Sunday, April 26, 2009
what is a home manager?
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 30, 2009
small changes, great appeal
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 put 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 23, 2009
just staged in minneapolis
Monday, March 16, 2009
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 0r 864.351.8305.
Monday, March 9, 2009
the secret is out!
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
Monday, March 2, 2009
5 essential tips for staging your home
"Many people think all they have to do is make sure the inside of their home is clean, but it really goes far beyond that when it comes to making sure your home looks its best so that buyers will take a look." said Thomas Scott, Vice President of Operations for Showhomes Franchise Corporation.
"Your home has the best chance of selling if it is fully staged and full of life. That is why we have released five essential tips that can help local residents stay on the right track when preparing their homes for a sale."
Scott reveals Showhomes' five tips for selling a vacant home:
1. Curb Appeal – the better the curb appeal of your home is, the more attractive it is to prospective buyers. When selling any home, it’s all about presentation. The curb appeal of your home is what influences people to look. It’s your first point of contact with a buyer and it better be a good one!
Here is what Scott recommends:
*Trim overgrown bushes, weed beds and add a fresh layer of mulch
*Clean your front door and repaint if needed
*Add a fresh doormat – thick sisal or coco mats make the best first impression. Not only do they make for a better look, everyone steps on the doormat and a clean, fresh one makes a distinct first impression
*Keep grass cut, edged and blown
*Plant some color in the beds to add contrast
2. Cleaning – People are buying a lifestyle when they buy a new home, not just a house. A dirty and unclean house translates into an unclean life. For most buyers, dirt equals stress and the last thing most buyers want is more stress in their lives. Cleaning is easy to accomplish. Here is what Showhomes recommends:
*Pressure-wash the driveway and sidewalks. The driveway is one of the largest visual elements buyers see and a dirty or stained driveway sets a poor tone.
*Clean windows inside and out – this often overlooked item really makes a huge difference. Even a spotlessly clean home will look grungy with dirty windows.
*Pressure wash decks and patios. Outdoor living space makes a home larger and can draw people outside the home and make them feel more comfortable with the home. People spend more time in these spaces than in some rooms so making sure you clean these well makes a big difference.
3. Paint – When selling any home, the condition and color of the paint can make a huge difference in how buyers react to your home. Touch up or paint your walls and trim and select neutral colors. Avoid painting white – it is sterile and stark and can make buyers feel uncomfortable and unwelcome in your home. Select light neutrals – creamy kakis, pearly grays or soft greens.
4. Replace Worn Carpet – nothing runs buyers off quicker than worn and stained carpet! Dirty carpet is unsanitary and nobody will be able to overlook your worn carpet. Replace the top layer with inexpensive neutral colored carpet and you will always recoup the investment.
5. Stage your home! – Showhomes knows that buyers who look at vacant homes only see floors, walls and ceilings. With nothing else to look at, they focus on flaws. Because of this, vacant houses are very vulnerable to low-ball offers and often sell for 15-20 percent below list price.
Unfortunately, this is simply because they are vacant. Hire a whole-house staging company or if really want to get the best results, use a live-in Home Manager to stage your home. These two services add life to a home and rather than flaws, buyers can visualize themselves living in your home.
“The value of the life they see becomes worth more than the price of the home and because they make an emotional connection with your home, they will buy it,” says Scott.
Showhomes, the country's largest home staging company, has three decades of staging experience and has helped over 25,000 home owners and Realtors sell vacant homes, Scott said, adding that the company's business model has proven to be effective in any market condition, especially in today’s slow market.
For more information about Showhomes, or additional advice on selling your vacant home, please visit http://www.showhomes.com/.
Or contact the local office at 864.423.4936
Monday, February 23, 2009
no business like show business
I always answer with an enthusiastic, "Yes!" I love being a Showhomes franchisee because we get such great support. The corporate office offers practical, tangible help for franchises and tries to keep things fun and light-hearted whenever possible.
Take last year's Owner's Conference, for example. The theme was 'No Business Like Show Business.' We were invited to a formal dinner at corporate headquarters. We were encouraged to pretend that we were out for a night at the Oscars. Awards were given to various franchisees based on performance.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes the best actors in the film industry for their significant accomplishments each year. Approximately 40 million people tune in to see who has earned the highest honor the Academy bestows.
