WHAT IS A HOME MANAGER?

A Showhomes Home Manager is a person or family with beautiful home furnishings who lives in a vacant home for sale. In exchange for keeping it clean and letting Realtors show the home, Home Managers get dramatically reduced monthly fees, far below the market rate.

Home Managers are professionals who are:

- Relocating

- Building a New Home

- Seeking Temporary Housing

- Going Through Family Changes Such As Divorce

- An Individual or Family Looking To Reduce Expenses

- An Individual or Family Looking to Maintain Their Currently Level of Living or Lifestyle

- Looking To Get Familiar With An Area Before Purchasing

- Looking For Flexibility As There Are No Long Term Lease Requirements

WHY stage?

Competition. With 9 out of 10 buyers previewing or finding their homes online, presentation has never been more important. Staging your homes gives you a competitive edge over your competition. It also reduces low ball offers that buyers associate with vacant properties.

"Price Gets you Interest, Staging Gets you Offers." (Gary Keller, Keller Williams)

Owner Occupied Homes

Known for our success in staging vacant homes, we also help sellers with owner occupied homes. For occupied homes on the market for sale, we can re-design and re-purpose the existing furniture and decor of the home, and using your furnishings, create a "model home" look that buyers respond to. Staging enhances the presentation of your home and makes it more competitive in the market place, helping to capture a faster sale at a premium price (vs. a non-staged home). A professional stager can also provide useful information and often resources to help with packing, moving, de-cluttering and organizing, making your move easier and preparing the home for staging. Staged homes sell faster and for premium prices, bringing a greater net gain to the table for sellers.

Paint

While that favorite shade of purple was perfect for you, it may be a turn-off for that potential buyer. With a Showhomes Update we can provide the perfect changes with our Exclusive Color Palettes which are on-trend neutrals that will not distract from the outstanding features of your home and will provide mass appeal. Your Showhomes staging professional will help select the perfect palette for the look and feel that will place your home above the competition of similar homes for sale.

Home Managers are professionals who are:

- Relocating

- Building a New Home

- Seeking Temporary Housing

- Going Through Family Changes Such As Divorce

- An Individual or Family Looking To Reduce Expenses

- An Individual or Family Looking to Maintain Their Currently Level of Living or Lifestyle

- Looking To Get Familiar With An Area Before Purchasing

- Looking For Flexibility As There Are No Long Term Lease Requirements

WHY SHOWHOMES?

Showhomes is America's Leader in the Home Staging Industry. With over 30 years of experience, and a network from coast to coast, the Showhomes network has helped sell over 30,000 homes worth over $10 billion. We're proud to have partnered with many local and national real estate brands such as Keller Williams, Coldwell Banker, Berkshire Hathaway, Re/Max, Century 21 and more. We've successfully helped thousands of realtors, homeowners, investors, banks and builders market and showcase their listings for a faster sale and higher price. Our service speaks for itself. Our results pay for the service.

NEW HOMES

But we don't just do homes for sale, we're happy to help you with your new home too! If you're craving a new look, hungry for some new ideas or inkling to have a "makeover" of your own, we can help. Showhomes staging experts can design, ReStyle and provide DIY information or a full service "makeover", transforming your home in as little as 1 day. Showhomes is the leader in decorating and staging; we can help you create the home you'll fall in love with which suits your lifestyle and personal preferences.

REPLACE OLD CARPET

Worn or dated carpeting is the #1 turn-off for home buyers. The thoughts of selecting, purchasing and dealing with installation will have a potential buyer quickly check the home off their list. With a general 3 to 1 return on investment, fresh and new carpeting can be the key to a faster home sale. Coordinating with our Exclusive Showhomes Color Palettes, our light neutral warm and cool tones of carpeting will not only be pleasing to your budget but will give your home a true designer look. All home sellers want multiple offers and a quick, profitable sale. A Showhomes Update can be the answer to what you've been dreading. From palette selections through job completion and installations, we not only provide staging design but bring in qualified contractors to quickly and painlessly prepare your home for sale. The value Showhomes brings and the return on investment is why Showhomes is the nation's leader in Home Staging and Design.

PRIVACY POLICY

This Showhomes Franchise Corporation Privacy Policy (this or the "Privacy Policy") explains our practices, defines our users' ("you" or "your") privacy options and describes how your information is collected and used by Showhomes Franchise Corporation ("we," "us," "our," or "Showhomes").

By using the Showhomes website or any of our features or resources you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

We reserve the right to modify this policy from time to time and will mark new versions with a corresponding effective date. We recommend you visit the Showhomes website to review any changes in our practices.

This Privacy Policy governs your use of the Showhomes® website at www.showhomes.com, www.showhomesfranchise.com ("Sites").

Our Sites may contain links to other websites. These links are not endorsements of any products or services on such websites. These websites may have privacy policies different than our Privacy Policy.

What Information is Collected?
We may collect personal information from you on our Sites or through any other digital or personal communication with you. Information collected by us is voluntarily provided by you and may include information such as your name, email address, and physical address. Our Sites may also collect general information about your technology interface or preferences (such as the type of browser used or the files requested).

The information we may collect includes, but may not be limited to:

• Your contact information, such as your first name, last name, phone number, and email address, to allow us to respond to submitted inquiries;
• For potential franchisees, your contact and financial information, such as your first name, last name, email address, physical address, cash/liquid capital to invest, and net worth, to allow Showhomes to respond to submitted inquiries;
• Information regarding your browser and other technical specifications required to use our Sites;
• Computer data or files, often called "cookies," which may be sent by your web browser and stored on an individual computer to allow our server to "recognize" you through the navigation of the Sites;
• Computer data files, often called "web beacons" that are collected from emails or links on third-party sites that allow our server to evaluate the popularity of those links or the information contained in emails or on third-party sites; and
• Your IP address to measure our website traffic and to help provide a more personalized experience.

Children Under the Age of 13
Our Sites are not designed for children and we do not knowingly collect information from any person we know is under the age of 13.

How is User Information Used and Shared?
We collect information about you in order to provide you with services and also collect information that is necessary for our Sites to work properly. We use personal information about our users for a variety of purposes related to our business, including but not limited to:

• Allowing you to receive information from us regarding Showhomes services;
• Adding information from social media platforms to our Sites where you discuss our services or use a hashtag related to our services;
• Sharing information with our local franchisees regarding your request to become a Home Manager or other request on the site;
• Tracking information about your visits to our Sites to allow us to provide better service;
• Sending or initiating direct marketing programs, such as newsletters or information about new products or services we (or any of our affiliated companies) are offering;
• Contacting you regarding an inquiry on our Sites that you have initiated; and
• Providing information about your usage or preferences to our third-party vendors and providers.

We may share information, in the aggregate, regarding your online browsing preferences to evaluate our services or allow third parties with whom we work to better serve our users. We will not share personally identifiable information in these instances, other than described in this Privacy Policy. We may, however, share personally identifiable information with franchisees or our local business partners regarding inquires you have made for a specific Showhomes® market. All financial information submitted in connection with a franchise inquiry will be kept confidential and will not be shared with third-party vendors.

We may provide user information to third-party service providers or vendors for purposes of, including without limitation, initiating direct marketing programs on our behalf, data tracking, maintenance or development of our Sites, development of online services or customer service, or other contracted promotional opportunities provided to our users. We will not share your information with third parties to directly market their products to you. We may share this information with any subsidiaries, licensees, suppliers, distributors, affiliates, assigns, successors, or other related entities and their respective owners. We may also share your personal information in connection with law enforcement requests or in response to investigations, subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims or as otherwise required by law.

Business Transfers
We may also disclose your information to a third party as part of the reorganization or a sale of the assets of Showhomes, or its subsidiaries, divisions or franchisees. Any third party to which Showhomes transfers or sells the Sites or related assets will have the right to continue to use the personal and other information that you provide to us.

