Home > Blogs > David Peterson > Synergy Staging - Home Staging in Portland Oregon Blog

From Foreclosure to Fantastic Listing (with highest towel bar ever) - Before and After Photos

By David Peterson

Home Stager with Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging

July 06, 2009 03:27 PM

In this challenging Real Estate market, there are still many opportunities to be found for investors. Synergy Staging was recently brought in to stage a foreclosed property that was being turned around very quickly for sale. Although the budget was tight for the quick turn over, we were glad the investor knew the value of home staging. The home had some definite issues to be addressed, but the asking price is very reasonable considering the location, layout, and the incredible views of Portland.

One of our challenges was staging two properties in different cities for the same owner in the span of two days. I'll post the pictures of the other property later this week. We started on Friday morning and the Open House was Sunday morning. For this property we went with a more modern feel that seemed to suit the home even though it was built in the 70's.

Here are some pictures of the before and after results.

Synergy Staging Portland Oregon

Living Room

The drapes had a very 80's pattern and we couldn't remove them without a major replacement which wasn't going to happen. Since we had to work with them we tied them in with our art and carefully selected colors. You also probably can't see the over 50 picture hooks (some of which were screwed into the wall with anchors) that we had to remove. Here's another view.

Synergy Staging Portland Oregon

Kitchen

Synergy Staging Portland Oregon

Dining Area

The Dining Area had a terribly dated chandelier that the owners were going to replace, but low and behold, it was still there when we arrived to stage! All we could really do to tone it down was to lift it as high as possible so it didn't obstruct the lovely view out the bay windows.

Synergy Staging Portland Oregon

The tranquil Master Bedroom

Synergy Staging Portland Oregon

Master Bathroom

The Master Bathroom had the highest towel bar that we'd ever seen. The top bar was over 6 1/2 feet high. We debated whether or not to place towels on it. Ultimately it looked more awkward empty and without towels, so we hung them. What do you thinK?

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

=========================================================================================

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.

Comments(24)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Lori Kim Polk

Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA

Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento

David,

This is fabulous for you. If you could stay with this investor and help to sell his properties... you have hit a great partnership. Both Ryan and I are working our tails off for a couple of inverstors here in CA. I tell ya... if stagers would branch out to this venue.... we would ALL be doing well. Good for YOU!

Jul 06, 2009 05:55 PM

Kathy Nielsen

http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA

Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

David - some of the pictures have question marks. Perhaps it's my browser? For those that I can see, you did a fantastic job.

Kathy

Jul 07, 2009 12:35 AM

Kathy Nielsen

http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA

Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Okay, wait. I refreshed and all the pictures are there now! Yay.

Congratulations. Your post is being featured in the group Home Staging Before & After Pictures.

Kathy

Jul 07, 2009 12:35 AM

Margaret Oscilia

Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR

Home Stager, Salem Oregon

Wonderful job as usual David! When looking at the bathroom photo my first thought would be beautiful spacious bathroom - not what in the heck were they thinking when they hung that towel bar? I think the naked bar would have looked odd!

Jul 07, 2009 12:43 AM

Leesa Finley

RED Properties - Wake Forest, NC

RED Properties - Raleigh NC Real Estate

Oh my goodness, David - These pictures are fantastic - I am having a very hard time believing this is a foreclosure given what I am used to in this area!

Jul 07, 2009 12:51 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Maureen ~ I agree the investor is smart to stage the home. We were going to do art of some type, but finally opted to stage it as people would probably live in the home. Ironically our assistant said he was planning to have high towel bars just like that!

Les ~ Thanks!

Shayla ~ Appreciate your comments.

Linda ~ Perhaps they were tall!

Jul 07, 2009 04:14 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Vickie ~ I agree it's good news that a flip is starting to happen again. Hopefully they sell quick!

Lori ~ Thanks for the positive words.

Kathy ~ Thanks so much for the feature. Glad you could see all the pictures.

Jul 07, 2009 04:16 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Margaret ~ I'm glad that was your take on the bathroom. The naked bar did look odd.

Leesa ~ In today's market it seems almost any home can be a foreclosure. They did some nice work in the quick flip to get it ready for sale.

Jul 07, 2009 04:18 AM

Todd McAllister

On Stage home staging and redesign co. Portland, OR. - Portland, OR

David: What is the problem with the height of the towel bar? It is the perfect height... GREAT TRANSFORMATION!! Looks like the previous owners even took the bathroom sinks.....

Jul 07, 2009 04:27 AM

Joanne O'Donnell

Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

David, your work is gorgeous! The towel bar cracks me up - though I see it all the time - must be the same people that hang the pictures almost from the ceiling (my own sister being one of them... lol) I love the big pieces in the kitchen - I always say, big really is better in staging - more impact, takes fewer items and it really makes a difference in kitchens and baths where sometimes the small items get lost and just look like clutter - great job!

Jul 07, 2009 05:11 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Todd ~ Well the height certainly works for me too! Thanks for your comments. I'm not sure about those sinks!

Joanne ~ Thanks so much for your feedback. Many people could do with a class in the art of picture hanging. It's just as much of an art as the piece you are hanging...

Jul 07, 2009 06:14 AM

Kate Jahnson

Home Stage Home - West Linn, OR

Home Stager

Hi David,

I too was bummed when I showed up to stage and the existing chandelier had not been replaced. Mine looks an awful lot like the one you had to deal with.

Jul 07, 2009 12:06 PM

Janelle Fisher, Instinctive Staging & Design, Seattle Wa.

Instinctive Staging & Design, LLC - Seattle, WA

David, Good job on the bathroom. When you hear foreclosure you think the property will be a mess. This place looks fantastic and I'm sure will get top dollar. The bank will be very happy with your work.

Jul 07, 2009 02:38 PM

Bob & Carolin Benjamin

Benjamin Realty LLC - Gold Canyon, AZ

East Phoenix Arizona Homes

Wow - what a difference the work you did with staging makes -- very nice.

Jul 07, 2009 03:07 PM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Kate ~ Sometimes we just have to work with what we have. The little things really do make a difference though!

Janelle ~ Thanks. They had done a nice job of getting it ready for us to stage.

Bob ~ Appreciate your feedback.

Jul 07, 2009 06:06 PM

Jackson West

Reveal Estate Home Staging - Vancouver - Vancouver, BC

That towel bar is ridiculously high, but being 6'4 I think I could manage it.

Congrats on another beautiful transformation David!

Jul 08, 2009 02:09 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Jackson ~ I think you could manage the towel bar - and may actually appreciate it! Thanks for stopping by.

Jul 08, 2009 04:22 AM

Chrissie Sutherland

Ready Set Stage - Greensboro, NC

I love everything you did. I love the carpet in the family room how it mimicks the fireplace. I think putting towels on the high rack was a good call. It looks stunning. Great job.

Jul 09, 2009 12:43 PM

Wendy Carroll

Coeur d'Alene, ID

You handled that towel bar well! You're right that leaving it unaddressed (and undressed) would have looked odd. Using bright or dynamic colors would have drawn too much attention to it. The soft, neutral color you chose is perfect.

Jul 10, 2009 02:50 AM

David Peterson

Synergy Staging ~ specializing in vacant home staging - Portland, OR

Home Stager Portland OR-Synergy Staging-Portland Oregon

Chrissie ~ Thanks for your nice comments. I'm glad you noticed how the rug ties into the fireplace! Good eye.

Wendy ~ Appreciate your feedback. Good to know you thought that was the best solution.

Jul 10, 2009 03:27 AM