“We are thrilled that Showhomes Home Staging has made this prestigious list for a second year in a row,” says Matt Kelton, Chief Operation Officer of Showhomes Franchise Corporation. “Our unique business model has been delivering values to customers around the country for over 25 years. To be recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine is an honor that we don’t take lightly. Our franchisees are the key element in helping Showhomes experience 25% average growth per year over the last seven years.”

Showhomes ranked 45th for the second year in a row in the Low-Cost Franchises category, which shows the top franchises that can be started for an investment of under $50,000.

In the 2012 Homebased Franchises category, Showhomes ranked 75th. This category ranks the top franchise opportunities that can be run within the home, a valuable option that plays in to the low-cost benefit of the Showhomes business model.

The unique Showhomes business model focuses on staging vacant houses and training live-in Home Managers to stage and maintain the homes while they are on the market, helping them to sell faster while also providing a business opportunity during these slow economic times.

Showhomes is a member of the International Franchise Association and the Real Estate Staging  Association, and has been a top-ranked franchise by the Franchise Business Review. The company has been featured in such media outlets as: CNN, Oprah, HGTV, Travel Channel, CBS, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Money magazine to name a few.

In recent years, especially since the housing market tumble, home staging has become the secret to selling a home. Only it’s not really a secret anymore.

According to Matt Kelton, COO of Showhomes Home Staging, the entire mindset of home selling has shifted, and investing in home staging to help sell a home has become mainstream.

“I don’t know why a homeowner would choose not to stage a home,” says Kelton. “It is a sure way to shorten the sales time and often increases the sales price. It’s the best investment you can make.”

Showhomes was in the home staging arena before it was a household word. On the cutting edge of the industry with its unique twist on traditional home staging,  Showhomes uses live-in Home Managers to occupy, stage and care for vacant houses while they are on the market for sale.

In a recent Showhomes Realtor survey, 96 percent of real estate professionals said fully staged homes sell for higher prices than vacant houses. Another survey by the Real Estate Staging Association recently found that staged homes spent 78 percent less time on the market than the time they spent before staging.

Here are Showhomes Home Staging top 10 tips that work for any home:

• Start with curb appeal. Potential buyers will drive right by your house if they don’t like what they see. Remove yard toys, bikes or other clutter. Keep the yard mowed and trimmed, re-mulch beds and add flowers for some color.

• All buyers pass through the front door – clean and repaint the door if needed, place a healthy plant and new doormat to give it some life.

• Pack up everything but the basics. Small decorative items distract from a room and can make a room appear cluttered. Use larger decorative items and fewer pictures.

• Cold and shiny floors can be quickly warmed up with tasteful rugs.

• Soften the light in a room. Overhead light can make a room appear harsh and unwelcoming. Soft light from table and floor lamps will warm up an otherwise cold-feeling room.

• Re-think your wallpaper. Unless the wallpaper is new and neutral, it will likely detract from the way a room feels. Neutral colors are best to repaint with.

• Clean out garages and closets. Most buyers search for larger homes and need more space. Crowded garages and closets send a ‘this house is too small’ message.

• Less is more in the kitchen. Use a newer coffee pot, a few cookbooks and some colored accent towels to make it appear spacious.

• Depersonalize rooms. Pack away family photos, ethnic and religious art. For most buyers, it is easier to visualize a room without distracting personal items.

• Invest in staging and a live-in Home Manager to occupy the home. Occupied and staged homes require less of an up front investment from a homeowner and often outsell vacant houses.

Business continues to increase at Showhomes Home Staging, defying the long-term slump of the national housing market.

Showhomes posted a 20 percent increase from 2010 to 2011 and has continued to add new franchise locations despite the tough economy and slow housing market. The home staging franchise has posted positive gains six out of the last seven years.

Showhomes provides a unique twist on traditional home staging: it uses live-in Home Managers to take care of properties and keep them in show-to-sell condition. Using a live-in caretaker often lowers homeowner’s insurance costs and eliminates the monthly cost of furniture rental, making home staging more affordable.

“We have a home staging solution that helps the homeowner sell the home faster and for more money than if it sat vacant,” says Matt Kelton, COO of Showhomes. “We sweeten the pot for all parties involved. Realtors are able to turn their inventory faster through our program and they are big fans of it, and we are able to offer temporary housing to our Home Managers that is a great value.

“It’s a real win-win-win for everyone,” Kelton added.

The Real Estate Staging Association, a trade association for the home staging industry, recently found that staged homes spent 78 percent less time on the market than the time they spent vacant before staging. In a Showhomes Realtor survey, 96 percent of real estate professionals says fully staged homes sell for higher prices than vacant houses.

