Why Franchisees Are Reinvesting With Showhomes Home Services

When the housing market got hot in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for staging homes wasn’t the only home service that drastically increased. Customers were needing more than just a staged home to look good for open houses, bridging a new type of customer to the forefront. Due to that demand, Showhomes Home Services capitalized on its position as an existing leader in the industry to differentiate itself even more by expanding its service offerings to include not just home staging, but renovations, short term rental designs, furniture rentals and interior design to satisfy a new niche and serve as a one-stop-shop for the residential real estate market’s design needs.

Two franchisees who seized the opportunity to expand offerings within their own franchise locations are Catherine Chandler in Portland, Oregon and Marisa Salas, who is based in Miami, Florida. Although the franchisees are on two different coasts in two completely different cities, they both decided to tap into the growing demand for new home services in their local communities. Now, they’re operating multiple Showhomes units.

Why Showhomes Home Services Franchisee Catherine Chandler Capitalized on Expansion Opportunities in Portland

When COVID-19 made the world stop spinning in March 2020, Showhomes Home Services franchisee Catherine Chandler braced herself for what was to come. She knew it would be hard to keep the doors to her business open, but she was willing to do whatever it took to ensure she came out the other side of the pandemic.

“It really was touch-and-go for a while,” she said. “But part of the reason we were able to survive during the pandemic was because there were homes being listed in other nearby areas during the pandemic; homes that were out of territory.”

As Chandler was landing new clients outside her designated territory in Portland, she knew that it only made sense to look at an expansion plan. Chandler took on new clients through a strategy initiated by the pandemic that made it easier to officially open an additional Showhomes unit.

“The real motivation for doing this now is because we had already started to build the brand in the new areas,” she said. “But now that things are picking up all over the place, it makes sense to expand with the funds and availability on-hand. If you’re already working there, then you might as well build on that success.”

Chandler is grateful for the support that she receives as a Showhomes Home Services franchisee, especially as she is expanding.

“One of the reasons I chose Showhomes Home Services while we were shopping for franchises was the family feel,” she said. “There are franchisees across the country who are there to support you. It’s not a competition, it’s ‘how can we help’ and that’s also a big reason why I felt so confident expanding.”

With her five year anniversary around the corner with Showhomes Home Services, Chandler is looking forward to continuing providing for clients in the Portland area. Her territories now include the West side of the city, the South side, and the Southeast side, covering almost two-thirds of the city.

Chandler said she’s excited to see how her Showhomes Home Services units expand and continue to help clients in the Portland area, while becoming a one-stop-shop for the residential real estate market.

How Marisa Salas Pivoted During the Pandemic, And Expanded Her Showhomes Home Services Franchise With New Offerings

On the sunny beaches of Miami, Florida, Showhomes Home Services franchisee Marisa Salas first got involved with Showhomes Home Services over 12 years ago, finding herself attracted to the brand’s concept of the home manager position.

“The theory was the home manager provided all the furnishings and there were no out-of-pocket expenses,” she said. “It was a way of running a business without a huge investment in inventory.”

In the last 12 years, however, Showhomes Home Services has evolved as a brand and Salas has evolved as a business owner. In fact, Salas has gone from home manager with Showhomes to offering staging, updating, restyling, interior design and a newfound passion for offering tenant rentals.

Tenant rentals came about during the pandemic when clients moving into high-end homes and condominiums were looking to arrive at their new home only needing to bring themselves and groceries.

“COVID forced me to go in a different direction with my business,” she said. “I turned to offering tenant rentals for those who were coming to stay in Miami for six months to a year.”

This meant that Salas was furnishing and decorating homes for high-end renters who preferred to have the homes fully furnished so everything was ready when they got off the plane. She provided everything from televisions to furniture and dishes to everything in between.

“I gave them everything they needed in the home to pick-up and start living there,” added Salas.

Throughout the pandemic, Salas also picked up other services that she now offers to clients.

“I started doing interior design work for clients whose previous homes sold and now they’re moving into new homes,” she said. “I’ve been hired to restyle and shop for their new property.”

While it doesn’t seem like a lot, Salas said she’s proud to be able to help clients who trust her to make their new homes look well-decorated.

With the Showhomes Miami location now part of her portfolio, Salas said she expects to do a lot more business in the city and the beaches.

The brand is looking forward to the growth that’s ahead, as the company marches into 2022 with growing territories, locations and a rebranding that will make it the go-to for all home services needs in the residential real estate market.

"We couldn't be more excited to have existing franchise owners like Marisa and Catherine expanding alongside the Showhomes Home Services brand,” said Matt Kelton, COO for Showhomes Home Services. “Our brand is only as successful as our franchisees, and having our owners taking on more territories is a sign of growth. We're looking forward to continuing to expand alongside franchisees like Marisa and Catherine as we head into the new year."

The estimated initial investment to own a Showhomes Home Services franchise ranges from $77,400 to $119,500. This includes a $49,900 franchise fee. To learn more about franchising with Showhomes Home Services, please visit https://www.showhomesfranchise.com/.