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Renter, house sitter, and stager all rolled into one

If you leave a comment, Jim will visit your blog and leave a comment. If you are very mobile, have tasteful furniture, are adept at taking care of a house, both inside and outside, and have always dreamed of living in a high-end home (mostly million-dollar homes), this just might be your opportunity.

Quality First Home Marketing, operated by Mary Heineke, rents vacant homes at a discount. The caveat is that the renters must stage the home so that it looks lived in but must also maintain the home -- inside and outside -- in "show-ready" condition for buyers and agents.

Renters must have the ability to furnish the home with tasteful furnishings and live in it as if it were their own, including paying all utilities. However, they have to be ready to move on a moment's notice when the home sells. Rents typically are waaaaaaaaay under market, and the home owner continues to pay mortgage, property taxes, and fire insurance.

Interestingly, not only does Quality First Home Marketing perform background checks and credit checks, but they will Google the applicant, as well as check out their Facebook or MySpace pages.

Appliancants, known as "house managers," must initial 29 items of an independent contractor services agreement, of which the first requirement is to keep the home in "market to sell" condition. That means that whenever the house manager leaves the home, the beds are made, the dishes washed and put away, floors and carpets clean -- a place for everything and everything in its place.

Additional provisions include no pets, no smoking indoors, no garage sales, no leaving town for more than 72 hours with notification, and no contact with the owner or leasing agent.

If you're mobile and looking for a place to live, contact Quality First Home Marketing. Tell them Jim Frimmer, Century 21 Award Realtor, sent you to them. They are not far from me right here in La Mesa.

*****

Need help buying or selling a home in San Diego County?
Moving here to work on Stimulus Bill projects?
Visiting and would like a vacation home here?

I can help you find the best just the right home or just the right buyers
to meet your real estate needs, wants, and goals.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

*****

My most recent 20 posts (they'll open in a new window):

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Posted by Jim Frimmer, San Diego Mission Valley Realtor on 05/11/2009 07:59 PM

Comments (17)

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17 Comments on Renter, house sitter, and stager all rolled into one

MAY

Jim, what an interesting concept! It would give a tenant the opportunity to live in some very nice homes and neighborhoods.

Hey, Silvia.

It does. What are million-dollar homes now were multi-million dollar homes three years ago. The have ocean views, cool bathrooms, orange and avocado groves, etc. I'm was tempted to apply myself until I saw the "no pets" clause. Can't be without my Zoey the Cool Cat.

This is something different. I wonder how many people take advantage of something like this.

MAY

Sounds pretty good Jim. Think they take pets, big pets?

What an exciting idea! Thanks for sharing this. I'd love to do this!

Hey, Jim. I have heard of this before and thought that it makes a lot of sense. Thanks for sharing, Jim

Hey, Joan.

From what I understand, she has a backlog of applicants. If I could pay just $800 a month in rent like many of her house managers do and live in a multi-million home with ocean views, I suspect I would. Such rents are usually up in the $5,000 a month range.

Hey, Jack.

No pets, not even large ones or blind ones. That's why I'm not jumping all over this opportunity. I couldn't leave Zoey the Cool Cat.

Hey, Janice.

So are you moving down here then, or are you going to start something like this in your area? There seems to be a good demand for it here, especially for people like airline pilots and flight attendants.

Hey, Jim.

We all know that staging works, or selling an occupied home over a vacant home, so this does seem like a natural, especially for bigger properties that can look so overwhelmingly empty as one walks through those 10,000 square feet.

Great blog, thanks. Timely service, a win win. Have a great day. Elaine in Placer County

I have seen a little of that here and must say it's definitely an improvement over a vacant home! The one here seems to allow outdoor pets. If it weren't for my fourty kids.... (okay 3), I'd love the chance to move so often! I hate being settled in one place!