Over the past two years Showhomes has almost tripled the markets it serves up to 73 units in 23 states. The company expects to continue its rapid growth in 2012.

“We are thrilled that home staging has become more standard when selling a vacant house,” Kelton says. “Without it, a homeowner is at a true disadvantage. Our unique program helps a lot of homeowners sell homes that would otherwise sit.”

“My husband had just lost his job and we couldn’t afford our California home anymore,” says Jeannette. Worried about the impact a foreclosure would have on their credit history, the Fairs opted to sell their home through a short sale process. A popular remedy in today’s troubled housing market, short sales allow homeowners, with lender approval, to sell the home for less than what is owed on the mortgage loan and allows the seller to avoid having their credit score hit with a foreclosure penalty.

“We were not allowed to buy a home for two years after the short sale process,” Jeannette says. As Jeannette and Michael hunted for a new place to live they came across an advertisement for the Showhomes Home Manager program.

“Just knowing that we could be where we wanted to be at a price we could afford was sound enough,” Jeannette says. “It is an equal balance. We love the area and know the house we are in will sell. The best part is knowing Showhomes has an inventory of other homes we can move to in neighborhoods we are familiar with.”

Home Managers since mid-May, Jeannette, Michael and their two kids are enjoying the perks of their new lifestyle. Living in a $1.25 million house in the gorgeous Palos Verdes area, the Fairs are able to move beyond the rough patch, save money and live near their friends.

“Obviously living in a home you couldn’t otherwise afford is a perk to the program,” Jeannette says. “I’ve always wanted to know what it was like to live in a home that is clutter free. You can’t just hide things away in the closet or garage.”

Like many other Home Managers, the Fairs loved going through their belongings and gathering only what they really needed. “It feels great to be so lightweight and organized,” Jeannette says.

With the help of Sandra Wick, owner of Showhomes South Bay, the family furnished their new place and got it in ready-to-show condition. “Sandra helped us design, it was all very fun.”

The Home Manager program is the key to Showhomes success. It gives homeowners peace of mind knowing that their property is less susceptible to vandalism, squatting and damage as well as gives homes a real-life feel for potential buyers.

Thrilled to find a housing solution that works and a place their kids love, the Fairs highly recommend the Home Manager program to flexible families who are looking for a unique opportunity.

“We always joke with our friends and call this our ‘summer home,’ but I really do feel at home here. The kids were quick to acclimate, the whole thing just feels right,” Jeannette says.

The Home Manager program has been a financial relief for the Fairs and could just be the solution you are looking for. Interested? Contact your local Showhomes franchise to find out more.

Through a friend, Hearn heard about Showhomes Home Staging, a national franchisor that places live-in Home Managers in well-kept, beautifully furnished homes while the properties are on the market for sale.  Within a few days, Hearn was the Home Manager of a large home with five bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths a few blocks from the beach and within 10 minutes of his children.

Hearn couldn’t have been happier. He enjoyed living in a gorgeous home while going through the ups and downs of a divorce and even saved money in the process.

Stories such as Hearn’s are common at Showhomes, says Matt Kelton, Chief Operating Officer at the Nashville-based franchisor.

“Divorcees have to deal with a lot of stress — dividing property, assets and savings, not to mention the emotional adjustment of separation,” Kelton says. “Showhomes can provide remarkable stability during this otherwise chaotic time. You can sort out what your post-divorce life is going to look like and live in beautiful surroundings for a fraction of what it would normally cost.”

The gig was a huge advantage during a tough time, Hearn says. “It was one less thing to worry about, and I was able to save about $700 a month. It worked perfectly.”

Home Managers typically pay a minimal fee in exchange for keeping the home clean and ready for Realtors to show to prospective buyers. The Home Manager pays the monthly utility bill and any required lawn or pool maintenance.

The Showhomes Home Manager program also has worked for Chuck Barrow, who got involved when he was going through a divorce three years ago. He was thrilled with the program and has stayed with it. Barrow is now living in his third Showhomes property – a $1.2 million, 4,000-square-foot home on the water with views of the Sunshine Skyway.

“I can go get an apartment for $1,200 a month and it’s really nothing special at all or I can live in a million dollar house on the water,” Barrow told the St. Petersburg Times. “I have dolphins in my backyard every day.”

Donna and Rick Muelver are at the forefront of this rising trend. The Muelvers and their three oldest children — Wayne, Matthew and Elizabeth — co-own the family’s Showhomes Home Staging franchise in Southeast Wisconsin. The franchise flourished before the recession and continues to do well.

