Synergy Staging - Portland Home Staging Blog

The beginning of each new year always feels like an appropriate time to reflect on the previous 12 months while looking forward to what the next 12 may bring.  This year we at Synergy Staging decided to assemble our list of Top 10 Home Staging Success Stories for 2009.  While we had a variety of projects, both home staging and design, we'll limit this list to those that sold quickly or had particular challenges to overcome.   In re-visiting these projects we hope to share some valuable staging tips that will help others as well.

NUMBER 8
Single Family Home, Lake Oswego, OR

Although this luxurious five bedroom home was actually staged at the end of 2008, it sold in 2009 which was a big success.  We have all come across some homes that have challenges which staging alone cannot overcome.  These properties require more patience on the part of the seller, agent, and stager.  This was one of those homes.

Although gorgeous inside, the entry to this home included both a steep driveway with a 90 degree turn at the top and bottom as well as 3 sets of stairs to enter the home.  From the garage there were two flights of stairs to get to the first floor.  This alone was an issue that created a challenge. 

Once buyers were inside, the staging created an atmosphere that helped them focus on the many positive features of the home.

The living room was staged to have maximum flow while not blocking the french doors (behind the loveseat).  The warm wall colors were accentuated by the artwork on the mantle and decor in the built-ins.

The master bathroom was already beautiful - so only a few simple touches were needed to make it pop.  Adding minimal decor, a rug that went the length of the counter, a large scale floral that matched the room tones, and a piece of art over the tub gave it the spa like feel we wanted.

The master bedroom was very spacious and called for a king size bed with large side tables.  While it was requested that we put the bed on the left wall facing the window, it's important to remember that staging is designed to show the room at it's best in photos and in person.  The buyers may opt to position the bed facing the windows, but when staging, it is generally best to put the bed on the largest wall in the room creating the most visual impact and space.  In addition the architecture of this ceiling gave the impression that the bed should be placed here.  Had the bed been in a different place it would have looked odd and one photo couldn't show both the the view and the bed.

Even though we only staged the master bedroom upstairs, this small bedroom on the first floor
was staged as well to create cohesion throughout the main level of the home.

When staging a kitchen it's important to use furnishings appropriate to the scale of the room.  This oversized island called for substantial bar stools that would fill the space.  We opted to leave the island clear of place settings not only to show the counter space, but there was an eating nook with place settings in addition to the dining room.

When word of this sale came we were thrilled.  Selling a home with architectural challenges and a million dollar price point can be daunting, but professional staging brings life to an otherwise vast empty space, and helps potential buyers see how they can live in the home.  Many times we'd like a quicker sale, but had this home not been staged it most likely would have lingered even longer on the market.

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Join the Realtors, Investors, and Homeowners who call Synergy Staging to make their properties irresistible and sell quickly!  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 in 2010.