertising rep) while I was in college.
I also worked as a substitute teacher for 5 years while I honed my design skills and worked on my business plan. During my summers off, I took different temporary assignments with small businesses and large corporations alike; it was a great way to educate myself about Greenville business ownership and real estate.
I eventually left the Greenville school district for a private industry job. As I approached the age of thirty, it seemed the prudent and responsible thing to do. I knew I wanted to work for myself when I was still in high school, but after I entered the working world it was hard to leave the security of a steady job with a regular paycheck. I wanted to start my own company, but I was apprehensive.
In February of 2007 I got the nudge that I needed when I was laid-off. Since I no longer had the regular job and the steady paycheck I decided there would never be a better time to strike out on my own. I’d been designing independently for over ten years and learning about the local real estate market – why shouldn’t I make it my livelihood? So I formed my LLC (A Little Luxury) and didn’t look back.
As much as I love home staging (HGTV junkie for sure), I looked around and noticed that the vast majority of staging companies were small and struggling. There had to be a better way. During my diligent Internet research, I discovered Showhomes – America’s Largest Home Staging Company!
Showhomes is different. I believe we provide a superior service at a more reasonable price than all of our competition. That’s precisely why I bought into the franchise a little over a year ago, even though I had established my own successful enterprise.
Showhomes consistently beat market conditions, while Showhomes offices charge Realtors nothing for their services and homeowners get a fully staged home for only a fraction of the cost of traditional staging. For more info, visit www.showhomes.com. Or call 864.423.4936
I love being a home stager. I get to help people sell their homes and shop for a living – what could be more fun? I’ve been able to bring together my different skill sets: my love of marketing, my passion for design, my love of real estate, and my desire to help people. Some days I wake up and think: this is so much fun! I can’t believe I get paid to do this!
Monday, January 5, 2009
New Year. New Partner.
Showhomes Greenville is now affilliated with Fresh Eye Designs, LLC.
Fresh Eye Designs, LLC is proud to announce the launch of our brand new website! We’re Greenville’s upscale home staging and restyles company and we’re inviting you to come take a look at our portfolio. In addition to the services we provide for high-end vacant homes, we also provide consultations for occupied homes in every price range. We’ve had several recent successes even in this challenging market. Come see what we can do for you and your listings. Fresh Eye Designs, LLC – Where Staged Equals Sold!
Fresh Eye Designs, LLC is owned by Tanya Venable.
Fresh Eye Designs, LLC is proud to announce the launch of our brand new website! We’re Greenville’s upscale home staging and restyles company and we’re inviting you to come take a look at our portfolio. In addition to the services we provide for high-end vacant homes, we also provide consultations for occupied homes in every price range. We’ve had several recent successes even in this challenging market. Come see what we can do for you and your listings. Fresh Eye Designs, LLC – Where Staged Equals Sold!
Fresh Eye Designs, LLC is owned by Tanya Venable.
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