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But technically, it's not. The owners of the home southwest of Oakland moved out months ago and took their furnishings. An empty house, however, is hard to sell, said the owners' real-estate agent Barbara Vance.

"Selling a vacant house is like a woman trying to model without makeup," Vance said.

In order to create that "lived-in" look and feel, Vance contacted Showhomes Orlando, which provides both occupants and furnishings.

"We create the model-type atmosphere," said Jeff Smith, Showhomes Orlando director of operations.

As home sales have decreased, more real-estate agents have turned to home-staging companies such as Showhomes for help selling their listings, mainly those priced at $300,000 or more. Smith said business for the home-manager program, which had dropped as much as 60 percent in the mid-2000s, has rebounded in the past two years.

Who does it?

Showhomes, which started in Atlanta and is based in Nashville, Tenn., opened an Orlando franchise more than 15 years ago. Smith said its home-manager program attracts a range of participants: Single professionals who need temporary housing, empty nesters, renters at the end of their leases or those new to Orlando who haven't decided on a permanent neighborhood yet.

The Forsythes, both in their 50s, moved from Albuquerque, N.M., when John joined the morning crew on Magic 107.7 FM (WMGF). The couple didn't want to purchase a house without getting to know the area, and they didn't want to sign a long-term lease.

"It [the program] fits our needs," John Forsythe said.

The homes must be kept in "show to sell" condition, Smith said, and his company performs unplanned inspections. When a potential buyer wants to tour a home, which could be any day of the week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the beds must be made a certain way, dishes can't be in the kitchen sink and the home must be spotless.

Most of the time home managers can "live a life," Smith said. They can enjoy the amenities of their comfortable home by swimming in the pool or inviting guests over for a cookout. "We really don't want people to feel like they're in a prison."

When a home is sold, Showhomes moves its managers to another vacant home within 30 days.

Showhomes have placed managers across Central Florida — from a $1.3 million home on Bear Lake in Seminole County to a $595,000 home in Lake Mary.

Terry and Sharon Weyer live in a four-bedroom home off Markham Woods Road near Longwood with an open-air patio, a fire pit and pool. The home is listed for $600,000. Their fee is $1,400 a month, plus utility and upkeep costs.

In November, the Weyers moved from Wadsworth, Ohio. Terry, 60, is a semi-retired property manager, and Sharon, 53, is a nurse practitioner who teaches at Mountain State University's satellite campus in Altamonte Springs.