Behavioral Advertising
We may also use third-party vendors, such as Google Analytics, to advertise to our users online. These third-party vendors may display Showhomes advertisements on other websites based on your internet usage. More specifically, these vendors use first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytic cookie) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) together to inform, optimize, and serve ads based on your past visits to the Site or another site affiliated with Showhomes. Any information that these third parties collect via cookies is not linked to any personally identifiable information (name, address, email address, or phone number) we collect or you provide on the website. You can opt-out of Google Analytics for Display Advertising by using Google's Ads Settings.

How is User Information Protected?
We maintain administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for all user information collected on our Sites.

How Can Users Limit Information Collected?
By providing information to us or browsing our or our franchisees' Sites, you are consenting to our use of your data as outlined in this Privacy Policy.

While we work hard to use and disclose our users' personal information only for the purposes identified above, you can choose not to provide personal information or limit the personal information obtained by us as follows:

• You may have your contact information removed from our marketing lists that are used to inform users of new or relevant products, services, and special offers by clicking on the unsubscribe link in any communication received from us or by emailing us at [ADD EMAIL ADDRESS]; and
• You may limit the collection of "cookies" from your Site usage through your browser settings. However, this may disable our ability to provide you with the most relevant information regarding the Sites.

Your California Privacy Rights
California Civil Code Section § 1798.83 permits users of our Sites that are California residents to request certain information regarding our disclosure of personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, please contact us via the Sites.

Contacting Us
For additional information pertaining to our Privacy Policy, please contact:

Showhomes Franchise Corp
2110 Blair Blvd
Nashville, TN 37212

Showhomes Franchisees Chris and Lisa Gulliver Stage NFL Quarterback Philip Rivers' Home

If there is any husband-and-wife duo who understand how to unlock a home's sale potential, it'sShowhomes franchisees Chris and Lisa Gulliver.

The Gullivers, who own and operate the brand's San Diego North Coast location, recently completed a major home staging project: the family home of NFL star Philip Rivers, his wife Tiffany and their nine children. The famed San Diego/L.A. Chargers quarterback recently signed a deal with the Indianapolis Colts and needed to put his home on the market. Located in the upscale, gated community of Santaluz, the house is listed for $3,849,000 and boasts six bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms and more than 6,800 square feet of space on a one-acre lot.

"This house was a special place where Philip and Tiffany Rivers raised their family for over 11 years and it just had a really good vibe to it," Lisa Gulliver said. "The property is built for privacy, but all of the spaces are light and bright. It's a wonderful, comfortable, family home. Home staging is about showing buyers the possibilities of what a house can be and for this type of high-end home, luxury staging will always attract more potential buyers." 

In terms of renovation, the Gullivers hired contractors to perform work on both the interior and exterior of the home. This included painting all of the walls and cabinets, replacing countertops with new white Quartzite and replacing the kitchen and bathroom fixtures. New carpeting was also installed. Exterior changes included painting the entry gate, the stucco walls and the courtyard walls.

In terms of staging, the living room, formal dining room, kitchen, family room and master bedroom suite, as well as a downstairs kids playroom and upstairs teen suite, all received the luxury treatments and were filled with tasteful, high-end furnishings to highlight each room's assets, such as high open-beamed ceilings, hardwood floors and crown moldings. The staging was specifically selected to feature an airy feel that the home boasts on its own. The Gullivers are thrilled with the finished look and cited the kids' playroom as one of their favorites in the home.

The Gullivers first joined Showhomes in 2010 and have since made major waves in a competitive market. The opportunity to stage Rivers' house came thanks to a repeat referral, which is how the franchisees receive most of their business. In this case, the repeat referral came fromShaun Worthen of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Worthen has sold Rivers' properties in the past and needed home stagers who could handle this particular high-end project. The Gullivers have focused their reach in recent years on San Diego's top realtors and typically work with homes in the $2 million to $10 million range. As Showhomes franchisees, the Gullivers could also offer remodeling services to the Rivers family, ultimately taking the partnership to the next level.

Worthen certainly appreciated the Gullivers knowledge and professionalism and gave them his full endorsement. "Philip Rivers has been a great client of mine for many years," Worthen said. "To get Philip Rivers' family home ready for market, I knew Chris and Lisa were the right team for the job. They brought a wealth of design expertise and remodeling skills to this project and they always give 110%. The duo did an amazing job on this property and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out."

The ability to bring their vision to Rivers' home and facilitate this kind of change is exactly what the Gullivers love about franchising with Showhomes.

"It's really an amazing experience to walk into a home in the morning that looks less than spectacular and make it look spectacular by the time we leave," Lisa said. "Working in a higher-end market means we get to bring out the potential of some truly beautiful homes. There's a lot of satisfaction in transforming a home into the best that it can be."

As Showhomes franchisees, the Gullivers were well-equipped to showcase the property to its full potential. Showhomes was first founded in 1986 and operates today as a full-service home staging, management, update and renovation franchise with nearly 60 offices across 18 states. The core communities the brand serves across the country are golf course communities and wealthy suburbs, catering to a wide range of clientele, including those who possess homes on the more luxurious side. Showhomes seeks to expand its footprint in markets with minimum home prices of $500,000.

Such quality work is indicative of the caliber of franchisees Showhomes attracts to its franchise system. Showhomes COO Matt Kelton and the rest of the leadership team are certainly thrilled with the Gullivers' work on this particular job.

"The Gullivers have a genuine enthusiasm for what they do and bring that excitement to their jobs every single day," Kelton said. "This high level of passion, care and attention to detail is exactly what Showhomes seeks in franchisees, and with people like Chris and Lisa on board, the future is certainly looking bright for our brand."

The startup costs for a Showhomes franchise range from $70,550 to $103,000. The franchise fee is $49,900. To learn more about franchising with Showhomes, visit https://www.showhomesfranchise.com/. 

How Showhomes Is Supporting Franchisees and Pivoting as an Essential Business

The traditional list of human needs is food (including water), shelter and clothing. Showhomes, America's largest home staging franchise, has been focused on the shelter area for over 34 years and their business model continues to thrive as an essential service. For many customers who need to sell their home during this difficult time, Showhomes' staging services are more important than ever, especially as many realtors are seeing a decrease in homebuyer interest. 

As industries across the world are being impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, businesses are being forced to find ways to adapt in the midst of social distancing orders and mass closures. As most states re-classify real estate as an "essential service," Showhomes is able to continue business for operations in all of their locations although they are having to adapt to changing market conditions by focusing on vacant home staging and virtual consultations. To continue offering customers these essential services and positioning franchisees for success during this unprecedented time, Showhomes has implemented several new initiatives, including marketing support, vendor partnerships, 3D virtual consultations, financing options for staging and resource newsletters. 

"As an essential business supporting the real estate industry, we remain open in one way or another in 100% of our locations," said Chief Operating Officer Matt Kelton. "In this unprecedented environment, timely information is essential, and we're focused on supporting franchisees through these challenging times. We are also communicating heavily with franchisees and working continuously on creative solutions to help offset any impact of COVID-19."

Showhomes has been providing franchisees with newsletters and Zoom conferences in order to keep everyone up-to-date in relation to the brand's new initiatives and the variety of programs available for small businesses across the country. In the weekly newsletter, the Showhomes team offers resources in relation to the CARES Act, SBA loan applications and Paycheck Protection Program loans. Showhomes has also continually followed updates and protocols recommended by the CDC, local departments of public health and the World Health Organization to guarantee the safety of guests and team members.

