Synergy Staging - Home Staging in Portland Oregon Blog

Brightening Up a Dark Space - Before & Afters

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:52:13 -0600

One of our Realtors contacted us recently about staging her new listing - a classic home in Northeast Portland. This was a project with a small budget (don't be shocked!) and it definitely needed some help.

The walls were painted a deep burgundy giving the whole space a very dark and uninviting feel. The camera flash actually lightened up the room quite a bit, but in person it was very dark. We staged the Living Room, Dining Room, and Kitchen, all of which are visible from the moment you enter the home. First impressions are vital, especially in todays real estate market. Buyers will make an opinion within the first six seconds of viewing a home.

The original inlayed woodwork and details are gorgeous. It was important to brighten up the space to make it feel welcoming so potential buyers didn't turn around as soon as they walked in. We used light furnishings, decor, and 3 lamps in the Living Room.

Here are a few before and after photos:

Living Room taken from the fireplace. You'll notice a massive mirror at the entry which couldn't overcome the dark space on its own.

Living Room taken from the Dining Room. The light furniture and decor made the space feel more cozy and bright.

The Dining Room wall was repaired and anchored with open backed light chairs.

The nook next to the stairway and one of four lamps used to brighten up the space.

For more information about this home please visit our Staged Listings page

or contact Ruth Canutt of RE/MAX Equity Group at 503-495-5204

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Join the Realtors, Investors, and Homeowners who call Synergy Staging to make their properties irresistible and sell fast! For more tips or to see our latest home staging projects, visit us on Facebook and read our Portland Home Staging Blog. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote so we can help your home sell faster.

Making a 60's Classic Feel Like Home

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:29:15 -0600

The owner of this home contacted Synergy Staging to warm up the vacant rooms and make it feel more cozy. This is a what you see is what you get property, meaning that we had to work with the spaces as is, including the wall paper. Even though we encourage our clients to make their properties as move-in ready as possible, sometimes it's just not possible for them to make any updates.

Here are some before and afters of the home:

This is the view from the front door. The room was wired for surround sound, so staging with a flat screen was important to the client.

This is a nook next to the kitchen with a fireplace. While you could show this as a breakfast nook, there is a dining room on the other side of the kitchen, so we opted to make this a cozy area where you could drink coffee or tea by the fire.

The upstairs had this funky open space, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. We staged the area as a master suite showing this space as an office.

The Master Bedroom felt much larger once it was furnished and staged.

For more information about this home please visit our Staged Listings page

or contact Shane Fogarty of Real Pro NW at 503-407-9521

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Staging a Newly Constructed 4 Bedroom Home - Before & Afters

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:50:50 -0600

Synergy Staging recently staged this beautiful newly constructed 4 bedroom home in Tigard, Oregon. The property is on a street filled with new houses and the Realtors knew that staging the property would help it stand out from the numerous others in the neighborhood.

One thing we discovered while staging the home was that the living room light in the ceiling fan didn't work. The room was quite dark and without that light it felt gloomy. We make it habit to keep a large supply of light bulbs in our staging supplies. Not just standard bulbs, but many shapes, sizes, and wattages. This particular light took small 40 watt candelabra lightbulbs which we had on hand. Wouldn't you know - it was one of the first things that the Realtor noticed when he saw the staging and he was very appreciative that the light was now working. It's sometimes the simplest things that go the longest way in lasting impressions.

Here are some before and after photos:

For more information about this home please visit our Staged Listings page

or contact Steven Rosling of Park Place Real Estate at 503-810-7691

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Apartment Staging Works! Vacant for 7 Months - Rented 1st Day After Staging

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:08:28 -0500

As I've blogged about before, home staging isn't only for properties that are being sold. Staging works for all types of properties. We've had a 2 bedroom model unit staged at a large apartment complex marketed to the 55+ demographic. All the units have been rented and we were asked to move our staging to a 3 bedroom unit. They had been unsuccessful in renting this newly remodeled vacant unit for 7 months.

Last Saturday we moved our staging out of the 2 bedroom model and did a new staging design for the 3 bedroom unit. We used most of the furnishings that were in the 2 bedroom model, and enhanced the design with some additional pieces. The unit rented on Sunday. That is only one day after staging! And the apartment had been vacant for 7 months without an offer.

