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 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.

just staged in minneapolis

Cindy Montgomery, Showhomes' 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.

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 0r 864.351.8305.

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

5 essential tips for staging your home

Whether you are getting ready for a job interview, preparing to meet someone special for the first time, or selling your home – first impressions are vital. Spring, is a popular time for homeowners to begin preparing their homes for sale. Showhomes encourages them to take some essential steps to make sure the most important first step takes place: buyers make the decision to view the 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