Scam Artists Prey on Owners of Vacant Homes For Sale in Down Market

Home Staging Company Employs Live In Caretakers to Protect Homeowners and Sell
Homes



As foreclosures continue to spike and the number of vacant homes on the market
for sale spirals higher, homeowners are increasingly vulnerable to companies
that peddle questionable services or outright scams. 

Thomas Scott, vice president of operations for Showhomes, the country`s largest
home staging company, says conditions are ripe in the foreclosure and high-end
housing market for exploitation, where such a high percentage of vacant homes
are lingering on the market for a year, two years or more. He encourages
consumers to be on the alert. 

"These are really scary times for owners of vacant homes," Scott says. "Almost
daily, we read in the paper about vandalism, theft, parties in vacant homes,
expensive repairs and plummeting property values that come from leaving homes
vacant and for sale. In some cases we`re seeing fly-by-night companies moving
home squatters into vacant properties in the hopes of wrestling possession of
the home from the owner. It`s unbelievable." 


Vacant home damaged by vandals in Phoenix

"Letting a home sit empty is a recipe for disaster," Scott says. "Home sellers
need reputable managed staging and live-in stagers more than ever these days." 

"The prospect of selling a home for 20-30 percent below its real value, and in
many cases waiting years for it to sell, is hard enough," Scott adds. "Now you
have to worry about sneaky scam artists trying to take advantage of distressed
homeowners." 

Showhomes, which currently has 56 franchises in 23 states, is having dramatic
success in today's tough real estate market with its innovative blend of
impeccable home staging and method of employing qualified people as live-in
caretakers to keep homes in show condition. It`s all above board - no squatting,
taking possession or scamming involved. 

And, it`s and remarkably effective. 


Home staged by Showhomes with Live In Home Managers

In a recent case study, homes in Chicago staged by Showhomes with live-in home
managers sold for 93 percent of the original list price when using home managers
to stage. Comparable homes left vacant for sale sold for 75-85 percent of the
original list price. Homes staged with home managers sold in 4-5 months and
vacant homes took well over a year to sell, if they sold at all. 


Showhomes - www.showhomes.com
Thomas Scott, 615-483-4923
VP Operations
tscott@showhomes.com