Don't be fooled by thinking that staging is a luxury expense only for homes in a certain price range that are for sale. Staging is a sound investment that can help potential renters see how they can live in a unit, just like potential buyers looking at a home purchase. Staging lets potential renters envision a lifestyle that they can have. Staging is not just for sellers anymore!

Here are a few of the Before and After photos:

Spacious Living Room with a great view. Potential renters weren't sure how to configure this large space.

The oversized Dining Room is the first thing you see when you walk in the apartment. It is so overwhelming - it almost looked like the ballroom! We used a large rug to cover some of the tile and a substantial dining room table with 6 chairs to make it feel more inviting.

The kitchen was beautifully remodeled and just needed some special touches.

Once a sophisticated bed was brought into the Master Bedroom it felt like the retreat someone would want to come home to.

The Master Bathroom was small and dark, but with some nice accessories and art, it felt much warmer.

For more photos of this 3 bedroom apartment visit the Portfolio page on our website

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Staging Benefits All Price Points - Even Those Under $100k

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:40:58 -0500

We stage all types of properties - single family homes, condos, townhouses, apartments, and multi-million dollar listings. Staging is an important factor for any listing. Buyers are looking for move-in ready homes priced well. Staging helps buyers see how they can live in a home and helps them emotionally connect to the property. These are the homes that are consistently selling the quickest.

Synergy Staging just staged a one bedroom condo listed for under $100,000.00. This is probably the lowest priced unit that we have staged, but what a difference it made. The investor understands the impact of staging, and also completely updated the unit with new countertops, cabinets, appliances, carpeting, etc. It really shines! We are hoping for a quick sale on this one.

Here are a few Before and After photos:

For more information about this beautiful unit visit our Staged Listings page

or contact Diana Hinrichs of Oregon First at 503-475-7892

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Staged Home Sold in 2 Hours - Unstaged Homes on Same Street Still Available

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:42:05 -0500

Synergy Staging was recently contacted by another investor who had just purchased a home at auction. This was a small single family home in a nice neighborhood, however, there were several other homes on the same street for sale with the exact same floorplan. The investor believed staging would set her house apart from the others. We agreed, and it turns out she was right!

We staged the home and also replaced all the knobs on every cabinet and drawer throughout the unit to update the look from the original hardware.

The home had multiple full price offers only two hours after being listed with a few additional backup offers. Even in the current real estate market, there is nothing that can compare to staging a home and appropriately pricing it that will result in a faster sale.

Here are a few Before and After photos.

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This vacant home was professional staged by Synergy Staging. Join the Realtors, Investors, and Homeowners who call us to make their properties irresistible and sell fast! For more tips or to see our latest home staging projects, visit us on Facebook and read our Portland Home Staging Blog. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote so we can help your home sell faster.

How a Home Sold in Only 7 Days

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:35:30 -0500

Synergy Staging recently staged this beautiful home in Tualatin, Oregon. After only 7 days on the market the home has an accepted offer and is scheduled to close.

The owners understood the impact staging can have in this challening real estate market. They took the three most important steps before listing their property.

1) The property was prepared very well. The home was professionally cleaned (carpets, windows, interior) and looked immaculate. There were no outstanding cosmetic issues or eyesores that distracted from the home.

2) The property was professionally staged. A staged home always looks better than a vacant home. This is a business of first impressions and staging creates the right atmosphere that welcomes potential buyers.

3) The property was priced appropriately for the neighborhood. There is no use in chasing the market with price reductions if you start too high. Correctly pricing your home before it's listed will garner the most impact and attention when it goes active.

These three important factors can result in quick sales even in the midst of the current economy.

Here are a few of the photos:

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This vacant home was professional staged by Synergy Staging. Join the Realtors, Investors, and Homeowners who call us to make their properties irresistible. For more tips or to see our latest home staging projects, visit us on Facebook and read our Portland Home Staging Blog. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote so we can help your home sell faster.

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon? I'll Wait Until After It's Listed! Final Part with Video

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:53:11 -0500

Deciding to have your home staged in Portland, Oregon is one of the most important considerations as you begin the process of selling your home. It may be tempting to sell "as is," but buyers are currently looking for move-in ready homes and are more likely to buy one that is staged. We've heard many home owners say they'd like to put their house on the market before having it staged to see how it goes. And then they'll try staging if it doesn't sell. Guess what?

