Jeannette and Michael Fair didn’t know what to do and didn’t have many options. A horrible economy mixed with an even worse housing market left them teetering on the edge of foreclosure.

“My husband had just lost his job and we couldn’t afford our California home anymore,” says Jeannette. Worried about the impact a foreclosure would have on their credit history, the Fairs opted to sell their home through a short sale process. A popular remedy in today’s troubled housing market, short sales allow homeowners, with lender approval, to sell the home for less than what is owed on the mortgage loan and allows the seller to avoid having their credit score hit with a foreclosure penalty.

“We were not allowed to buy a home for two years after the short sale process,” Jeannette says. As Jeannette and Michael hunted for a new place to live they came across an advertisement for the Showhomes Home Manager program.

“Just knowing that we could be where we wanted to be at a price we could afford was sound enough,” Jeannette says. “It is an equal balance. We love the area and know the house we are in will sell. The best part is knowing Showhomes has an inventory of other homes we can move to in neighborhoods we are familiar with.”

Home Managers since mid-May, Jeannette, Michael and their two kids are enjoying the perks of their new lifestyle. Living in a $1.25 million house in the gorgeous Palos Verdes area, the Fairs are able to move beyond the rough patch, save money and live near their friends.

“Obviously living in a home you couldn’t otherwise afford is a perk to the program,” Jeannette says. “I’ve always wanted to know what it was like to live in a home that is clutter free. You can’t just hide things away in the closet or garage.”

Like many other Home Managers, the Fairs loved going through their belongings and gathering only what they really needed. “It feels great to be so lightweight and organized,” Jeannette says.

With the help of Sandra Wick, owner of Showhomes South Bay, the family furnished their new place and got it in ready-to-show condition. “Sandra helped us design, it was all very fun.”

The Home Manager program is the key to Showhomes success. It gives homeowners peace of mind knowing that their property is less susceptible to vandalism, squatting and damage as well as gives homes a real-life feel for potential buyers.

Thrilled to find a housing solution that works and a place their kids love, the Fairs highly recommend the Home Manager program to flexible families who are looking for a unique opportunity.

“We always joke with our friends and call this our ‘summer home,’ but I really do feel at home here. The kids were quick to acclimate, the whole thing just feels right,” Jeannette says.

The Home Manager program has been a financial relief for the Fairs and could just be the solution you are looking for. Interested? Contact your local Showhomes franchise to find out more.

Franchising has long been a multi-generational affair but in these uncertain economic times even more families are turning to franchised businesses to create a secure future for their children, spouses, siblings and extended family members.

Donna and Rick Muelver are at the forefront of this rising trend. The Muelvers and their three oldest children — Wayne, Matthew and Elizabeth — co-own the family’s Showhomes Home Staging franchise in Southeast Wisconsin. The franchise flourished before the recession and continues to do well.

“We are creating the economic security our children need to function,” Donna Muelver says. “We all have the drive and determination to make our franchise work, and as family members we have 100 percent trust in one another. When a job needs to get done, it’s all hands on deck.”

Showhomes Home Staging routinely sees family business success stories, says Matt Kelton, Chief Operating Officer for the 25-year-old franchisor.

“We certainly see families pulling together and creating success across generations,” Kelton says. “It may be a frozen job market in the corporate world, but self-employment through the franchising business model is growing. It’s a proven and lucrative career path, perfect for the economic times we live in.”

Showhomes provides a twist on traditional home staging, using live-in Home Managers to occupy and help stage vacant houses so they are kept in perfect show condition. Showhomes whole house staging dramatically improves the speed and price of a home sale and with millions of vacant houses on the market, Showhomes is poised for additional growth.

The business model is attractive to families because it can be run from home – and even across state lines. Angela Blankinchip and Tammy Boothe are tied by sisterhood and business. They operate two Showhomes Home Staging franchises — Showhomes Mobile and Baldwin County in Alabama and Showhomes Pensacola in the nearby Florida Panhandle.

“We’ve been together in this since day one,” Blankinchip says. “Working together has strengthened our franchises because we complement one another. I’m strong on the business side, and my sister is good at marketing and promotion. Together we are unstoppable.

“We know each other so well, and it turns out to be an advantage,” she adds. “We have children, so we can be flexible about scheduling demands and family obligations. I’m convinced our success is more than our talents; it’s also about our family bond. We want the best for each other no matter what.”

The strength of family-owned businesses is well documented. “A tight-knit managerial circle, and the flexibility of related – and deeply invested – employees, has been proven to make a (family) business resilient,” concluded journalist Christine Lagorio researched in an Inc. magazine tutorial in 2010.

“It also can confer a significant competitive advantage and impress customers, who appreciate knowing they’re dealing with someone who cares deeply, and who has the same surname that’s on the letterhead,” Lagorio says.

Showhomes Home Staging’s business model and a family-run business is a powerful combination.