"While we want to be sensitive to people during this time, it also is a good opportunity to make people aware of our services while so many are stuck at home," said Kelton. "We are fortunate that 100% of our franchisees are able to continue offering their services, so it's important to make their customers and the general public aware that they are 'Open for Business. We are advertising aggressively on digital platforms like Google, Facebook and Instagram and over the last 30 days our overall web traffic has quadrupled and our franchisee leads have doubled compared to a year ago.

In addition to making sure homeowners feel safe and confident in Showhomes, the brand is implementing new strategies to adapt to the changing demands of the industry. Virtual services have never been more important to real estate agents, whether to keep themselves and their clients safe or to comply with orders from our government. Showhomes is looking for ways to enhance business during this time, and a big part of that is getting comfortable in creating an end to end digital experience for the customer. The customer is able to receive an instant online quote for their home staging service, franchisees can provide an online video consultation, a digital proposal will be created, a digital contract will be signed, and they can pay via one of our digital merchant services providers. The entire transaction can be conducted in a matter of minutes saving time both for the customer and the franchisee staff. 

Marie Bonnet, a Showhomes franchisee based in San Diego, notes the importance of these digital offerings. "Throughout this crisis, I have continued to focus on social media in order to keep our customers informed," she said. "Moving forward, I think that the real estate market will become more digital than ever—the habits we are developing now will be the way we continue. Real estate agents will use more and more digital videos to show the listings, and the buyers will use digital offerings to find and choose the houses they will visit."

Showhomes is developing new services to keep up with the changing landscape, including virtual consultations, electronic proposals and incredible 3D virtual tours. Last month, Showhomes rolled out the customizable Levitate online quoting tool to all websites with tremendous results. For example, Showhomes Tulsa received a lead from their website for a $950,000 house, and the franchisee was able to close a $6,000 home staging job the same day. To keep up with the growing popularity of video conferencing, Showhomes has provided an enterprise version of Zoom for all of their franchisees. 

"Showhomes is in the heart of the home-selling season and, hopefully, when the pandemic eases up, we predict we will see an explosion of business as the sales cycle is compressed by several months," said Kelton. "March was surprisingly strong with a 16% revenue increase over last year. We also saw a 30% increase in YTD total gross revenue over Q1 of 2019, which was already a record year. Overall, the support and proven infrastructure that we are able to provide franchisees during times like this is why our franchise partners invest in our concept in the first place."

Through these initiatives, Showhomes has worked quickly to make sure franchisees are not only able to survive during these trying times, but also come back stronger than ever before. 

The startup costs for a Showhomes franchise range from $85,500 to $121,300. The franchise fee is $49,900. To learn more about franchising with Showhomes, visit https://showhomesfranchise.com/.

Leanne Gemma Followed Her Entrepreneurial Spirit to Franchise with Showhomes

Showhomes, America's largest home staging company, often finds franchisees like Leanne Gemma who apply a background in real estate to a new, rewarding business opportunity. Gemma went to school to prepare for her early career as a software developer, though much of her professional experience was centered around product management—the area where she felt her skills truly shine. These skills eventually led her to franchise with Showhomes.

In addition to her career in software project management, Gemma always had a passion for real estate. "I've been investing in real estate for 15 years," said Gemma. "I've always wanted to have a career in real estate, but I could never find quite the right fit."

Gemma had been looking into franchising on her own when she discovered Showhomes and inquired to get more information. "I found Showhomes to be a good fit for bringing my two worlds of experience and other aspects of my personality together," said Gemma. "The product and customer service aspects from the product management jobs, my personal passion for DIY home improvement and design projects ad my interest in real estate management all came together."

One of the things that stood out to Gemma about Showhomes was the potential for several diverse revenue streams. "It's not just a staging company where you're doing vacant home staging — there are all kinds of possibilities." Showhomes also offers home restyles, updating, and staging with a home manager who prepares your home to sell for you.

Gemma, who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, opened her doors on March 1, 2020, and she is in the early stages of marketing her services. "I have hired a salesperson, and she is ramping up here and will be full-time starting in April. We're having some early meetings with real estate agents to work through the details."

According to Gemma, Raleigh, which is in an exciting period of growth, is a perfect market for a business like Showhomes. "There are a significant number of people moving to Raleigh every day," said Gemma. "It's definitely a growing area and a vibrant market. Real estate here is very diverse. You have a lot of executives for large companies in the area and a lot of starter homes, but there are also homes that have been around for 30 to 40 years that could use some updating. The programs that Showhomes offers can update your home for you, and help with staging for occupied or vacant residences, meaning we have something for every situation."

While a real estate shortage may impact other cities, Gemma says that Raleigh has remained particularly resilient.

Gemma, who is also a married mother of two young children, says that the flexibility that comes with business ownership is also a perk for her. "Certainly being able to have more flexibility is a benefit, and I'm looking forward to it very much," Gemma said. "Being completely in control of all aspects of running a business is something that I find really challenging and invigorating. I'm very excited to see what the future holds with Showhomes."

"Leanne is a great example of how successful Showhomes franchisees can be, especially when they incorporate previous skill sets into their new career," COO Matt Kelton said. "It's truly inspiring knowing that Leanne was able to follow her dreams and get into the real estate business because of Showhomes' franchise opportunity."

New Showhomes Franchisee Uchenna Okwodu Ready to Serve West Hills, California Market

Showhomes, America's largest home staging franchise, is about to get a higher profile in a very lucrative market. Thanks to new franchisee Uchenna Okwodu, Showhomes will now have a presence in West Hills, California, located in Los Angeles' western San Fernando Valley region. This will be the brand's fourth franchise in the Golden State.

Showhomes was founded in 1986 and has since helped realtors and homeowners sell more than 30,000 residential properties worth more than $10 billion. The brand offers franchisees four different revenue streams: vacant home staging, home restyles, home updating and executive home staging.

Today, Showhomes has nearly 60 offices in 18 states with plenty of hot markets available for franchising. The brand's target growth markets include Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington. Showhomes is specifically looking to open franchises in cities with growing job markets that are also seeing an influx of white collar workers. The brand mainly targets estates in the top 20% of home values in a given market.

Okwodu, who has an extensive banking background, decided to look into franchising for a career pivot and specifically explored retail franchise opportunities. She worked with a franchise consultant, who evaluated Okwodu's interests, ultimately suggesting Showhomes as an option.

"When the consultant suggested Showhomes, I was immediately interested," Okwodu said. "I've always had an inclination to organize and friends have always asked me to help them stage their homes."

Okwodu officially opened for business on March 1. She is thrilled with her new venture and believes it will fill a much-needed gap in the West Hills market. In addition to West Hills, her franchise will serve the nearby cities and neighborhoods of Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, Tarzana, Reseda, Northridge, Mission Hills, Encino and Van Nuys. She plans to purchase more territories as business develops. 

"West Hills has a lot of upscale housing," she said. "I've spoken with a lot of realtors in the area and home staging is no longer a 'nice-to-have'. It's a necessity. Homeowners who want to sell their houses need to stage them if they want to make a good impression and stand out from other homes on the market."

Okwodu feels confident to get her business started after receiving comprehensive training from the Showhomes corporate team.

"Showhomes has a really good support structure," she said. "As a new franchisee, you spend a week at corporate headquarters in Nashville for training and you also do some training online. My background is in banking, and it was really helpful to get trained in areas of the business that I wasn't familiar with."

The Showhomes leadership team is thrilled to have Okwodu join its ranks and add a fourth location in California.

"Uchenna brings amazing business acumen to the table thanks to her banking experience," Showhomes COO Matt Kelton said. "Southern California is a market ripe with opportunities for the Showhomes brand, and we're confident Uchenna will act as an excellent representative in West Hills."

Thanks to strong corporate support, a need for Showhomes' services in the region and a true passion for home staging, Okwodu will no doubt take the West Hills market by storm.