The best time to stage your property is before it goes on the market. Buyers, as well as Realtors, form their impression of your home just seconds after walking through the door. First impressions are everything. Also, the internet has become the primary tool for buyers in search of the perfect home. Flyers and websites need to have photos of your staged home to create maximum interest. Photos of empty rooms or of over-furnished and cluttered rooms can put off buyers and reduce interest in the property.

And home staging statistics show that staging your home for sale will result in a faster sale. See this example of a house we recently staged that was staged, listed, and closed in under 20 days.

A few more things to keep in mind:

Realtors recognize staged homes as premium listings, resulting in more showings and more offers. Appraisers are more likely to assess staged homes at full value.

So make sure your home is staged before your first Open House in order to give yourself every edge and capitalize on the interest of a new listing. Trying to regain the momentum of a new listing is very difficult and many potential buyers may already be looking at the new houses coming on the market.

This post is Part 6 in a series answering Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon?

Previous posts can be found here:

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? I Watch HGTV! Part 1 in a Series

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? I Already Decorated It! Part 2 in a Series

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? My Pictures Are Fine! Part 3 in a Series

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? My Home Looks Bigger Without Furniture! Part 4 in a Series

Why Hire a Professional Stage in Portland Oregon? I Chose the Colors Myself! Part 5 in a Series

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Join the Realtors, Investors, and Homeowners who call Synergy Staging to make their properties irresistible. For more tips or to see our latest home staging projects, visit us on Facebook and read our Portland Home Staging Blog. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote so we can help your home sell faster.

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon? I Chose the Colors Myself! Part 5 in a Series

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:13:42 -0500

Neutral wall colors! You've probably heard this over and over again. But what if you've painted the rooms in your house your favorite color and think it looks great! Certainly everyone else will like your favorite color too, right?

Well, it's possible some might, but there is a major difference in what you think looks good and what will appeal to the widest possible range of potential buyers. A professional home stager can provide a color consultation prior to staging and recommend the best color scheme for the rooms in your house.

While the common rule-of-thumb is to go neutral when selling your home, color can look okay, but an empty home with bold colors will never provide the best chance for a successful sale.

Here are a few examples of rooms that we color consulted and then staged.

This bright lavender child's room with a border was too specific to be a selling feature in this home. By painting a neutral color and using furniture already in the home, the room was warmed up and no longer an eye sore.

The forest green made this office feel dark and small. With a light blue wall color and rearranging the owners furnishings, the office is much more inviting and looks far superior for on-line photos.

This master bathroom was painted by the owner. While it is important to surround yourself with colors that you like when you live in a home, selling a home is a different story. By removing the teal, the bathroom now feels like a retreat which helped sell the property faster.

This dining room was painted rose which is a very specific color that distracted potential buyers. Once staged, the color is no longer the focus of the room as the furnishings tone down the color and feature the elegance of the space.

These simple examples not only demonstrate the difference in specific versus neutral color, but also the importance of how your rooms will look on line. With over 80% of buyers searching on line before requesting a showing, photos are more important than ever.

This post is Part 5 in a series answering Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon?

Previous posts can be found here:

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? I Watch HGTV! Part 1 in a Series

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? I Already Decorated It! Part 2 in a Series

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? My Pictures Are Fine! Part 3 in a Series

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? My Home Looks Bigger Without Furniture! Part 4 in a Series

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5319 SW Natchez Street, Tualatin, Oregon - Staging Photos

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:41:34 -0500

I've been so consumed with blogging my series on Why Hire a Professional Stager? that I've neglected to post some pictures of one of our recent stagings.

This is a beautiful property in Tualatin, Oregon, just outside Portland, in an incredible neighborhood. It's a fully updated home with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths with tremendous appeal. Hope you like the photos:

For more details about this home please visit the Staged Listings page on our website.

For more information about this property please contact
Cindy Westfall of Prudential NW Properties at 503-819-5241

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Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon? My Home Looks Bigger Without Furniture! Part 4

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:25:44 -0500

We've heard that anywhere from 90% to 95% of potential buyers cannot visualize their furnishings in an empty room. Even if that number is lower, why allow a buyer to question something about your home that can be easily answered?

A professional home stager can help define a room with the proper placement of furniture. This will not only allow the focal points and architecture of the home to be featured, but also provide a natural flow from within the room so buyers can understand just how they can live in the house.

Furniture defines a room in more ways than one.