“We are creating the economic security our children need to function,” Donna Muelver says. “We all have the drive and determination to make our franchise work, and as family members we have 100 percent trust in one another. When a job needs to get done, it’s all hands on deck.”

Showhomes Home Staging routinely sees family business success stories, says Matt Kelton, Chief Operating Officer for the 25-year-old franchisor.

“We certainly see families pulling together and creating success across generations,” Kelton says. “It may be a frozen job market in the corporate world, but self-employment through the franchising business model is growing. It’s a proven and lucrative career path, perfect for the economic times we live in.”

Showhomes provides a twist on traditional home staging, using live-in Home Managers to occupy and help stage vacant houses so they are kept in perfect show condition. Showhomes whole house staging dramatically improves the speed and price of a home sale and with millions of vacant houses on the market, Showhomes is poised for additional growth.

The business model is attractive to families because it can be run from home – and even across state lines. Angela Blankinchip and Tammy Boothe are tied by sisterhood and business. They operate two Showhomes Home Staging franchises — Showhomes Mobile and Baldwin County in Alabama and Showhomes Pensacola in the nearby Florida Panhandle.

“We’ve been together in this since day one,” Blankinchip says. “Working together has strengthened our franchises because we complement one another. I’m strong on the business side, and my sister is good at marketing and promotion. Together we are unstoppable.

“We know each other so well, and it turns out to be an advantage,” she adds. “We have children, so we can be flexible about scheduling demands and family obligations. I’m convinced our success is more than our talents; it’s also about our family bond. We want the best for each other no matter what.”

The strength of family-owned businesses is well documented. “A tight-knit managerial circle, and the flexibility of related – and deeply invested – employees, has been proven to make a (family) business resilient,” concluded journalist Christine Lagorio researched in an Inc. magazine tutorial in 2010.

“It also can confer a significant competitive advantage and impress customers, who appreciate knowing they’re dealing with someone who cares deeply, and who has the same surname that’s on the letterhead,” Lagorio says.

Showhomes Home Staging’s business model and a family-run business is a powerful combination.

St. Petersburg Times

For five months, Sandy Crawford watched uneasily from her new home in Georgia as her old home in St. Petersburg’s Shore Acres neighborhood sat on the market with little interest from potential buyers. Discouraged, she turned to Showhomes, a company that places people — and their attractive furniture — in vacant houses. A fastidious man moved into Crawford’s house, and things changed. “The house looked fabulous,” she said. “Every little thing inside and out was constantly being watched and taken care of. Within 30 days, maybe 40 days, we got an offer. A lady from California offered $5,000 more than we were asking. Then the guy who bought it offered $5,000 above her.”

Home Managers keep homes looking decorated.

When children grow up and leave the house, parents often adopt a more spontaneous lifestyle. That’s exactly what George and Jill Stathas found themselves doing when they signed up as Home Managers with Showhomes Home Staging 18 months ago.

The empty nesters are exploring living in different settings and neighborhoods in the Milwaukee area, something they didn’t have the freedom to do when their daughter was younger. Not only that, they are also getting the chance to save money.

The Stathases first heard about home managing from a Realtor when they unexpectedly found themselves needing a place to live in 2009. Their 4,100-square-foot home on Little Cedar Lake in Southeastern Wisconsin sold much quicker than they expected, and they needed to make a fast move.

“We didn’t expect any serious offers until the spring because of the housing market, but much to our surprise the home sold in 30 days,” Jill says. “We were reluctant to buy immediately, and nice apartments in the Milwaukee area are still quite small and pricey. Plus, I had a lot of furniture coming from such a large home. We came across the possibility of Showhomes and everything just fell into place. We thought that this would be an ideal solution for us at this particular point, and it has turned out to be just that.”

The Stathases have been home managers for 18 months and have no immediate plans to quit. Their first property, located in the Germantown suburb of Milwaukee, was a newly constructed 1,800-square-foot ranch home that sold in six weeks.

Having another home sell so quickly was a second surprise. Their next placement was a  2,600-square-foot, four bedroom bi-level home in Wales, an established suburb about 40 minutes from Germantown. They have lived in the home for 16 months.

“You have to be flexible to a certain extent,” Jill says. “If you work in a certain part of town, you could wind up with a longer commute. However, we have found that Showhomes is great about giving the Home Managers as many options as possible when having to move to a new location.”

The Stathases also aren’t sure they’ll stay in the area long-term.  Being Home Managers allows them to stay flexible and open about the future while living in spectacular homes.

The Statheses keep the bedrooms looking furnished.

“Home Managing is much more affordable than your typical options, and it is fun having the opportunity of being in different environments,” Jill says. “Also, if you enjoy the chance to change your environment, it never gets boring. When you are placed in a different property, you get to decorate all over again.”

George, who often works from home, has enjoyed having the same option as a Home Manager.

“There are very little hassles with the program,” he says. “It’s really easy for the two of us. We’re still in a state of transition, so we’re more than happy to stay with the program.”

Owner of Showhomes Naples, JoAnne Gaylord

The home staging company plans to help homeowners sell vacant houses by adding a “life-like” appeal with live-in Home Managers and proven home staging methods. The new franchise will primarily serve Collier County.

“Naples and Fort Myers are widely known as second home and retirement communities,” says JoAnne Gaylord, owner of Showhomes Naples. “Both southwest Florida communities have been strongly impacted by the vacant housing dilemma and need Showhomes Home Staging to help turn things around.”

As today’s housing market struggles to recover, there are higher numbers of vacant houses for sale. Even in Collier County, where there are a large number of vacation rental houses, the number of houses vacant and for sale due to short sales, foreclosures or owner transfers is at an historical high.

“The solution is not in repeatedly discounting home prices,” Gaylord says. “The more complete solution is in staging homes with live-in Home Managers that help homeowners sell faster and closer to the list price.”

Showhomes Home Staging has attracted national media attention for its unique staging model: The company recruits and trains live-in Home Managers to help stage and maintain the home while it is on the market for sale. The service is popular with homeowners because it lowers insurance costs, creates a model-home atmosphere and makes the home far easier to sell.

“Many people ask ‘Who is maintaining these vacant houses?’” says Gaylord. “The answer is no one. For owners of vacant houses, a significant concern is the potential for something to happen while they are away. With Showhomes use of live-in Home Managers, owners don’t have to worry anymore.”

Showhomes Naples opened July 1. “JoAnne’s background in interior design and home staging is an excellent fit for Showhomes,” says Bert Lyles, CEO of Showhomes. “A member of the Real Estate Staging Association with 17 years of design experience, JoAnne is ready to transition vacant houses that sit, into beautiful life-filled homes that sell.”

“We are excited for Showhomes to continue its growth in Florida,” says Matt Kelton, COO of Showhomes. “The Florida market is flooded with vacant houses, specifically the southwest Florida area, and Showhomes Naples is here to help.”

Showhomes uses furniture of Home Managers to make home come alive.

Not anymore.

These days, buying a home is risky and people can’t afford to make a mistake. But where do the mobile professionals seeking new employment live if they can’t buy a home and don’t want an apartment or an executive hotel suite.

Showhomes Home Staging offers job seekers in new cities an unusual housing solution: move into a vacant house for sale and let Showhomes use your furniture to help stage the home for potential  buyers. The Home Manager gets the perks of living in upscale homes for a fraction of the cost and provides the homeowner with peace of mind.

That’s exactly what Chris and Jennifer Taylor did when they moved to Minneapolis from downtown Chicago during the recession. Over a period of four years, the Taylors lived in luxury homes that Showhomes staged with list prices from $500,000 to $2 million.

“We didn’t want to rush out and buy a home, and we didn’t want to sign a 12-month lease either,” Chris Taylor says. “We enjoyed four years as Home Managers and ended up saving over $50,000.”

Home Managers like the Taylors not only save money but also can “test drive” homes in different neighborhoods to learn about the local real estate market.

“One of the best things about the program is that it allowed us to get to know the city and its neighborhoods and communities,” Taylor added.  “When we were ready to buy, we knew where we wanted to live.“

Jose Torrealba has a similar story. He was transferred from Toronto to Milwaukee, Wis. during the height of the recession and chose Showhomes’ Home Manager program over immediate home ownership. Torrealba and his family lived in a $1.5 million lakeside home for less than half of his previous mortgage payments in Toronto. The Torrealbas moved back to Toronto after a year with $20,000 in savings.

The homes Showhomes stages with live-in Home Managers typically sell much faster and for far closer to the list price in today’s market. Having an occupant lowers the owner’s insurance costs, makes the home less vulnerable to low-ball offers and vandalism and generally makes it show far better than vacant houses. With today’s housing market flooded with vacant houses and foreclosures, business is better than it has ever been.

“Showhomes is one of the most creative housing solutions available for mobile professionals and families on the move,” says Matt Kelton, Showhomes COO. “Our ‘home staging with a twist’ is a win-win-win for the homeowner, Realtor and Home Manager.”