The startup costs for a Showhomes franchise range from $60,500 to $100,300. The franchise fee is $39,900. To learn more about franchising with Showhomes, visit https://showhomesfranchise.com/.

Showhomes Philadelphia-Area Franchisees Monica Estes and Allyson Piccolomini Attribute Major Growth to Careful Planning and Relationship Building

Aunt-and-niece duo Monica Estes and Allyson Piccolomini had one goal in mind when they decided to open a Showhomes franchise in the Philadelphia area in 2014, and that was to have fun. They certainly have had their fair share of fun since then, aided by the immense professional success they've generated. Their franchise is one of the most successful in the entire Showhomes system, and they have set up processes that will ensure even more success in 2020. 

Before franchising with the full-service home staging, management, update and renovation franchise, Estes spent several years working for large corporations. Her niece Piccolomini, who had just graduated from college three years prior, had experience working for a furniture manufacturer in customer service, marketing and e-commerce. What's more, Piccolomini had a vision for what a community business should be, and Estes had the capital. Together, the two had the combined experience, means and vision to achieve personal and professional success through franchising. 

The past two years have been especially rewarding for this dynamic duo and their Showhomes of the Main Line franchise. Estes and Piccolomini, who opened Showhomes' first franchise in the Philadelphia area, a market where the brand was completely unknown, attribute their most recent successes to careful planning, building relationships and, above all, caring about their work and leaving no detail untouched. 

Their success has not gone unnoticed, either. Estes and Piccolomini were showered with well-deserved recognition at the brand's annual conference in August 2019. They received the Top 5 Revenue Generators in Home Updates award, the Top 5 Most Homes Sold award, the $300K in Revenue Milestone award and the President's Award for Market Penetration. They were also recognized among franchises open for 36 months or longer that attained the largest year-over-year increase in sales revenue for 2019. 

"It feels so validating because when you're building your business you're just climbing up and up and you never bother to look at the view," Estes said. "The conference really just gave us the opportunity to enjoy the view for a minute." 

The Showhomes leadership team is certainly thrilled to have Estes and Piccolomini as part of the franchise family. 

"Allyson and Monica are a great example of how successful Showhomes franchisees can be, especially when they adopt all of our suite of service offerings," COO Matt Kelton said. "They also show a high level of care in everything they do, including customer service, which has greatly contributed to their success." 

As much of a success as 2018 was for Estes and Piccolomini, they knew they weren't quite where they wanted to be just yet. The spent the beginning of 2019 planning and creating a roadmap for what the rest of the year would look like, all of which has prepared them for the position they currently occupy and plan to further improve upon in 2020.

"We relocated our warehouse, expanded storage capabilities and hired more staff members," Estes said. "We also acquired a better grasp of inventory and management processes, which has enabled us to do more with the same amount of infrastructure. Last year was truly a good transitional year for our franchise." 

Estes and Piccolomini do a lot of home staging in their market, so it was critical they get the inventory part of their business under control. This includes taking excellent care of the products they put in the homes. 

"We take very good care of our furnishings, and because of this, we get the most use out of them," Estes said. "When they're not in use, they are always wrapped and protected from the elements. We also make sure any soft goods we use are freshly laundered because that is crucial in helping create that emotional bond between a for-sale home and prospective buyers." 

Then there is the relationship-building aspect of the job. From real estate agents to their fellow franchisees, Estes and Piccolomini are adamant about building long-term relationships. 

"From the beginning, we built good relationships with up-and-coming agents and helped them grow their businesses as they became bigger and better," Piccolomini said. "We also have great relationships with investors in the area, and this has all given us a good reputation in our market. We're very customer-focused and we also just pride ourselves on having a good quality product and being there to help real estate agents as much as we can." 

They both also attribute their success to the brand's support. 

"The Showhomes leadership team is really focused on the quality aspect," Estes said. "They follow up with and survey all of our clients, and Allyson and I always know we're going to get that good feedback. It's validating knowing that a client enjoyed a successful sale of the home on which you worked so hard." 

Estes is thrilled she made the switch from working for large corporations to owning and operating a franchise. One of the biggest draws of Showhomes, she said, is the brand's sense of community. 

"At Showhomes, there are more resources for goal-setting and for sharing successes and from learning from each other," Estes said. "Allyson and I also enjoy the franchise model and how the entire infrastructure is set up for us. If we had had to do that on our own it would have sapped our energy. Thanks to Showhomes, we can simply focus on serving customers in our geographic location. And we can have fun." 

Estes also credits her niece for her having such a strong vision. 

"It's on her shoulders entirely, in my opinion," Estes said. "She's the one who built it from nothing in this market. We didn't buy an existing franchise. It was all her vision about what our brand was going to be locally. She had the vision to create that emotional connection that kept people coming back for more." 

The startup costs for a Showhomes franchise range from $60,500 to $100,300. The franchise fee is $39,900. To learn more about franchising with Showhomes, visit 

https://showhomesfranchise.com/.

Showhomes Closes Banner Year in 2019 Setting Record For Best Systemwide Revenue in Company History

Why Franchising With Showhomes Was a Ticket to the 'American Dream' For Franchisees Marie and Yann Bonnet

Marie and Yann Bonnet are not only a few of Southern California's newest residents, but they are also two of Showhomes' newest franchisees. The couple, along with their three children, recently relocated to the greater San Diego area all the way from Toulouse, France, and shortly after began their journey with the full-service home management and staging franchise.  Showhomes franchise marks the brand's second business serving the San Diego market. 

Thanks to Showhomes' family-like atmosphere and proven business model, the Bonnets were able to make their version of the "American Dream" a reality. 

The Bonnets' journey with franchising, and Showhomes in particular, ultimately stems from their decision to move to the United States. "Last year, we made the decision as a family to move to Southern California with an investor visa," Marie said. "It was a great opportunity for a career change for my husband and a new challenge for me. Moving to a new country also gave our sons the opportunity to discover a brand new culture."

"So, based on our situation [relocating from Europe], Yann and I decided that investing in a franchise would give our family the best opportunity to succeed," Marie continued. "We spent a lot of time working with a consultant to find the right franchise for us. When we were presented with Showhomes, it was by far the best option. The company is a true family that provides support and a proven business model. Moving to the U.S. and starting our own business has always been a dream for us; we believe that the American dream still exists!"

Yann echoed Marie's sentiment on their decision to franchise with Showhomes. "Franchising provides a secure framework for those who are new to the business to follow," he said. "Showhomes provides a level of quality and service to each client as well as provides a sense of family and community to each of its franchisees."

It's safe to say that Showhomes was just what the Bonnets were looking for to begin their new journey in the U.S., though before they made the life-changing decision to leave their home country, the previous career each held prepared them for their future with the brand. 

Early on, Marie began working as a designer in the Parisian fashion industry but quickly realized the fashion world wasn't exactly where she wanted to be. After a few years in fashion, Marie switched careers and began working in home design and renovation, spending the last 10 years providing home design and consulting services in Paris and Geneva, Switzerland. 

"Working in this industry was much more aligned with my interests, both personally and career-wise," Marie said. "I developed a real passion for home design and renovation and knew it was exactly what I wanted to be doing."

Yann, on the other hand, spent most of his career in aviation. He earned a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering and held a number of positions with different aviation companies, the most recent of which was at Satys in Toulouse, as the Managing Director of Aerospace Interiors, overseeing the complete design and production processes. 

Reflecting back on his decision to work with Showhomes, Yann noted that after 15 years in the corporate world, he was ready to take on a new career challenge—and one that he would personally own at that. 