A small room feels larger once it is properly furnished because your eye has something to relate the space to. Some buyers may think that they can't fit their furniture in an empty room as they generally imagine their furniture is larger than it really is. Staging demonstrates the scale of furniture in the space so buyers aren't left to wonder.

This very small guest room, directly off a living room, looked like nothing more than a passthrough when it was empty. A lounger with just the right scale and nightstand allows a buyer to see exactly how the room can be used with no more guessing. It simply did not look like a bed could fit in the space before it was staged.

This small loft was advertised as a bedroom, but there was not a bed in the room and it seemed too small. Using a bed from another room in the house, this space was transformed into the bedroom that it was being marketed as.

On the other hand, an oversized empty room can feel overwhleming and buyers are often concerned about what to do with the space. Staging can make these large spaces feel more livable and cozy once furnished. It can also provide a creative layout to the space that shows the full potential of the room.

This large great room had two focal points, a fireplace and built in tv stand. It was important to accent both, while still keeping the room cozy and intimate. By creating several sitting areas the room felt warm and inviting.

This was a unique project in that we were called in to only stage the master bedroom because everyone who had viewed the house didn't know how to fit a bed in here due to the awkward floorplan and sloped ceiling. Not only did a bed fit, but we put in king size bed and a sitting area, in addition to a dresser which is not in the photo. After this room was staged, not one potential buyer questioned the layout.

On average, staged houses sell faster and for more money. Why? These examples are just one of the reasons. Don't let your potential buyers wonder - Will my furniture fit? What do I do with this room? Confusion and questions hinder a sale - beautiful staging which allows buyers to connect emotionally with the property enhance a sale.

This post is Part 4 in a series answering Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon?

Previous posts can be found here:

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? I Watch HGTV! Part 1 in a Series

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? I Already Decorated It! Part 2 in a Series

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? My Pictures Are Fine! Part 3 in Series

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Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon? My Pictures are Fine! Part 3 in a Series

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:47:31 -0500

According to the National Association of Realtors, 87% of home buyers find a house online before requesting a showing. This is a staggering statstic that reflects just how much the landscape of real estate has changed over the past few years. Every home seller should be aware of this important fact. Online photos are more important than ever before.

It's not enough anymore to show a picture of the front of your house, the backyard, the empty living room and a bedroom. Or worse yet, a cluttered room or distracting photo. Nothing shows you don't care about the marketing of your home more than a poorly taken photograph. But what type of picture really sells a home?

NOT THIS

OR THIS

A professional home stager knows how to work with your space so it will look good not only in person, but also in photos so buyers will actually come to your property. If they are turned off by the online photos, you've lost a potential buyer. Don't let that happen. Here are the same two rooms after being staged.

The rooms are now defined, look inviting, and will not turn buyers away. Strong colors can also be a deterrent to buyers. Staging will help tone down the colors and make them feel more inviting.

Don't list your property without reviewing your online photos and ensuring they show your property in the best possible way. It's an easily avoidable trap that can save you thousands of dollars.

This post is Part 3 in a series answering Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon?

Previous posts can be found here:

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? I Watch HGTV! Part 1 in a Series

Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? I Already Decorated It! Part 2 in a Series

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Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon? I Already Decorated It! Part 2 in a Series

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:30:27 -0500

Many of us have heard the familiar phrase - staging is not the same as decorating. Simply put, decorating is personalizing a space to suit a particular taste. Home Staging is de-personalizing a space and making it appealing to the widest range of potential buyers.

As Home Stagers with our own personal sense of design, we strongly encourage everyone to live in spaces they personalize and decorate the way they want to live. However, when selling a home, the exact opposite is true. If owners put their homes on the market in the exact condition they like to live in, 99% of the time it will not give them the best edge in marketing their home.

Remember this when selling your home:

Never let a buyer looking at your home ever think about you! What are you like? Why are you selling? Aren't your kids cute? You go to that type of church? What a beautiful antique - my grandmother had that! You get the point.

When you are selling your home you want potential buyers to see the space and imagine themselves living in it. Once you distract a buyer with personal items that take them away from thinking about your house, you made an easily avoidable and potentially costly mistake.

Here is a bedroom in a home that was decked out in Victorian style with wallpaper in every room. By simply removing the wallpaper, painting a neutral color, and removing some personal item (lace on the chest, bed throws, period art, birdhouse, window coverings) the room is instantly more inviting and easy for a buyer to envision the space. And now there is even a view!

