Franchise News Release: Charlotte, NC - (Aug-30-2006)

Showhomes Franchise Expands Charlotte Services to Lake Norman

Showhomes, the leader in adding value to vacant home sales, today announces that Robert Pila and Dana Brigman have purchased a Showhomes Franchise to complement the existing Showhomes-Charlotte office and provide expanded service to the rapidly growing Lake Norman area north of Charlotte, N.C. The couple has extensive real estate knowledge and property management experience with lifelong connections to the Charlotte area-and will provide Lake Norman homeowners and Realtors® with a turnkey package of services to help sell vacant homes faster and at higher prices. According to a July 18, 2006, USA Today article, the Charlotte area enjoys one of the strongest housing markets in the nation. However, the Charlotte market is seeing some signs of slowing, as is true nationwide. Current MLS statistics show the area's average home sale price is approximately $458,000, with 88 days on market.

Showhomes focuses on an under-served real estate niche: vacant house sales. Even in a healthy market, vacant houses typically stay on the market 60 to 90 days longer than comparable furnished homes and sell for 10-20 percent less, according to a survey conducted at the National Association of Realtors conference. Showhomes restores this lost value by providing whole-house furnishing, staging, and a home manager to keep the home in show-to-sell condition seven days a week.

"Showhomes helped me sell my personal home that had been on the market-vacant-for more than a year," said Donna Forrest-Johnston, Top RE/MAX Executive Realtor in Charlotte. "Within two weeks of the date the Showhomes home manager moved in, we had three offers and ended up selling at 95 percent of list price."

Showhomes home managers add value to vacant listings by maintaining homes in show-to-sell condition. In return, they enjoy living in desirable, high-end homes for fees comparable to moderate rental rates and agree to move out when the home is sold. Home managers also pay utilities and save homeowners other carrying costs, such as inflated insurance premiums on vacant houses.

Recently, Showhomes supported Realtor Tom Ingram in selling one of his listings. "The home sold for $875,000 on a contract signed only three days after our home manager moved into the home," said Henry Graham, Showhomes-Charlotte franchise owner. "Lake Norman is a prime market with many large estates and enormous potential to repeat this type success story. Rob is a hard-charging real estate professional with the energy to deliver the high level of service this region deserves," notes Graham.

Dana Brigman, who holds a bachelor's degree in math and computer science from UNC Pembroke and is employed by Microsoft Corp. Robert Pila is the owner of Pila Properties, LLC an independent broker of Keller Williams Realty, a Charlotte real estate sales and property management company.

"As experienced real estate professionals, Dana and I saw a tremendous need for Showhomes services in the Lake Norman area," said Pila. "For us, Showhomes was the ideal opportunity to provide a unique kind of value to the real estate community."

Lake Norman's 520 miles of beautiful shoreline, easy access to major interstates and proximity to Charlotte, the nation's second-largest banking center, make it one of the most sought-after places for companies and their employees to locate. Nearby Mooresville, known as Race City USAT, is home to a number of racing teams and related companies.

About Showhomes
Since its founding in 1986, Showhomes has helped Realtors and homeowners sell more than 23,000 homes worth more than $8 billion across the U.S. by transforming vacant houses into valuable homes. The Showhomes business model is based on the fact that well-furnished homes kept in show-to-sell condition sell faster, and for higher prices, than vacant houses. Showhomes provides homeowners and their Realtors a turnkey package that includes whole-house furnishing, professional decorating, staging, a live-in home manager and marketing support services.

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