The Bonnets joined Showhomes at a prime time. Now with more than 50 locations nationwide, Showhomes is rapidly becoming the premier home staging and management company in the country. In June of 2019, the brand underwent a major repositioning where it expanded its revenue streams from two (home staging and home management) to four (home staging, home management, home restyles and updating), redefining itself as a full-service solution for its clients. Furthermore, this repositioning helped Showhomes mark a 30% increase in year-over-year sales through November 2019.  

Looking to the future, the Bonnets have big plans to conquer the San Diego market. Although Showhomes already has a franchisee in the area, they look at this as an opportunity rather than a challenge. "San Diego is a huge market for home staging and renovations," Marie said. "Our goal is to provide that same level of high-quality service that the current San Diego franchisee and the brand as a whole, works tirelessly to provide." 

Additionally, the Bonnets plan on ramping up their business as fast as possible. San Diego is a competitive market, and, according to Yann, the couple is extremely excited to get things up and running successfully. Yann also noted that, as of right now, their focus is on conquering their specific market and expansion will come later. 

The start-up costs for a Showhomes franchise range from $60,550 to $103,000, with an initial franchise fee of $39,900. To learn more about franchising with Showhomes, please visit https://www.showhomesfranchise.com

Newly Minted Showhomes Franchisees Michael and Renee Douglas Prepare For Business in Michigan

Husband-and-wife team Michael and Renee Douglas met several years ago while working in the logistics field at the same company. Now, they're preparing to enter a whole new industry together with full-service home management and staging franchise Showhomes. 

The Douglases looked at other concepts when they decided to go into franchising, prioritizing finding the right culture fit. After working with a franchise consultant and exploring a few different sectors, Showhomes stood out because of how the brand touched upon each of their respective passions. 

"I have a big interest in real" Michael said. "Renee really enjoys decorating and the staging piece of it. She really enjoys making our home look nice. She also did some of this work at our other company, decorating the office and remodeling." 

Showhomes also gave the Douglases a much-desired family feel, plus a sense of strong support. 

"The company we come from has a family atmosphere and that was definitely the sense we got at Showhomes," Renee said. "The leadership team has been great. They've been setting everything up for us to make sure we're doing the right thing and keeping us on track." 

The Douglases recently signed on to kick off the brand's Michigan presence with the state's first Showhomes business in the city of Northville, currently slated for a January 1, 2020 opening date. In addition to Northville, Michael and Renee's Showhomes franchise will serve the nearby cities of Birmingham, Novi, Plymouth and more. The new venture is a joint effort that Renee will enter full time while Michael will split time between Showhomes and his current job. 

"I've always been the one behind the curtain," Renee said. "I like to organize things; I don't need to be onstage. I want to see the reaction from the customers we help. I love it. It makes me feel so good knowing I did such a good thing." 

Michael and Renee aren't total strangers to the world of franchising. Renee's father owned a franchise with the sub sandwich chain Blimpie. She loved how working in the store led her family to form strong connections in their community and is excited to bring that same energy and enthusiasm to Showhomes. 

"I'm most excited about making a difference and helping people," she said. "It's different when the business is your own. Your mentality is different."

The Douglases are joining Showhomes at a prime time. With more than 50 locations nationwide, Showhomes is quickly becoming the premier home staging and management company in the U.S. The brand had several successes in 2019, including an expanded service offering that includes home design and renovation services. Thanks to this, Showhomes experienced a year-over-year sales increase of 30% through October of this year.

While their current focus is set on getting their new business up and running successfully, the Douglases are open to expanding with the brand. When the time for expansion does come, they are hoping to expand into territories that cover the Detroit area. 

"Expanding is not out of the question, but our territory is pretty large and it has a good amount of homes and opportunities, so if we do expand and open more franchises, it's going to be a while," Renee said. 

They will certainly be busy, and not just with business. Like many Showhomes franchisees, the Douglases are actively involved in their community. They've participated in a variety of philanthropic efforts, including cancer drives and Christmas-related initiatives, and support the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, which is part of the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, as well as at local elementary schools. Renee even ran the culture team and philanthropy efforts at her previous job. She and Michael plan to continue being involved in philanthropic efforts through their Showhomes franchise. Plus, with three sons ages 9, 6 and 4, they are looking forward to having more flexibility with their schedules.

"I'm excited about this new venture," Renee said. "I've been in the corporate world for more than 15 years so I'm very excited to have a little bit of freedom with my kids and my job."

To learn more about franchising with Showhomes, visit https://www.showhomesfranchise.com/

Showhomes Rising Star Catherine Chandler Collects Nothing But Success in the Portland, Oregon Market

Since August of 2017, Catherine Chandler has been running her Showhomes business in Portland, Oregon--and thriving. Chandler always had an eye for design, and though she's gone down several career paths, Chandler was always itching to begin her own business. Thanks to the premier home staging service brand, Showhomes, Chandler cites this opportunity with the franchise as "a major dream come true."

Showhomes has helped homeowners sell more than 30,000 residential properties worth more than $10 billion. Thanks to a history transforming empty high-end homes into a furnished and welcoming abode, Showhomes is the one-stop-shop for home staging and redesign. The franchise has locations across 18 states with over 50 offices nationwide. Showhomes has also been featured and recognized by prominent media outlets such as Oprah, DIY Network, the Travel Channel and HGTV. The home staging company boasts both real estate and design expertise—skills in which Chandler excels on a daily basis.

Chandler doesn't refer to herself as the "typical Showhomes franchisee" because of her extensive background in science and technology. After obtaining a Bachelor's and Master's degrees in the field, she became a technical program manager for a tech company. Chandler also dabbled in the publishing industry as a page designer and in the world of retail as a visual merchandiser. 

Throughout Chandler's and her husband's marriage, she has bought and sold five homes—all five of which were staged to perfection. 

"I'd always get compliments on my setup when I staged my houses," said Chandler. "My husband kept joking and pushing me to start my own staging business."

When January of 2017 came around, Chandler's husband wanted her to know he wasn't joking. One night while watching HGTV, he popped open his laptop, Googled "home staging franchise," and signed her up for an informational phone call without Chandler knowing.

"All of a sudden I get a phone call the next day from Showhomes and as soon as they started telling me the whole concept of the company, I was interested," said Chandler. "It's my husband's fault that I'm in this business--but hey, it worked out."

Four months later, Chandler purchased the franchise and has been managing Showhomes Portland West since August of 2017 when they opened for business. Thanks to the city's hot real estate market, Showhomes has been flourishing in Portland, so much so that Chandler's interested in opening a Showhomes location in Southwest Portland as well. 

"Portland understands the value of staging," said Chandler. "Before joining Showhomes, I called other big-name staging companies in the area and asked if they thought there was room for more home staging businesses--they all told me there was plenty of room. I knew there was business to be had."

Chandler's good eye made her a perfect fit for a Showhomes franchise, but she still encountered learning opportunities; she claims that her biggest challenge getting started was learning how to build the brand and make people aware of Showhomes. Chandler does a tremendous amount of networking through Portland's real estate and charity events--from offering to set up booths or tables, Chandler's main priority is having that face-to-face interaction with potential new clients. 

"No one knew what Showhomes was and I consider 50% of my job to be educating people about who we are and how we can make their lives easier," said Chandler. "Building relationships is the single biggest part of my job."

In just a little over two years, Chandler has already accomplished so much with the franchise. At this year's Showhomes annual conference, Chandler was named Rising Star Franchise and awarded Best in Traditional Staging Design and Director's Choice Award for Superior Customer Satisfaction. 

"I'm a very competitive person and I'm always looking at what other staging companies are doing to see how I could do it better," said Chandler. "I knew I could do it, so it's super exciting."

Believe it or not, Chandler's been able to use her skills obtained through her science degrees in her Showhomes business. She claims her problem-solving skills and engineering background have not only helped create beautiful spaces, but aided her in connecting with those of her clients with backgrounds in the engineering field.

