“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.”

But there is good news emerging in this uncertain economic scenario, especially for homeowners trying to sell their homes and the Realtors who help them. We are thriving at Showhomes Home Staging. In fact, our growth is exploding.

Homes staged and managed by Showhomes, many of which have been on the market for years, often sell in a matter of weeks and for top dollar.  Showhomes Home Staging franchisees all over the country are stacking up success stories for clients. Many are experiencing their best year ever in 2011.

The mother and son team, Jeff and Nancy Smith, owners of Showhomes Orlando are up 64 percent. The Muelver family, who owns a Showhomes Home Staging franchise in the Milwaukee area, was cited this year for chalking up record revenues in an already thriving market.

Jim and Kaye Biby, who co-own Showhomes Jacksonville, are also having a stellar year. The Bibys are experts at working with bank-owned properties that have been languishing on the market for a long period of time.

“We’re noticing that more people are willing to try different approaches to getting their home sold,” Jim Biby says. “Most of the bank-owned properties and short sales really need the touch of elegant staging and a live-in Home Manager, in order to sell. We dramatically increase the odds in favor of the home selling.

“Now that the banks have discovered us, I expect that market to keep heating up,” Biby adds.  “There are still millions of foreclosures on the market. I expect more and more banks to discover Showhomes services.”

Other markets with skyrocketing sales include Tampa, Fla., Memphis, Tenn., Coral Gables, Fla., Suburban Chicago, Los Angeles, Calif. and more.

“Showhomes seems to always make a successful transition through whatever situation is out there in the real estate market,” Donna Muelver says. “It is a sought-after and much-needed service that works whether the economy is up, down or just lukewarm.”

Showhomes is expanding rapidly with 75 franchises in 24 states. For the past six years the company posted record revenues and helped many homeowners sell in a tough market.

The Seifert family.

Tom Seifert is living the dream. A single guy in an 8,000 square foot house, Tom is not only free of mortgage payments and house repairs but also is able to entertain female friends and family in his million dollar home – all while saving money.

Sound like one lucky guy?

Tom didn’t win the lottery or find a recipe to get rich quick, he simply became a Showhomes Home Manager. He was in the midst of selling his house in Minnesota and didn’t plan on buying in the near future.

“The real estate market wasn’t very conducive for sellers and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” he says. “ I was just getting a divorce and knew the location I wanted to be in. Someone recommended I check out the Showhomes Home Manager program and needless to say I found it very intriguing.”

A Home Manager since December 2010, Tom has lived in three upscale homes ranging from $650,000 to around $2,000,000 in affluent Minneapolis suburbs such as Edina and Chanhassen. Thrilled he is able to maintain his previous lifestyle for a fraction of the cost, Tom doesn’t think he’ll be turning to home ownership any time soon.

“The lifestyle is great because I have a wonderful space to entertain. I can throw cocktail parties, invite business associates or family over and everyone can have a great time. My daughters love coming to visit, and the grand-kids get a kick out of the new homes.”

An insurance broker consultant, Tom also likes that he can meet new people and save more money.

“I like to think of it as an adventure. I get to meet new people and neighbors, maintain a fun and enjoyable lifestyle and save the money I would be spending on a mortgage or home repairs,” he says. “I am not buying or fixing a lot of stuff. I used to be a big “cleaner/fixer/invester” in my home, and now I don’t have to buy trees and paint additions. I can accumulate more money and live in these fun spaces.”

Tom is a self-proclaimed neat-freak. “Being a Home Manager is great, especially if you are already a neat and tidy person,” he says. The program requires its Home Managers to keep the homes clean at all times — nothing that couldn’t be tidied in 20 minutes. All Home Managers must be prepared for frequent visits from Realtors and potential buyers and are usually notified a day or two in advance.

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 or damage and gives homes a real-life feel for potential buyers.

“This really is a win-win-win for everyone,” Tom says. “It really is important to have your home staged if you are looking to sell. It is amazing the difference it makes. People love seeing how their lifestyle would fit and are excited to see how Showhomes has staged it.”

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.”

Showhomes among top franchises

Cindy Montgomery, Owner of Showhomes La Jolla

For the third year in a row, The Franchise Business Review ranked Showhomes Home Staging one of the Top 50 franchise systems based on franchise owner satisfaction, according to Cindy Montgomery, franchise owner for Showhomes – La Jolla.

The Top 50 ranks only companies with excellent fundamentals, a great financial position and high franchise owner satisfaction.
Showhomes – La Jolla uses live-in home managers to occupy and help stage vacant houses so they are kept in perfect show condition, according to a press release.

If you’re interested in your own Showhomes home staging franchise or for more information about the Showhomes home staging franchise, visit www.showhomesfranchise.com.

Shoowhomes featured in Mountain Democrat

Showhomes Home Staging ranked in Top 50 by Franchise Business Review

For the third year in a row the Franchise Business Review ranked Showhomes Home Staging one of the Top 50 franchise systems based on franchise owner satisfaction, according to Bob Kohlruss, franchise owner for Showhomes – Folsom Lake.

