Designer HomeTending, a temporary and free occupant service for owners of vacant homes, has recently opened its Los Angeles office.

With additional offices In Las Vegas, Boise, Salt Lake City and Denver, Designer HomeTending provides experienced and pre-qualified temporary live-in managers to care for homes while on the market. The service is at no cost to the homeowner, real estate agent or builder and home tenders can live in mansions for a fraction of the cost. “Our concept has been proven in the markets that are realizing the effects of the economic and housing downturn,” says Cathy Cardenas, Designer HomeTending founder and CEO.

The live-in home tenders maintain the home and grounds and makes the home more   visually appealing to prospective buyers, safer for the neighborhoods and insurable. According to Designer HomeTending, homes sell 40 to 60 percent faster if professionally staged and cared for by subcontracted home tenders.

“Instead of showing a vacant, undecorated home, our home tenders create a model home look and feel, providing prospective buyers with the ability to visualize the home’s potential,” says Cardenas. And our home tenders are often assisted by a professional home stager to create the perfect selling environment.”

—Shari Barbanel