"We have a lot of homeowners--high-end homeowners. to be exact--who are engineers themselves, and it puts my clients at ease knowing they're talking to an engineer," said Chandler. "Portland has a huge tech market, so many of my clients work in a similar field that I'm very knowledgeable in."

Chandler looks forward to expanding Showhomes in the Portland area and building more relationships with her community as she continues her successful business with the home staging franchise. 

"My whole job goes back to building relationships," said Chandler. "Every person I interact with could be my next client. You never know where the next big deal is going to come from, so I treat everyone with white-glove service—so far, it has paid off."

10 Years Later, Marisa Salas is Still Thriving With Showhomes

When Marisa Salas made the decision to join an emerging franchise called Showhomes a decade ago, she did so at a time full of uncertainty—and opportunity.

"I wanted a career change, but that was 2008. When the economy's crashing, it's not exactly a good time to reinvent yourself," Salas laughed.

Salas had spent the majority of her career up to that point in the family business, which was jewelry. "My grandfather and father were both jewelers, and I operated one of my father's two jewelry stores for 10 years," she said. When Salas got married and moved from her native South Florida to New York, she continued her career in jewelry on the wholesale side. She and her husband eventually made their way back to Miami to be near family, where Salas took on a new role as the precious jewels manager for the luxury department store Neiman Marcus. After having children not long after, Salas' priorities changed. 

"After I had my kids, I decided the retail business was way too difficult due to demanding evening, weekend and holiday hours, so I took three years off to be at home with my family," Salas said. 

When she was ready to return to the workforce, she began seeking out new opportunities outside of the retail space, eventually discovering Showhomes. Salas and her husband had always been interested in franchising, and the young-but-growing brand presented the chance to get into an industry with a lot of potential at the ground level. Now 10 years later, Salas has established herself as a central part of the real estate scene in the South Florida communities of Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Coconut Grove and Key Biscayne.

"When I first became a Showhomes franchisee, it was strictly a home management concept," Salas recounted. "Over time, we realized many people needed more, so we expanded our service offering to what it is today. In the beginning, I knew I needed another option to win more business, so I began offering staging services, which took off thanks to all of the new construction in my area. Eventually, Showhomes branched out into home restyles and updates, a part of my business that I'm starting to grow."

Salas attributes her sustained success in the South Florida market over the last decade to the relationships she's been able to form with realtors in her area.

"They've grown comfortable working with me and referring me to their clients, which has generated a lot of repeat business for me," Salas said. "A lot of the realtors I work with have been partners for nearly 10 years. As their business has grown, I've been able to grow with them."

It's clear this strategy has spelled success for Salas' Showhomes business—she was recently named Franchisee of the Year at the brand's annual conference in August. A testament to her stellar work ethic and also her modesty, Salas said the award was "unexpected" and recognized her team as the lifeblood behind her franchise's strong performance.

"I have a great team of people in sales and marketing and design that have allowed me to focus more on the business aspect of our work, which, in turn, has resulted in substantial growth," Salas said. 

What drives Salas in her work with Showhomes most of all, though, is thrill she gets from helping her customers move on to a new part of their lives. 

"Our work plays a very important part in helping homes sell quickly, which gives people the chance to close a chapter of their lives and begin a new one," she said. "The greatest joy in my work is the accomplishment that comes when an owner tells me that their home looks so great, they want to move back in."

As far as advice goes for new and prospective Showhomes franchisees, Salas again pointed to how important hiring a reliable team with diversified skillsets is to establishing expertise in each of Showhomes' offerings and ultimately, long-term growth. She also recommended tapping into the franchisee community for the support that she says guided her in the beginning.

"What I find with Showhomes is that we really are a community that helps each other out," Salas said. "I remember when I started, other franchisees were generous with their time and it made all the difference. Now, I find people are looking up to me, and it's incredibly touching and rewarding."

Showhomes Home Manager-Turned-Franchisee Nancy Jones Turned Her Passion For Design Into a Booming Business

Nancy Jones was first introduced to Showhomes while working as an interior designer at Thomasville Furniture in Charlotte, North Carolina. After accepting an unanticipated promotion to district manager in Florida, Jones and her husband, Robbie, were presented with the challenging task of having to find a new home fast.

When Jones swiftly stumbled upon a gorgeous Florida home she was ready to call her own, she and Robbie thought it was too good to be true. Lo and behold, the home happened to be a Showhomes home, which, to both of their surprise, soon became a pivotal point in their careers. After moving into that first home and forming a relationship with the Florida Showhomes franchisee in the process, the Joneses decided to become home managers with Showhomes, which meant living in and maintaining luxury homes in show-to-sell conditions for the brand.

"I had a great experience living there," Nancy reflected. When her job took them to Michigan and then Robbie's job eventually brought them back to North Carolina, the Joneses were figuring out what to do next when Nancy received a call from the Showhomes franchisee with which she'd worked previously, who told her that the brand was looking to add a franchisee to the very territory she currently occupied.

"I'd always wanted to buy a franchise, and when we met with the team back in 2014, we instantly fell in love with the business model powering the brand," Nancy said. "Learning that in addition to the experience we had on the other side of it as home managers, it all made sense."

Fast forward to now, and Jones is an award-winning franchisee in the Showhomes system; beyond receiving the Rising Star Award in 2015, she's been named a three-time Circle of Excellence Award winner, a three-time President's Award winner, won the Shooting Star Franchise of the Year recognition in 2017 and has served on the Showhomes Franchise Advisory Council for four years running.

Nancy attributes their immediate success to a combination of Robbie's construction knowledge and business acumen and her furniture and design background, noting that it was the perfect transition into her duties as both a home manager and franchisee.

"Knowing the scale of furniture appropriate for the size of the room and the design aspect-we can help select paint colors, lighting, flooring and countertops-has helped to transition our business model to include a lot of home updates and renovations. We're now able to hit on all three markets: buyers, sellers and those wanting to make a change in their home style, which has allowed us to increase our revenue streams as a result," Nancy said.

The way the Joneses see it, starting as Showhomes home managers prior to becoming franchisees was extremely beneficial to their business because it helped pave the way for a smoother transition into the lifestyle the brand is asking people to live.

"It's not for everyone; you have to be willing to move with 30 days notice. We're still home managers, and we've moved 11 times in 4 years," Nancy said. "But we keep doing it because it's such a successful program for the franchisee, the home manager and the real estate agent all at once. Our experience helps us when we're screening people to become home managers to know the right questions to ask."

As far as her favorite part of being a Showhomes franchisee in The Triad, North Carolina goes, Jones harkened back to her design roots and how she's been able to apply them in her new career.

"I'm an update and renovation kind of girl at heart," she said. "I love the design side. For me it's about making a difference; it sounds cheesy, but seeing people happy in the place they come to rest and knowing we've helped someone get to their next chapter-be it buying, selling, or changing up their space-for me, it's all about making a difference there."

Showhomes Franchisee Shares Top Colors and Trends for Home Design This Spring

For over three decades, the Showhomes franchise system has helped sell more than 30,000 high-end residences to the tune of $10 billion by transforming them into fully-furnished, welcoming homes through staging.

One of Showhome's greatest staging secrets to success? Staying on trend.

Whether it's a modern home or one with a rich history, every vacant property benefits from updated staging.

"You have to stage accordingly. I'm getting ready to stage a house built in the 1920s, and people who like that house are not necessarily going to like modern furniture," said Cindi Stringer, a Showhomes franchisee in North Carolina. "But if you make it look too period, it will feel dated. I'm going to mix traditional furnishings with some that are on-trend to achieve the look I want."

Stringer, a retired nurse, has been a Showhomes owner for a little over eight years. To keep ahead of decorating trends, she frequents events such as the High Point Market, the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, and is currently enrolled in an online interior design class. Showhomes also offers design certifications and shares many helpful insights at annual conferences.

For Showhomes franchisees that have a flair for design, home staging can be a way to show off their creativity in a way that has tangible results. "It's a lot of fun to see a house come together, and so quickly," said Stringer.

Spring Color Trends

Neutrals are a key element of all interior design. They serve as a blank canvas on which to add personality. "In staging, we put a neutral color on the walls so that anybody's furniture will look good in the room," explained Stringer. "Even with our bigger pieces of furniture, we stay pretty neutral."

For the last seven years, Stringer said, most neutral palettes have been shades of gray, but now the hues are turning softer.

"Colors are popular for around a ten-year timeframe, so design experts are starting to trend away from gray and more toward creamy white and taupe," she said. "We'll still see grays, but they'll be softer, like Benjamin Moore's 2019 Color of the Year, Metropolitan."

Showhomes staging experts then incorporate pops of color to add life and interest to the room. Adding vibrancy through artwork, throw pillows and in rugs and drapery can go a long way. This spring, designers are gravitating toward soft oranges, soft blues, forest greens and even black.

"For these pops of color, we are looking at the colors of the year, like Pantone's 2019 Color of the Year, Living Coral, which is a softer orange," said Stringer. "We're also seeing Craven Clay, which is kind of like a terra cotta color, but again, softer. Leather can take on that color well."

While navy dominated the market last year, this year, it's also getting a "makeunder," as demonstrated by Behr's Color of the Year, Blueprint. A calming and toned-down gray-blue, Blueprint is nearly denim. Along the same lines, earthy greens are going to be big this spring as tastemakers look toward a more natural aesthetic.

Stringer tips her hat to Joanna Gaines of HGTV's "Fixer Upper" fame for bringing black into vogue. "With the modern farmhouse revival-where everything is white and black-we're seeing black windows, shower frames, kitchen cabinets or islands, especially among people in their 20s and early 30s," Stringer said. "You can't overdo it, but black is really trending."

Spring Materials Trends

Rose Gold, a metal that's been trending in everything from iPhones to engagement rings, will be popular in decorating this year-and it can be paired with other metals.

"Previously, if you wanted to use silver, you'd want everything to be silver," said Stringer, adding that softer brushed gold will also continue the momentum it has built over the last couple of years. "Now, it's very okay to mix and have silver and gold in different areas of the same room."

With the trend towards a more natural aesthetic, decorators can also expect to see plenty of wicker, rattan and other earthy fibers coming into vogue this spring in the form of accents like baskets. On an even more natural note, plants have long been a beneficial method of bringing a little more life to a room, too.

Spring Decorating Trends

With the rising popularity of decluttering and simplifying, minimalism is trending this spring more than ever. Stringer notes that this pared-down style has always been a traditional staging staple, but this spring, keep an eye out for a twist. "This year, we're trending toward allowing some personal touches to remain in the staged home-even family photos. Buyers don't want it to be a sterile model home; they want it to be welcoming," she said.

Natural light can open up a room and make it feel much warmer, and as the weather turns sunnier, this is especially crucial. Stringer recommends avoiding heavy drapes and positioning curtain rods to extend out from the window so opened drapes are pushed completely over the walls. "Use beige or white panels only, and they should be floor-to-ceiling," she added.

Stringer says that while clean furniture lines have been popular for several years, specifically sharp-cornered mid-century modern pieces, spring trends are moving more toward softer frames and edges. This also lends itself to a more comfortable, lived-in staged home that's attractive to buyers.

Making A Great First Impression

Incorporating trends works perfectly to update spaces, but a little classic upkeep and attention can go a long way this spring as well. Stringer says to make sure the home's exterior is power washed, the landscaping is mulched and weeded, walkways are swept, the front door is freshly painted and the hardware works as well as it looks.

"You have eight to 15 seconds from the time someone walks in the door to really wow them," she said. "They'll have an immediate emotional attachment if they love it. If they find things that aren't quite right, they'll say 'I can deal with that.' But if they're in a negative frame of mind from the beginning, everything becomes an unsolvable problem."

Have an eye for interior design and enjoy staying in the loop on all the latest trends? Find out more about franchising opportunities with Showhomes at https://www.showhomesfranchise.com/.

The 8 Biggest Eyesores in Your Home-and Genius Ways to Hide Them (Realtor.com)

Those essential but utilitarian home items, such as electrical cords, radiators, and AC units, aren't exactly the prettiest room features. But you can't really rip them out-especially if you're a renter.

So what's a decor-conscious homeowner to do?

Well, we've got good news: A few cheap and clever moves will allow you to conceal them from view. Here are eight less-than-attractive hot spots and genius ways to cover them up.

1. Plaster cracks

Photo by JWT Associates

This one's easy: Turn this problem area into an asset with nice-looking paper.

"You can add an accent wall in a pattern that can't be achieved with paint-and wallpaper is long-lasting and durable," says Dan Schaeffer, owner of Five Star Painting in Austin, TX.

Or try removable or decal wallpaper, suggests Drew Henry of Design Dudes: "It's easy to put up, hides the cracks, and peels right off when it's time to move," he says.

You can also look to greenery to mask these spots.

"Hanging potted plants from the ceiling or mounting them to a wall over a crack would be an especially good solution for a renter who's unable to do an apartment renovation," says Katie McCann, an organizer with Haven.

2. AC unit

Sometimes it's wise to draw the eye away from a sore spot, rather than try to mask it, says Shelley Barndollar of home staging company Showhomes. For instance, she was once charged with staging a home that contained a very old, rusted air-conditioning unit right outside the window.

"When you walked into the room, it was the first thing you noticed," she recalls.

To fix it, she placed a seating arrangement near the room's entrance to distract from the unit. The AC was still visible if you walked over to it, but the conversation area made up for it by luring eyes in another direction.

3. Control panels and thermostats

Photo by Jessica Forbes Interior Stylist

Artwork is your friend when it comes to concealing knobs, temperature controls, and other boring gadgets attached to walls. Consider a bright tapestry, a photo gallery, or a piece of sculpture to hide these items.

"Specifically, take a look at artwork that's a bit raised off the wall so that if the area is uneven, you won't notice," McCann suggests.

4. Old radiators

Photo by Архитектурная мастерская Акант 

Here's a double play for a radiator that's less than aesthetically appealing: a folding screen. Henry says you'll be hiding this spot while also adding interest to the room.

Or, try a metal cover or custom box to cover the radiator-or a sized-to-match piece of wood or marble that can handle the heat, recommends Denise Palmer of Piper Classics.

"Use the space on top as a shelf for books, faux plants, or seasonal decorations," she says.

But you don't have to cover radiators up at all. Even this tangle of metal can be beautified, says Sara Chiarilli, an interior designer with Artful Conceptions.

"We have had such a resurgence of historical buildings and design today, so I would not hide these," she says.

Instead, scrape off the old paint and add a fresh coat. It'll make a big difference.

5. Bulky TVs

An armoire with doors is the classic way to hide the boob tube, but there are newer options, including a piece that allows the TV to drop in and then be pulled out when in use.

"The prices on these have really come down, making them much more affordable," Chiarilli says.

Or you can always install a pull-down map in front of the TV or hang a canvas over it, Palmer adds.

And here's another clever pro tip: Make your TV part of your decor.

"One of the most creative ways that we've seen to hide a TV is to create a tonal wall blending the black rectangular shaped TV into a wall lined with black and white prints and photos," Palmer says. (Check out this lookfrom blogger Kelly Elko to inspire your new aesthetic.)

6. Open closets

Photo by Luke Gibson Photography

Simple tension rods with a plain curtain can hide myriad of eyesores, including your shoe closet, home office supplies, or a washer and dryer, notes Sarah Hollenbeck of Offers.com.

