That Lived-In Look

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For the cost of a one-bedroom apartment, aspiring actor Mills Allison is already living the life of a celebrity in a three-bedroom Hollywood Hills home.

But there’s a catch. Allison doesn’t know how long he will be able to live in the house. That’s because he is a temporary occupant, brought in by Designer Home Tending to make the otherwise-vacant property look lived-in for prospective buyers.

“It’s a space bigger than what I could normally pay for,” said Allison, who is not allowed to discuss his exact rental rate.

Designer Home was launched in 2006 in Boise, Idaho, by Cathy Cardenas, a former TV sales and marketing executive who figured that a lived-in home sells better than an empty one.

The concept couldn’t have been better timed.

Cardenas has since opened up six offices, including one in Los Angeles and another in Long Beach in January, as the busted housing market has left thousands of homes vacant.

“Demand in Los Angeles is coming up, and will probably end up being the biggest market,” Cardenas said. “There is such a great need.”

Brokers bring listings for no cost to Designer Home, which finds the temporary occupants and takes the discounted monthly rent as its fee (which might range from $1,250 to $1,500). Occupants must handle their own furnishings and utilities, and keep the property in model-home condition.

Real estate agent Ansley Thoma is using the service for a Toluca Lake home she is trying to sell.

“If I wasn’t there for seven days, there would be spider webs. But now there is someone in the property and it shows so well,” she said.

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