This weekend a very nice couple is moving into one of my listings in Carmichael California as "home managers." They have put the utilities in their names, their responsibility is to keep the home and yard showing-ready, and I no longer have to worry about protecting the home against vandalism or going over to water the lawn, sweep the patio
or try to get the lawns mowed and windows washed!
The home managers will stage the home with their own pre-approved furniture, and they must leave the home for showings with no more than 1/2 hour notice (instead of the 24 hour notice that true renters require). They will leave for three hours for open houses. They also know that they could be asked to move within 48 hours when a sale is ready to close (although I think I could give them a bit more time than that).
These home managers came to me through Vacant Home Caretakers, a company that has been in California only a relatively short time, but that has been in Washington state for years. It is a great way to get a house staged to show more easily than if it were vacant, and there is a much smaller chance of suffering vandalism. It makes the neighbors feel better too.
Vacant Home Caretakers had the place cleaned, including cleaning the carpets, and hired gardeners to come out and clear weeds and trash from the back yard, trim shrubbery and roses, and mow the lawns.
So how much did all of this cost me or my seller? Nothing! The whole service is free to the seller and Realtor. The home managers pay rent to Vacant Home Caretakers at a rate that is from 1/3 - 1/2 the usual going rate, and they pay all utilities while they live in the home. Since this home is a short sale where the parties are divorcing and are already paying utilities at two other residences, they have had trouble paying the utilities current at this home. Now they don't have to worry about that.
These home managers just sold their local home and in about 5-6 months they plan to move back east. This works well for them because they don't have to sign a lease somewhere, they are saving money, and they will be able to keep more of the proceeds of their sale for their cross-country move.
This is such a great program that I don't think I will ever allow one of my listings to sit vacant again. This might not be the way for everyone to stage a home to have it look as gorgeous as a professional stager can make it, but for a short sale where the sellers are unable to pay for any services, this is ideal.
Our local TV news station, KCRA, found out about it and Friday afternoon they came out to my Carmichael California listing and interviewed the home managers, a representative from Vacant Home Caretakers, and me. They also taped footage of the property. I'm not sure yet when it will air, but if I get a copy of the segment, I will post it.
By the way, for any of you around the Sacramento area, the interview will air on the Monday evening news at 6 PM on KCRA 3 TV.
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For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916) 705-8951 or visit my website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.