Just as momentous, although not witnessed by as many people, was the awards ceremony at the Showhomes Franchise Corporation Annual Gathering. The event, themed There’s No Business like Show-Business, was held January 27th at Union Station Hotel in Nashville and celebrated the success of the men and women who were honored. Showhomes is America’s largest home staging company and has 24 franchises in 19 states. In a year in which the real estate market experienced a considerable decline in sales, Showhomes franchise owners encountered double-digit growth – helping homeowners and their Realtors sell more than $192 million in real estate. Leading the rapidly growing company was the Central Arkansas franchise, based in Little Rock.
Jeff and Heidi Ross, Central Arkansas franchise owners, took home the best prize of conference. Their record growth, outstanding loyalty, high customer service, exceptional design quality and their promotion of the Showhomes brand earned them the 2007 Franchise of the Year Award.
“When we purchased our franchise in 2003, we decided then that we would build our franchise on quality and not quantity. Now, almost five years later, the fruits of our consistent diligence have paid off,” said Jeff Ross. “We believe the key to our success has been practicing quality in every area, without compromise, and the continual discipline of marketing to our customers. We now look forward to duplicating our Central Arkansas success as we begin a new franchise in Memphis, Tennessee.”
“Jeff and Heidi Ross operate a business that provides true value to Realtors and home owners in and around Little Rock. They produce some of the best home staging in the country and have a lengthy track record of succeeding and beating market conditions. We are proud of their performance and look forward to what they will accomplish in 2008,” said Bert Lyles, Showhomes CEO. “We are excited that Jeff and Heidi are expanding their expert service to the Memphis market.”
The Ross’ were also honored with the Strongest Market Presence Award for highest market saturation and largest brand presence. This is the first time Showhomes has bestowed this recognition.
Other awards were given to:
Sherri Nichols, Pensacola/Destin, Florida franchise owner, earned the Best New Franchise Award. In her first full year of operation, Sherri performed record growth, exhibited outstanding loyalty, high customer service and exceptional product quality in the promotion of Showhomes.
Beth George, Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California franchise owner, earned the Top Revenue Producer
Cindy Montgomery, Minneapolis, Minnesota franchise owner, earned the Top Design Award, for highest product quality and excellence in design and the Most Homes Sold Award, for highest number of homes sold.
Jim Biby, Jacksonville, Florida franchise owner, earned the Most Homes Contracted Award¸ for the highest number of homes contracted and staged in 2007.
Andy Wilson, North and Central Houston, Texas franchise owner, earned the Fastest Sale Time Award, for fastest time to sell, averaging 46 days.
Circle of Excellence Awards
The following Showhomes franchise owners were recognized for excellence in operation, product quality, loyalty and customer service:
Angela Blankinchip – Mobile, Alabama
Jody Lovitt – Southeast Michigan
Donna Muelver – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jim Biby – Jacksonville, Florida
Judy Pokorny – Toledo, Ohio
Henry Graham – Charlotte, North Carolina
Monday, February 16, 2009
home staging is tax deductible
All of us in the staging business know that education is one of our principle responsibilities and greatest challenges. We know that staging creates value and results in quicker sales, but sometimes homeowners and Realtors need convincing.
There is often a perception that staging is something of a gamble. Realtors are sometimes hesitant to approach homeowners with the suggestion that they spend more money out-of-pocket for something that may or may not produce the desired result. Homeowners who have not hired a professional stager before worry that they may not recoup the cost.
This is especially true of those needing to stage a vacant house.They think: what if I spend this money and don't see a return on my investment?
That is one reason why the home manager model works so well. Because we don't charge monthly fees to the homeowner when they agree to have their house staged using a home manager.This situation is completely win-win.
At Showhomes we always point out that the value of staging lies in several key factors. Staged properties sell faster. Faster sales result in higher commissions for agents and reduced carrying costs for homeowners.We have a long list of success stories to prove it, but when I sit down with a homeowner or Realtor with my proposal of services, well, those benefits can seem awfully intangible.
One of my standard selling points has always been this fact: staging always costs less than a price reduction. Why not pay $5,000 for staging and get an offer close to the price you want? Isn't that better than cutting the price by $20,000 - $30,000?
Well, if you put it that way...Even so, some people are reluctant.However, I think that a tax deduction might be seen as a more tangible benefit than those that come under the umbrella of 'reduced carrying costs'.
I think I am going to add that to my Showhomes spiel.
In question form, no less: "Did you know that home staging is tax deductible?"
"Why no", they will say - captivated and intrigued, wanting to know more....
"Yes. Home staging is an investment. A legitimate, tax-deductible selling expense."
