Cleveland, Ohio-based Safeguard Properties, Inc. is testing a new initiative called “artistic boarding” in an effort to help loan servicing clients maintain curb-side appeal when dealing with foreclosures or vacant properties.
In a press release, Safeguard describes artistic boarding as a technique that allows companies or servicers to secure windows with artistically-engineered boarding material that maintains the appearance of real windows. The advantage of the innovation is the aesthetic value it adds to boarded properties—especially those in communities with multiple vacancies.

“Safeguard has continually led collaborative cost-effective industry initiatives designed to assist our clients and local governments in dealing with neighborhood blight that result from vacant properties,” said Robert Klein, founder and chief executive officer of Safeguard Properties. “Safeguard and our loan servicing clients have proactively worked with city officials around the country to maintain the integrity of vacant properties and we see artistic boarding as a further maturing of our initiatives. We are excited about the possibilities that these cost neutral artistic boarding options can bring to vacant property blight in cities around the country.”
Safeguard is promoting the innovation by launching a pilot program in Cleveland, Ohio, where they will test the value of artistic boarding before requesting approval from loan servicers and investors to launch the program nationwide.
Click here to read the full press release.