1851

<a href="https://www.showhomesfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-of-showhomes-most-successful-franchisees-uses-practice-to-give-back-to-her-community-2710478" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Showhomes</a> franchisee Barbara Bliss has always fostered a love for selling luxury homes. As a real estate agent on Chicago&rsquo;s North Shore, Bliss was able to turn her natural intuition for design into a flair for home makeovers and flipping houses. Eventually, her expertise led her straight to <a href="https://1851franchise.com/showhomes" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Showhomes</a>.&nbsp;

After working in the North Shore real estate market, Bliss noticed that many of the area&rsquo;s homes were utilizing the Showhomes brand for staging. As a real estate agent, Bliss had used Showhomes staging to help her listings sell faster but when the opportunity to purchase the franchise came up in 2004, she jumped on it.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Showhomes offered a perfect marriage of my love for flipping houses and real estate,&rdquo; Bliss said. &ldquo;Normally, it is very hard to put all aspects of real estate and house re-sale into one basket.&rdquo;

Since jumping at the opportunity, Bliss has been bringing her expertise to the brand for an impressive 15 years&mdash;with a collective total of over $175 million in properties sold. Bliss attributes this success to a combination of her sales background, her love of real estate and <a href="https://www.showhomesfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-of-showhomes-most-successful-franchisees-uses-practice-to-give-back-to-her-community-2710478" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Showhomes&rsquo;</a> unique business model, which offers a combination of home staging, makeovers and updates.&nbsp;

&ldquo;In this market, you have to do everything,&rdquo; Bliss said. &ldquo;Gone are the days of just putting your house on the market. While house staging used to be optional, sellers now have to do everything it takes to sell these houses, and the smart ones are coming to us. The great thing is that because real estate agents know our value and continue to recommend us, the company builds its own momentum.&rdquo;

As Bliss explains it, the North Shore is an ideal market for her Showhomes franchise. For one, North Shore is a densely-populated area that features many luxury homes. Also, due to the struggling market, Midwestern homes can often stay listed for long periods of time, making Showhomes&rsquo; services invaluable to the sellers. If a house does not sell right away, the company is able to utilize that time for their home staging. This, along with the brand&rsquo;s unique service of <a href="http://www.showhomesnorthshore.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-of-showhomes-most-successful-franchisees-uses-practice-to-give-back-to-her-community-2710478" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Signature Home Managers</a>&mdash;a practice of live-in home executives&mdash;ensures that the houses are as perfect and functional as can be when presented to the potential buyer.

&ldquo;Experienced real estate agents know that a beautifully-staged home tends to sell faster than a house that is not,&rdquo; said Showhomes Chief Operating Officer Matt Kelton. &ldquo;Vacant houses are often perceived to have a lower value than homes that are staged. Showhomes provides customized staging solutions tailored to each home, including design and decorating by staging professionals, whole house staging or partial home staging.&rdquo;

Showhomes has proven to be a perfect fit for Bliss, whose love of renovating homes to fit in line with today&rsquo;s trends has allowed her to oversee the entirety of Showhomes&rsquo; North Shore market. &ldquo;I love the design aspect of helping buyers visualize what an ideal house can be, whether that is through painting a living room or selecting furniture,&rdquo; Bliss said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s satisfying because we provide assistance to our clients during one of life&#39;s biggest decisions.&rdquo;

Beyond the business, Bliss has also been able to use her experience with Showhomes to benefit the community. This past June, Showhomes organized a <a href="https://patch.com/illinois/lakeforest/calendar/event/20190623/564469/showhomes-exclusive-historical-home-tour-festival?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-of-showhomes-most-successful-franchisees-uses-practice-to-give-back-to-her-community-2710478" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">historic house tour</a> in the North Shore area, showcasing three landmark Showhomes rarely available for public viewings as a way to raise money for local charities. The proceeds from the event went to support the <a href="https://www.roberticommunityhouse.org/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-of-showhomes-most-successful-franchisees-uses-practice-to-give-back-to-her-community-2710478" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Roberti Community House</a> and <a href="https://www.bravowaukegan.org/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-one-of-showhomes-most-successful-franchisees-uses-practice-to-give-back-to-her-community-2710478" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Bravo Waukegan</a>.