The Franchise 50 2011 Franchisee Satisfaction Awards ranked franchisors by their overall levels of franchise owner satisfaction. The Top 50 ranking puts Showhomes in a select group of the best franchise companies in the country, and only companies with excellent fundamentals, a great financial position and high franchise owner satisfaction scores earn a spot.

“This is the most important award in franchising,” said Matt Kelton, Showhomes COO. “More than 80 percent of our owners said they would make the decision to purchase a Showhomes franchise again.”

Showhomes – Folsom Lake 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 ranking comes as the home staging pioneer celebrates its 25th anniversary. Showhomes started staging homes in 1986, long before widespread use of home staging in real estate, and has evolved into a national franchise system with more than 70 locations.

“Franchisee satisfaction is one of the most important criteria to consider before investing in any franchise system,”” said Franchise Business Review President Eric Stites. “Very few franchise companies have achieved such high ratings from their franchisees, which puts Showhomes in a very elite class of franchise opportunities.”

“Showhomes is a unique franchise that fills an important niche,” said Kohlruss. “I’m very happy with my business, and I believe it is one of the best franchises to open.”

For more information about Showhomes – Folsom Lake contact Bob Kohlruss at 916-204-2378. For information on a Showhomes Home Staging franchise visit showhomesfranchise.com.

Showhomes Home Staging is shining the spotlight on the dilemma by hosting successful open houses specifically tailored to Realtors and brokers. The highly effective events take place onsite at previously vacant properties, many of which have lingered on the market for months or years before being staged and maintained by Showhomes.

The 25-year-old national home staging company specializes in a unique home staging method that allows home buyers to visualize living in a home and form a deep emotional connection with the property. Franchisees recruit and train live-in Home Managers to stage and maintain the home while it is on the market for sale.

“Vacant houses almost always show poorly,” says Matt Kelton, Showhomes’ COO. “They often smell musty, can be unkempt and are hard to get buyers excited about. We breathe new life into vacant listings that previously failed to stir buyers emotion.”

“Not only that, once a home has been on the market for an extended amount of time, it’s usually top-of-mind to Realtors,” Kelton continued. “Inviting the local real estate community to a Showhomes open house is a great way to reintroduce a property to the market.”

Lori Layman, a Realtor with Nashville-based Crye-Leike Real Estate Services recently hosted Showhomes sponsored open house for Realtors in Middle Tennessee. She was thrilled with the results.

“Even the nicest homes won’t sell if you can’t get people in the door,” Layman says. “I was amazed at how beautiful the home looked. Having the event enabled many real estate professionals in our community to see Showhomes’ magic upfront. Showings definitely pick up from these gatherings.”

A real estate agent for 21 years, Layman believes that Showhomes’ combination of professional home staging along with Home Managers is the answer to the down real estate market. “With vacant houses, people tend to think it’s a distressed sale. Also, people can’t visualize what to do with the space.”

Vacant houses are a continuing problem in all major U.S. real estate markets.

For many, Showhomes Home Staging has emerged as a profitable career option. Multiple  Showhomes franchisees are current or former licensed real estate agents, mortgage brokers or property management specialists, allowing their in-depth knowledge to compliment Showhomes’ innovative business model.

”My real estate knowledge made it much easier for me to manage my Showhomes franchise at a high level,” says Kent Welch, owner of Showhomes South Kansas City. “It’s definitely one of the reasons why we were successful out of the gate, and why we continue to show profitable growth year after year. A career with Showhomes is an excellent fit for real estate professionals because they almost always have immediate contacts in the community.”

Welch is also an active owner of a Wiechert Realtors franchise with 80 Realtors. His franchise sold 400 homes in 2010. His Showhomes franchise is one of the most successful in the network of 75 franchisees.

Showhomes’ business model is based on the fact that well-furnished homes kept in show-to-sell condition sell faster, and for higher prices, than vacant houses. The Showhomes “twist” adds a live-in Home Manager to care for the home. The Home Manager pays about a one-third of what it would normally cost to rent the home.

“We’ve seen many real estate professionals segway into Showhomes with ease,” says Matt Kelton, Showhomes’ COO. “In fact, seven of our top 11 producers come from a real estate or mortgage background. When you think about it, it makes sense. Realtors have experience in building a relationship-based business and are accustom to working for themselves.”

“Many real estate pros want more than the boom or bust cycle,” Kelton added. “In many cases Showhomes offers a much more predictable income and it’s in a niche of the industry that’s predicted to grow for years in the future.”

Elayne Wooding, owner of Showhomes of St. Petersburg, is a licensed Realtor and was formerly a sales manager at a major publicly-traded home construction company.

“When I bought my Showhomes franchise I already knew how to determine the marketability of a home,” Wooding says. “It’s never been hard to approach people to have important conversations, and that includes all the different parties involved in selling a home. It’s just a natural fit and it gives me a big advantage.”