It's great to have a workout room, expecially if we use it! But not at the expense of a bedroom when selling your home. This is a downstairs master suite with a bathroom attached and a gorgeous view out the window of downtown Portland. Staging this room as it is intended allows a buyer to get a feel for the size and potential of this bedroom.

This space was used as an office, but can you imagine that the owner opted to face the corner with a wall instead of the amazing view of Mt. Hood out the windows? By simply rearranging the owners furnishings, the space becomes more intimate and features one of the major selling points of the home.

Talk about personal items! This before photo was taken *after* the owners thought they had de-cluttered and de-personalized the space. Artifacts from their trips around the world are a wonderful display when living in the home, but not when selling. A buyer would begin thinking about the stories of each of these unique and valuable items instead of the beautiful living room behind them. Simply staged, this wall now keeps buyers focused on the home, and not on the owner's international adventures.

Remember - a professional home stager sees your property through the eyes of a potential buyer, with the added experience and knowledge of how to best present your home. We view your home with no emotional attachment and can objectively help prepare your house for sale. And if you want to do it yourself, a cost effective Home Staging Consultation will give you all the tips and recommendations necessary get your home market ready.

This post is Part 2 in a series answering Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon?

Part 1 can be found here:
Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland Oregon? I Watch HGTV! Part 1 in a Series

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Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon? I watch HGTV! Part 1 in a Series

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:04:48 -0500

Are you preparing to sell your property and wondering - how can I make my home the best it can be? That question has never been more relevant given the current real estate market. Potential buyers are out there, but the inventory of homes on the market is at one of its highest points right now. Competition is fierce, and you want every possible edge in marketing your home.

You've seen all the staging and design programs on HGTV and perhaps think you can do it yourself. Keep in mind that it is difficult to capture all the staging techniques that are required to best prepare a home for sale from a television program. Home staging is most successful when done by an experienced professional who is familiar with your local market. Understanding the use of color, the importance of scale, and proper placement of furniture is key. A professional stager also has the ability to view your home as a potential buyer would without any emotional attachment to the property or furnishings.

Great Room 'staged' by Realtor

In the example above this large great room was 'staged' by the Realtor as they felt it was better than an empty space. A very small table in the large dining area and two stools at the kitchen pass through did not make buyers feel at home here and in fact makes the room feel worse than if it was empty. It really needed full staging as one of the major complaints was that buyers could not imagine what to do with the vast amount of space. Accenting the focal point which is a huge firepalce flanked by floor to ceiling windows and showing a great furniture layout is what this room needed.

This property sat on the market for two months with no activity before it was professionally staged.

Great Room professionally staged by Synergy Staging

By professionally staging the space the room comes alive and creates a sense of emotional impact that buyers are drawn to. An appropriately scaled dining room table now defines the space properly. The living room is now arranged as a space buyers can envision. Also, prior to staging, the fireplace was getting a thumbs down because of the unappealing brown paint tone and it was also overbearing in the space. Placing art the length of the fireplace makes the room feel grand and transforms an eyesore into a beautiful focal point.

Even though most homeowners wouldn't stage a house as the first photo shows, this example shows the dramatic difference proper staging can bring to a home. The investment in staging will pay off when the home is prepared well, priced right, and presented professionally. This home sold only weeks after it was staged.

This post is Part 1 in a series answering Why Hire a Professional Stager in Portland, Oregon?

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Staging Tip - How To Remove Dents From Carpet

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:17:34 -0500

I'm sure many of you stagers (and others readers) have come across a rug or carpet that has dents from a heavy piece of furniture sitting in place for a long period of time. What do you do when you want to use the rug in another home - or rearrange the furnishings in your own home?

You vacuum over and over and it seems to have no effect except making your back sore! Keep the vacuum out for later, but there is a secret step that will rid the dents once and for all...

That secret is ice!

Take an ice cube and place it directly on the dented area of the carpet. Now you'll need to wait until it melts. Once it has melted you should wait for it to dry. At that point vacuum the area where the dent is and the carpet should raise and look even again. If it is still matted down, you may need to pull up the carpet, but the ice will have loosened the fibers enough to do that.

For larger dents you may try using several pieces of ice, but try not to get the area overly wet so the carpet gets soaked.

