It’s no wonder that this most recent recession has sparked some new ideas, even in the troubled real estate market. If you’re having difficulties selling your Chicago condo or Chicago home, consider this new real estate trend that’s popping up all over the country, and was recently featured by Chicago Magazine and The Wall Street Journal.

Rather than show your vacant Chicago home, hire someone to temporarily live in your Chicago home. This person, known as a “home manager,” provides the furniture, decor, groceries, and that lived-in look sellers love. The managers keep the house tidy during certain hours, bring their own insurance, and maintain the  garden or lawn. They must also be willing to move at a moment’s notice, but for their troubles, they are generally compensated with discounted rent and a bonus if the home sells within 90 days.

Companies like the one featured in both articles, can help you find and place your temporary guest, but so far the payoff seems worth it.

So how is this idea affecting Chicago real estate? According to Chicago Magazine:

about half of the 35 Chicago-area homeowners approached by the company about a year and a half ago signed up for the service; their homes have sold for an average of 93 percent of their asking prices. The homes belonging to the sellers who declined the service are all still on the market, and their asking prices have dropped on average by 15 percent.

The Wall Street Journal article also points out that homes “staged” with humans tend to sell faster than a completely vacant house. Additionally, this new form of staging has proven to work better than the traditional form, sans humans. “Unoccupied staged houses aren’t selling as well as those with people in them… ‘because people can still tell they’re vacant.’”

It seems odd to think that a few homemade touches can make all the difference in a seller’s mind. Here are the reasons why :

• Buyers automatically deduct $15,000 to $50,000 in their minds if they view a luxury Chicago home without furniture.
• Sellers looks desperate to sell if the home is vacant.
• Buying a luxury home can be an emotional process. The more you excite a seller’s senses, the better response they are likely to have.

Some house managers even bake chocolate chip cookies (courtesy of The Great Depression) prior to a showing so the house is filled with the aroma. Talk about exciting the senses.

While this innovative technique has shown progress, it is generally recommended for high-end luxury Chicago homes or Chicago condos from $2 million and up.

That said, there are plenty of ways beyond simply keeping your place that will appeal to potential buyers. You want to make sure your place seems like a comfortable home, but also like a place they could put their own signature stamp on; for instance, prospective owners should be able to feel like your place could be their home. Therefore, it is best to give your space a neutral feeling – if you have walls or carpets that are unusual or bold colors, it is probably best to change them before you attempt to sell your property. In addition, “statement” pieces of furniture or artwork can distract buyers from the “bones” of the place and the potential it holds for them.

Moreover, the way you stage your home should show off its structural features, especially any unique elements like bay windows, unusual layouts, decorative moldings, or any other reasons that make your Chicago condo stand out from the masses. It is important to remember that most buyers are looking at lots of different homes during their property search, so yours needs to be memorable – in a positive way – if you want to sell your home successfully.

Last but certainly not least, if you are selling your Chicago home, you should talk to your real estate agent about the best possible way to stage your property – an experienced agent will know the best possible way to present it to prospective buyers.

Check back tomorrow for the top ten staging tips from a Chicago real estate agent.