7. Modems, routers, and other internet gadgets

Photo by Rikki Snyder 

"While these boxes are necessary, they aren't always the most aesthetically pleasing," Hollenbeck admits.

To hide one, cover the item with decorative paper or removable wallpaper and then place it in a stack of books.

8. Dangling cords

Photo by The Cabinet Shoppe 

If you're on a budget, there's a simple solution for your tangled mess of cords: Get cord covers painted to match your wall color.

Looking for something a bit more imaginative? "If the wall with your TV on it is relatively small, you could consider creating a pallet or shiplap wall to cover up the cord and add an interesting design element to your home," Hollenbeck suggests.

Forecast on the 2019 Home Staging Market

The time is ripe to invest in Showhomes.

A stable economy and a real estate market that consists of homes taking a longer-than-usual time to sell mean that business will be booming for the home staging market in 2019.

Showhomes Chief Operating Officer Matt Kelton recently attended the 2018 Realtors Conference & Expo in Boston and cited information presented by Lawrence Yun, the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS. The real estate market, Kelton learned, is seeing stable growth with no housing bubble. Home prices will also see modest growth, with about 4.7 percent growth in 2018, 3.1 percent growth in 2019 and 2.7 percent growth in 2020.

"Inventory and shortages will still be an issue but we're starting to see inventories pick up," Kelton said. "That's good for us because one of our struggles is a lack of inventory."

For Showhomes, inventory refers to the number of empty houses that are awaiting sale.  

"We talk to franchisees around the country, from California to Florida, and we're beginning to see that inventories are increasing," Kelton said. "Homes are taking longer to sell. There are regional differences. Boise, Idaho, for example, is booming because people are moving from California. For the most part, though, I'm hearing the same thing across the board, that inventories are getting higher and taking longer to sell and that can be a good thing for us."

Kelton has been with Showhomes for 12 years and the industry has come a long way in that time. More and more people are interested in home staging, which can provide a higher return.  

"There are lots of statistics out there indicating that show homes sell 90 percent faster than a vacant home and for 15 percent more," he said. "Staging brings up more money in a faster period of time."

Kelton said half of his phone calls used to consist of him having to explain the concept of home staging. He said that 95 percent of people are finding homes online, so homeowners who don't play what he refers to as "the beauty contest" can have a harder time selling.

"Home staging is now a known commodity and an expected thing," he said. "People understand it's become part of the real estate industry."

Showhomes sees regional variations. Santa Fe, New Mexico, Kelton said, is the most unique market the company has seen.

"There are differences in terms of specific buyer types and international ownership," Kelton said. "Clearly the designs in the Midwest are different from Phoenix, Arizona or Orange County, California."

Catherine Chandler is a Showhomes franchisee in Portland, Oregon. She purchased her Showhomes franchise in April of 2017 and opened it in August of that year.

It was a timely decision. She noted that Portland is seasonal like any other real estate market, but a little less so thanks to a lack of snow and ice that plague other parts of the country.

"The Portland market has been on fire for the past couple of years," she said. "It's starting to happen now where the rising interest rates and the general increase in the number of properties available are returning our market to what's a little more normal."

Population growth in Portland, she said, is "massive" due to the high number of people moving there from California. She noted that Portland is still one of the most affordable cities on the West Coast.

"What the expectation is for 2019 is a return to normal where you list your house, some people look at it and a sale is not going to happen immediately," she said. "That's a really good thing for our industry."

The home staging market in Portland, she said, is also a highly-established one.

"People here understand the value of staging," Chandler said. "There are some fantastic staging companies that are already here and that are well-respected on the national stage. I've gone to national conferences and a lot of the people I've met are in Portland's staging market."

Such an established presence makes the job simpler for Chandler.

"Both homeowners and real estate agents understand the importance of staging and that it really does work," she said. "What that's meant to me, starting a new business, is that I don't have to sell people on the concept of staging. I just have to sell myself and Showhomes."

The wave of demand for home staging has already started in Portland.

"People are more receptive to staging but they are also more receptive to doing what they need to do to sell their home," she said. "Stagers here have talked about seeing an increase in business in what is supposed to be the slow time of the year. That will probably continue."

A strong real estate market and multiple revenue streams make Showhomes a great franchising option in 2019.

"We do makeovers for existing homes, homes updates and minor remodeling," Kelton said. "We're the only company that has this broad menu as being a full-service staging company and design organization. We're getting a bigger and bigger market share."

What ultimately sets Showhomes apart from the competition is the company's Home Manager program, in which the company has executives living in homes that are for sale. This helps the house have a homier, more lived-in look when prospective buyers come to see the house.

"When a home is vacant and has that empty house smell it can be a weird stagnant feeling," Kelton said. "If buyers walk through the house and see food in the pantry, for example, and smell home cooking, we can usually sell that home faster. You're trying to get someone to fall in love with a home and it's very much an emotional aspect."

Kelton expects that 2019 will be an excellent year for the home staging market and for the Showhomes brand.

"When you look at the consolidation and the inventory levels that will be increasing, you're seeing more and more of a need for staging," he said. "The demand is there. This is an extremely under-served market in a fragmented industry. We see this increasing as far as a demand for the general public. It's really a good time to join Showhomes. This is a big time for us, as we mirror the traditional real estate market."

Five Tips for Staging Your Home During the Holidays

It's that time of the year when holiday decorations come out of storage, are dusted off and showcased throughout the home. Though homeowners are giddy to step up their holiday game, people with homes on the market may need to take a different approach. Showhomes Houston and San Diego owners, Shelley Barndollar and Lisa Gulliver, shared five pieces of advice for homeowners that are staging their home for a sale during the holiday season.

Take Staging Photos Before the Holidays

While your home may go on sale during the holiday season, it may stay on sale past this time of the year. So, the home should not scream, "HOLIDAY SEASON!"

"You don't want Christmas photos of the home showing up in June," said Barndollar. Instead, she advises that all homeowners take their staging photos without holiday decorations and with more neutral decor.

Try to Defer from Showings on Holidays

While the real estate industry works 7 days a week, 365 days a year, it's in the homeowners' best interest to defer showings on a holiday. While this is sometimes impossible to avoid because home buyers may only be available for a short period of time, homeowners should try to avoid holidays.

"In the event that a Realtor schedules a showing on a major holiday, the homeowner should still accommodate them," said Gulliver. "If you are in the middle of meal preparation or clean up, try your best to straighten up the kitchen and turn the stove down, and then go for a short walk to let them show the property."

Replace Every Day Decor with Decorations, Don't Add On

"When you are placing any new holiday decorations throughout the home, it's important to remember to replace them with your ever day decor instead of adding them to the existing decor," said Barndollar.

She goes on to explain that if you just add on to the shelf with more decorations, things will look cluttered which can make the home seem smaller. Instead, just swap out the existing decorations with small, festive accents to really dress up the home

Stage Presents, Don't Put Real Ones Out

During the home sale process, potential home buyers from all over are walking through the home, going through closets and checking out each area of the home. Security should always be top of mind. During the holiday season, this sense of security should be amplified.

"You don't know who will be walking through your home," said Barndollar. "Make sure to stage your holiday presents. I would wrap four to five different sized boxes and have them under the tree, but don't put your real presents under there."

Barndollar further explains that you don't want people seeing how many gifts you got and to potentially walk off with one of them.

Keep Decor Elegant and Simple

"As you decorate, it's best to keep the staging of the home in mind," said Gulliver. "When it comes to tree placement and additional decorations, remember that less is more."

Bardonllar adds, "Don't go overboard. It's great to have a tree and garland over the fireplace, maybe just one or two really special tchotchkes that are non-denominational and tasteful. Keep all of your decor to a minimum."