We just staged a home with a rug that had had a dining room table on it for some time. We were now using it in the living room, and the coffee table was not large enough to cover the dents. We put ice on the four dents after we unrolled the rug. By the time we had the furnishings arranged in the room, the ice had melted, we vacuumed the spots, and the dents were gone.

Hope this secret works for you too!

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Join the Realtors and homeowners who call Synergy Staging to make their properties irresistible. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote.

Beautifully Remodeled Portland Craftsman - Before & Afters

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:38:33 -0500

There are so many unique homes in the Portland area, and we always look forward to the opportunity to stage these properties. This completely remodeled Craftsman is one of those properties that we fell in love with even before we staged it.

The small scale and layout of the rooms presented several challenges that you can see below. The living room has a small bedroom immediately off of it. The room also has a door that leads to a hall between the kitchen and bathroom. When it was empty the room felt like nothing more than an unusable pass through. By staging it as a guest room with a lounger to keep it more casual off the living room, the space was immediately defined and had a purpose.

The dining room was very small so we used a glass table to keep the space open. In order to keep a nice flow to the kitchen we had to center the table in the space instead of under the chandelier. We staged the table with a low bowl instead of a larger centerpiece which would have drawn attention to fact that the table was not centered beneath the chandelier.

We also staged the downstairs Master Suite which requires a walk through the laundry room and furnace area. It felt like a carpeted basement that had no warmth or connection to the rest of the home. The staging shows how cozy and inviting the room can be.

For more pics and details about this home please visit the Staged Listings page on our website.

For more information about this property please contact
John Loew of Real Estate Executives at 503-913-3688

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This vacant home was staged by Synergy Staging. Join the Realtors and homeowners who call us to make their properties irresistible. Please contact us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote.

Staging Another Foreclosure - Before and Afters

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:56:12 -0500

Synergy Staging was asked to stage another property for an investor that we've been working with recently. These homes have been flipped, moderately staged, and priced to sell.

This home is in the Vancouver, Washington area and has a great floorplan. I'll update with the address and price once it is listed later this weekend. Here are some before and after photos.

For more information about this property please contact
Kristin Riggs of Mal & Seitz Real Estate at 503-823-1409

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This vacant home was staged by Synergy Staging. Join the Realtors and homeowners who call us to make their properties irresistible. Please contact us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote.

Finishing Touches for an Occupied Home in Portland - Before & Afters

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:03:15 -0500

Synergy Staging recently staged a lovely home in the Beaumont neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. The owners had done a wonderful job of preparing the house for sale but it needed some finishing touches to make it just right.

The living room is very cozy, and their couch and television take up much of the space. By bringing in a low profile tv stand and a rug with muted tones that pick up the colors of the room, the space is more inviting. We also placed a mirror above the fireplace which now brings the focus of the buyers to the architectural feature in the room.

Needless to say, the apple green office was not going to be the best color choice for potential buyers. By painting a neutral color and removing the vivid colors, the room is more soothing and now can also be seen as a possible space for a guest to stay.

The dining room previously had a large table and china hutch that were overpowering the room. By bringing in a smaller table and using the owners chairs, the room is opened up and feels more inviting. The curtains were also removed which really brightened the space.

For more information about this charming property visit our Staged Listings page
and please contact Viola Wax of The Hasson Company at 503-805-4300

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This occupied home was staged by Synergy Staging. Join the Realtors and homeowners who call us to make their properties irresistible. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote.

Do You Bring Staging Options? Staging a Beautiful Laurelhurst Home

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:39:04 -0500

Yesterday Synergy Staging staged a beautiful home in Laurelhurst. This charming property is on a gorgeous street in a highly desirable Portland, Oregon neighborhood.

When staging most houses, certain rooms tend to present unique challenges due to either layout, color, architecture, or style. As a result, and to ensure our clients end up with the best results, we often bring several furnishing options to each staging project. As much prep work as you do off site, there is nothing quite like working with the furnishings in the actual space.

In this house we had several different staging plans for the spacious 2nd level master suite. This room had an area for the bed, a small nook, a row of built in seating under the windows and a large walk in closet. There was quite a bit of space in the middle of the room so we had several options to consider. We ended up staging a sitting area instead of the typical dresser and mirror scenario. This arrangement uses the space between the bed area and the window seating, making the room feel interesting and cozy, at the same time showing a potential buyer how they might utilize the space.