I'm not a tax expert or a CPA, so I will recommend that they speak to some such professional about the particulars, but I think it is important to inform homeowners and Realtors alike of that benefit/option.Home staging services paid to a professional can be considered an advertising expense. Staging is still such a new concept to many. I am sure this fact is not widely known.
Contact Natasha at 864.423.4936
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Quick Solutions for Creating a Master Suite Retreat in time for Valentine’s Day
De-clutter – De-cluttered rooms are more inviting. De-cluttering also frees up visual and mental space. For a quick solution, place non-essential items in a clear storage bin and store outside the bedroom for later organization.
Clean, Clean, Clean - Cleaning induces a calming effect and helps you breathe easier. Clean with a light lemon or citrus fragrance or odorless cleaners.
Update Bed Linens – Place new sheets on the bed. If you don’t already own any, invest in colorful, luxurious Silk, Satin, or Egyptian cotton sheets.
Choose a relaxing color or pattern that you will enjoy. Add decorative pillows for a punch of color.
Update Window Treatments – Hang light and airy drapes that compliment the bed linens.
Add fresh flowers - If you have a garden, cut a bunch of fresh flowers, place them in a vase with water and set on your night stand. If not stop by your local florist and pick up some.
Add candles – Place candles on your dresser, centered in front of the mirror. The reflection of the lit candles will serve as mood lighting. Scented or unscented candles can be used.
Add music – Soft instrumental music set at a moderately low tone also helps to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
For the Master Bath
Update Bath Linens – Place fresh hand towels on countertops and/or towel racks and hang fresh bath towels near tub and shower.
Replace the soap – If you have old half-used bars of soap, replace them with full fresh bars of soap.
Add candles and flowers - Place candles in a safe area near the bathtub where you can light them and put them out easily.
For any other ReStyle or Design tips please give us a call at 864-351-8305.
Monday, February 9, 2009
showhomes gets results
Showhomes, America's Largest Home Staging Company, has been a ray of light in the otherwise gloomy market. Showhomes helps home owners sell high-end vacant homes and has experienced record growth as aresult.
"Showhomes' unique strategy of staging and helping Realtors market vacant luxury homes produces real results," said Matt Kelton, chief operating officer for Showhomes Franchise Corporation. "We are proud to announce that the company experienced 45 percent revenue growth last year. In the last three years, the company has been experiencing rapid growth, almost tripling its same store revenue. In addition, the Showhomes franchise system is growing rapidly as we add new units."
Showhomes has dramatically beaten market conditions - with staged Showhomes selling as much as 50 percent faster than comparable vacants, Kelton said. The company's service is high in demand becausethere are more houses for sale today than at any point in U.S.history, and there are more vacant homes for sale now than ever before. Showhomes - known as America's largest home staging company -began its operations in 1986 and started franchising in 1994. It currently has 23 franchises in 19 states, and has recently been listed as one of the hot franchising trends for 2008, Kelton said.
Selling a vacant house in any market can be a challenge. Vacant homes take much longer to sell than occupied homes and often sell for 10-20 percent below list price. Buyers have trouble visualizing their furniture in a vacant home and in a slow real estate market like today flooded with inventory, vacant houses simply get passed over in favor of more welcoming furnished homes. Good taste, beautiful furniture and well thought out design enables buyers to visualize an organized and decorated Showhome as their own.
For more information on how we can add value to your vacant home call: Natasha A. Little 864.423.4936
Friday, February 6, 2009
walk it out
"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.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
why stage?
"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 2, 2009
about their partnership
"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 Tanya at 864.351.8305
Contact Natasha at 864.423.4936
Monday, January 26, 2009
about natasha
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 19, 2009
about tanya
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
introducing showhomes
Showhomes is America's Largest Home Staging Company. Although we are new to the Upstate, we have been an industry leader nationwide for over 20 years.
We invite you to find out why the Travel Channel calls Showhomes one of the best kept secrets in Real Estate! We provide an entire suite of services, not simply consultation and/or furniture leasing that is typically associated with the term 'home staging'.
We specialize in working with high-end homes - including condos and lofts. Homeowners and Realtors are amazed at the results achieved when they take advantage of our home manager program to stage their vacant listings. Contact us at www.showhomes.com.
Find out how we can take your property from vacant house to valued home!
Contact Natasha 864.423.4936
Monday, January 5, 2009
fresh start. fresh eye.
Fresh start. Fresh eye!
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 – Where Staged Equals Sold!
Contact Tanya at 864.351.8305



