Hello Tampa Bay -

Agrowing trend was mentioned in an article from the Florida Association of Realtors this week, in home managers and stagers.  One local company that has been recommended by other agents from my office with great success stories (thought not yet used by us) - is www.showhomes.com

Depending on the type of home for sale (clearly not beat up short sales or foreclosures) a live in manager can be a terrific way to help keep a home show ready and in tip top shape.  The company handling it charges reduced rent to require the in home manager to keep it immaculate, be ready to vacate for showings on a short notice, and deal with the staging and lack of personalization (aka neutral) and decore provided by the home staging company.

This can be a win win for all parties.  The home owner turns their home into a model and ensures it doesn't deteriorate.  The home staging companies also claim higher prices and quicker sale times.  The tenant gets cheap rent in exchange for following their guidelines.  The agent doesn't have to deal with the "condition" objections and can help sell the home quicker at a higher price, and the staging company gets paid for providing a valuable and effective service.

This market has made it clear that the homes selling for the highest price and the quickest are those that are priced the most aggressively and in the best condition.  If you are looking to sell a luxury home, we would love to help you utilize staging or an in house manager to maximize getting the best value.