Extreme Home Staging Spotlights Human Props From NPR

by Carolyn Beeler
August 18, 2010

Bill Worthington calls himself a human prop. He seems more like an enthusiastic tour guide. Worthington is walking around his $1.5 million Princeton, N.J., home, like a proud owner.
"Look around the kitchen here," Worthington says. "It's essentially a brand-new kitchen, with high-end appliances, brand-new cabinetry ...
But he doesn't own the place, or even know the
owner. He was hired as a "house manager" to live in the property. He moved in with his own furniture and bought some new items to fill out the expansive white brick colonial. He pays a monthly fee of $1,500 to live in the house, a fraction of what the mortgage or rent on the property would be.
"I'm living high on the hog for not a lot of money," he says.
The catch: He has to keep it immaculate. The house must be ready to show prospective buyers at a moment's notice. He can't leave any toothbrushes out in the bathroom, shoes in the entryway, or dishes waiting to be washed in the sink.

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