We staged the nook opposite the sitting area with a desk and chair. Although we had measured the space, it was possible that the furniture would look too cramped. In that case we would have moved the sitting area to this nook. The desk ended up working well in the nook and the sitting area now draws potential buyers focus to the lovely window views.

It turned out that our original plan worked, but we had several different chair options as well as a dresser in case the desk didn't feel right. This also impacted the amount of decor and art we brought based on the ultimate staging solution.

So do you bring one plan - hoping all goes well - or options that allow you design the space just right? While it takes more time, additional loading and unloading, the end results make it worth it for our clients.

For more information about this property please contact
Denise Spanke of Prudential Northwest Property at 503-212-2713

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This vacant home was staged by Synergy Staging. Let us make your property picture perfect both in photos and in person. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote.

Video Compilation of Some Best Occupied Home Transformations

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:09:17 -0500

Here is a new video that shows some of our best occupied home transformations.

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Let Synergy Staging make your property picture perfect both in photos and in person. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote.

Video Compilation of Some Best Vacant Home Transformations

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:24:05 -0500

We've started creating videos of some of our projects. Here is the most recent video that shows some of our best vacant home transformations. Click on "Facebook" in the upper left hand corner to visit our new Facebook page and become a fan! Hope you enjoy!

========================================================================================= Let Synergy Staging make your property picture perfect both in photos and in person. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote.

Staged, Listed, Sold, and Closed - in 20 Days!

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:09:49 -0500

This is a follow up to last weeks posting on July 9 Staging a Five Bedroom Foreclosure - Before and After Photos.

The home was staged on Saturday, June 27, then listed and open on Sunday, June 28. Shortly thereafter an offer was made and accepted. The home not only sold, but closes tonight - 20 days later. We de-staged the home today and look forward to working with the investor on their next property.

There is a magic combination of staging and price, prior to the first showing, that results in quick sales and happy clients. Yes - Staging Works!

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This vacant home was staged by Synergy Staging. Let us make your property picture perfect both in photos and in person. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote.

Are we staging what? I'm flattered...

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:21:05 -0500

Today we de-staged one of our favorite homes. It was built by a home builder who has been a great client of ours. He does absolutely beautiful work and we are pleased that this home sold after many months on the market.

While we were de-staging he asked if we had any homes on the Portland Street of Dreams tour this year. I was flattered that he thought our work could be presented on that level of design. I let him know that typically interior designers do those homes and often times work with high end furniture companies that are selling their furnishings. We're looking forward to going to the show this year, but no, we did not stage/design any of the homes. Maybe next year =)

Here's a few of the after pics:

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Let Synergy Staging help turn your property into one buyers will want to call their new home. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote.

Does Move-In Ready REALLY Matter?

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:15:55 -0500

While homes can certainly take longer to sell in the current market, home staging gives a property the edge it needs to succeed. Bringing in a professional home stager allows a home owner to understand how a potential buyer will see their home. Someone with a perspective and experience specifically geared to what the current buyer is looking for to ensure a home shows the best it possibly can.

We all know about de-cluttering, and de-personalizing, but more and more, the move-in condition of a home is additionally critical for a successful sale. If an owner is showing a home that needs work (from as simple as painting, to a cosmetic fix, to a major eyesore) they will be at a disadvantage from the first impression.

Bathroom re-painted and neutralized by Synergy Staging

Showing a bathroom without a mirror and backsplash won't increase the offers

Home stagers can point these areas out to a homeowner and help them make the changes necessary to create the most buyer appeal, hopefully before the home is on the market. Remember, if your home isn't move-in ready, chances are there is another one in the neighborhood that is. And competition has never been stronger.

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Let Synergy Staging help turn your property into one buyers will want to call their new home. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote.

Staging a Five Bedroom Foreclosure - Before and After Photos

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:12:00 -0500

Here is the another foreclosure property that Synergy Staging recently staged. This is a rare five bedroom home with a view in the Gresham area near Portland under $270k. With a modest budget only the impact rooms were staged, but the empty house was brought to life.

Here are a few pictures of the before and after results.

Living Room

Living Room - Another View

Dining Room

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

For more pics and details about this home please visit the Staged Listings page on our website.

For more information about this property please contact
Kristin Riggs of Mal & Seitz Real Estate at 503-823-1409

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This vacant home was staged by Synergy Staging. Let us turn your property into one buyers will want to call their new home. Please call us at (503) 557-2244 for a free no obligation quote.