I know I probably sounded like I was just whining and complaining the last few times I posted - especially since I was admittedly coming from a place of frustration in dealing with a few homeowners who did not see the value of staging.
Interestingly enough, the quote that titles this post and the one a couple of weeks back is not in reference to my own thoughts. Those words belong to the homeowner I spoke with.
The entire quote was this: "I just can't wrap my mind around it. I own this property. I'm paying the mortgage. Why would I let someone live in the house while you collect the rent? It makes absolutely no sense to me."
Again (and this refers back to my previous post as well), this is where education comes in.
One of the biggest challenges I face is educating homeowners and builders about the Showhomes difference. Home Managers do pay a fee to live in the home, but that fee is not rent and they are not tenants.
An understandable concern - especially with new construction - is that the people living in the house will damage it in some way that will devalue the property. Homeowners and builders have visions of stained carpets, scuffed floors and knicked walls.
But they needn't worry.
Think about the responsible homeowners that you know. How many of them treat their homes that way? (Emphasis on responsible homeowners.) How many people really take pride in their homes? How many people - in any price range/tax bracket/income level - have homes that are well-decorated and always neat whenever you drop-in?
Not everyone, of course, but quite a few, right? Those are the people we hire as home managers - people who understand the importance of clean living and good taste.
We are extremely selective. Because we are not a property management company whose primary goal is to quickly fill a house and hope we can collect the rent, we take our time to find people who meet certain stringent criteria. We care as much about our brand and reputation in the local market as homeowners care about their properties.
If we filled our homes with careless slobs and stubborn squatters, that would damage our reputation and devalue our services. Such an approach would benefit no one, so it is always in our best interests as well to make sure that home managers meet our very high standards.
Showhomes offices charge a fee that is high enough to ensure that we engage qualified home managers. These are not people with 'renter's mentality'. They are not people who would carelessly break things or throw wild parties. They are not people who would camp out on the property and refuse to leave when it sells. They are not people who would sabotage efforts to sell the home just so they get to stay.
They are usually people who have owned, could own, or do currently own their own high-end homes, but for various reasons choose to temporarily occupy a Showhome.
Perhaps they are relocating and would like to get the lay of the land before making a permanent commitment to a particular neighborhood. Perhaps their own luxury home is being remodeled or renovated. Perhaps they have undergone a life change like divorce and are considering their options - like whether to stay in the area or move away and they don't want to be locked in to a six or twelve month lease.
Temporary housing options can be pretty sub-standard and limited. In a lot of markets the only options are weekly motels and cramped apartments or crummy small houses for rent. Home managers are responsible people who are used to higher standards. We offer them an alternative to these inferior arrangements and they are willing to follow the rules in exchange for the opportunity to live the lifestyle to which they are accustomed.
For them it is a fair trade off.
Staging a home using a home manager is win-win for everyone.
The home manager gets to occupy a luxury home at a fraction of the cost without the constraints of a mortgage or long-term lease and the home owner gets a fully staged home at an affordable cost with no monthly fees.
What's not to love??
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