&ldquo;Showhomes does all of the marketing for the historic house tours,&rdquo; said Bliss. &ldquo;It allows the franchisees to contribute to the community by donating to charities that specifically help at-risk kids by giving them unique opportunities.&rdquo;

Bliss&rsquo; favorite part of being a Showhomes franchisee is being able to make a difference. Whether it be providing a smoother transition from one home to another, or using the brand to add to her community, Bliss has found the deepest satisfaction in providing for others.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Success is great, but being able to give back is by far my favorite part of working for Showhomes,&rdquo; Bliss said. &ldquo;If I can make a difference in people&rsquo;s lives, that&rsquo;s really what matters.

How One of Showhomes’ Most Successful Franchisees Uses Practice to Give Back to her Community

1851 Franchise

How Showhomes franchisee Barbara Bliss used her passion for beautiful homes to give back to her community on Chicago’s North Shore.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

how-one-of-showhomes-most-successful-franchisees-uses-practice-to-give-back-to-her-community

TruBlue Home Service Ally

From Corporate to Franchise: How TruBlue Empowers Career-Changers To Become Business Owners

from-corporate-to-franchise-how-trublue-empowers-career-changers-to-become-business-owners

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne’s Chicken Fingers Announces New Mission Bend, Texas, Location Opening in May

laynes-chicken-fingers-announces-new-mission-bend-texas-location-opening-in-may

United Water Restoration Group

United Water Restoration Group Hosts 4th Annual Owner’s Conference

United Water Restoration Group Hosts 4th Annual Owner’s Conference Focused on Marketing Innovation and Franchise Owner Growth

uwrg-2025-owners-conference-recap

Woodhouse Spas

Photo of exterior of Woodhouse Spa location

Woodhouse Spas Fees: What Do I Get for My Investment?

woodhouse-spas-franchise-fees-and-support

Paris Baguette

Photo of Paris Baguette cake featuring layers with cream and berries, topped with fresh berries

The Bakery Café Industry Is Booming, and Paris Baguette Is Leading the Charge

bakery-cafe-franchise-paris-baguette-opportunity

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

House Passes Tax Relief Package With Key Benefits for Small Businesses and Franchises

house-passes-small-business-tax-relief-bill-2025

McDonald’s To Hire 375,000 Workers as It Prepares for Major U.S. Expansion

mcdonalds-to-hire-375000-workers-as-it-prepares-for-major-us-expansion

Subway Pushes Global Growth Despite U.S. Closures 

subway-pushes-global-growth-despite-us-closures

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Abid Khan and Paris Baguette logo

Longtime Tim Horton’s Franchisee Signs 4-Unit Agreement with Paris Baguette in Toronto

longtime-tim-hortons-franchisee-signs-4-unit-agreement-with-paris-baguette-in-toronto

franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Brianna and Matt Fitchett, Seniors Helping Seniors logo

Nonprofit Leaders to Bring Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise to East Bay, California

nonprofit-leaders-to-bring-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-to-east-bay-california

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Steve & Mia Kim & Paris Baguette logo

After Falling in Love with Paris Baguette, This North Carolina Couple Decided To Open One of Their Own

paris-baguette-franchise-charlotte-nc

Iowa Family Blends Craft Beer and Gourmet Pizza Through Voodoo Brewing and Pizza World Partnership

voodoo-brewing-pizza-world-partnership-jordan-sanders

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Car Sales Taught Buddy's Home Furnishings’ Mitchell Lee the Secrets of Franchise Development

how-car-sales-taught-buddys-home-furnishings-mitchell-lee-the-secrets-of-franchise-development

The Top 20 Cleaning Franchises to Invest in for 2025

top-cleaning-franchises-to-invest-in

The Top 20 Handyman Franchises To Invest in for 2025

How One of Showhomes’ Most Successful Franchisees Uses Practice to Give Back to her Community

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS