myvacanthouse.com Makes A Home

A property portal with a difference has just launched in the US. myvacanthouse.com is an interactive national resource connecting individuals or banks who have vacant homes for sale with live-in stagers who will furnish and maintain the home while it is for sale.

It’s like making an empty house into a home, by having a cross between a paying tenant and a free housesitter live-in.

myvacanthouse.com takes advantage of the rise in foreclosures, and vacant dwellings, as well as the desire many renters have to reduce their expenses. According to a statement from the company, the US Census Bureau estimates that there were 2.3 million vacant homes on the market at the end of 2008 and the number is likely to grow.

The company says that a vacant home still costs the owner money, and can be a target for vandals. So having a manager live-in helps cover the costs and act as a deterrent to criminals.

Ultimately, the aim is to turn the vacant house into a “model home” to make it more appealing to home buyers. The live in stager – also called a home manager – enjoys reduced rent in a great home in exchange for keeping the home in show condition. They can find homes for rent at a fraction of the going rate. And what’s more, myvacanthome.com claim that having a live-in manager also benefits the neighborhood as a whole.

The concept is not new but myvacanthouse.com claims it is the first nationwide online service that acts as a central resource providing the opportunity for the homeowner or bank to connect with the home managers or stagers.

Vacant houses are listed on the site (without the address) and prospective house managers browse the vacant houses for rent and also post a profile about themselves and, obviously, agree to move out when the house is sold.

All postings on myvacanthouse.com are free until April 30th.

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