Is it worth it to pay a company to stage a home prior to sale?

Profile picture for Roseville_Broker
Staging a home is a great idea and will normally help in getting more offers but some of the companies I talk to charge a very large fee. I am wondering if my clients can expect to get a return on their investment if they decide to have their property staged.
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August 10 2011 - Rocklin
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Answers (25)

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Profile picture for wetdawgs
There are so many "it depends" in the question, that it is very hard to answer your question.

The last two houses we've sold have had benefits of staging.  House 1:  30 minute visit, rearranged some stuff and and pulled some pictures out of storage.  Paid by agent.  House 2:  agent had accreditation as a stager, and after we'd emptied the house she brought in some of her stuff.   Cost to client - nothing.  In both cases the accepted offer came in 2 weeks (both in tough markets).

Did it help?   Who knows.   Did the client have to struggle with the added expense?   Certainly not.   Nothing wrong with $0!

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August 10 2011
Profile picture for droopyd
As a buyer, I'm less interested in professional staging. I want to see the house as it is, not be overwhelmed with decorating ideas that may or may not have any bearing on how I would use the space.
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December 26 2011
Profile picture for Eatongalveston
I know very few people that DON'T need a professional stager.  Usually people have a unique style that others may not like and leave clutter.  You should have your listings staged before taking photos as to give it two functions.  Nothing in this world is certain, but staging a home is almost always a good idea.
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December 26 2011
Profile picture for HomePriceProtection
You know, for a cost that is typically less than the cost of either staging a property or reducing the price a Home Price Protection contract™ would assure the buyer they are protected against home price declines in their area for up to 15 years. Check it out at: http://ELS-West.com

Home Price Protection™ was named "New Real Estate Product of the Year" by Real Estate Magazine and RIS Media and is available from ELS-West.com
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December 26 2011
Profile picture for sryan1980
Personally, I think that an experienced realtor can offer a nearly equal level of advice in terms of staging as a professional stager can. Staging is simply an attempt to make a home look its best for showings. Can an experienced realtor not do that? Does an experienced realtor not know what a buyer is looking for when he/she visits a home?
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December 22 2011
Profile picture for LynnOBrienCRP
Zillow posted it on their Twitter feed, asking people to "chime in."
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December 22 2011
Profile picture for Sharon Lewis
This is an OLD posting, well answered.Please be aware of dates.
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December 22 2011
Profile picture for LynnOBrienCRP
I am both a licensed broker and home stager in Oregon. I find in our rural area, more homes tend to be "overlooked" by the homeowner and the brokers sometimes don't feel comfortable broaching the topic. Homes that are properly staged should prove to be a promising return of the expense when the home is sold. In my opinion, the cost varies depending on the size/severity of the job. Overly expensive, to me, screams "decorating".
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December 21 2011
Profile picture for SharonREMAX
Some stagers will do partial staging in order to improve the look of areas in a hone that need it the most.  Start with doing the most visible important rooms.
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December 13 2011
The fees vary and it depends on what needs to be done in the house. Remember the house is a commodity- I  like to compare a home to merchandise, if it is worthy to sell then it is worthy of the best presentation and marketing out there. That means merchandising or staging, taking the lived in look and creating the longed for look.

Many homeowners have the money to do something to get their house on the market, they just don't know how to obtain the look- a stager helps to direct the homeowner, investing money on iteme to get the house ready for market that will give them the best ROI.

Good luck! Hope you find a Stager that can provide your sellers an edge in this competitive market!
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December 03 2011
Profile picture for L Strasberg
new home builders would never sell their homes at their asking prices unless they were professionally staged...

if you work in a market filled with bottom feeders I don't think it's very relevant unless you're willing to wait for the right offer and hold firm
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December 03 2011
Profile picture for sryan1980

some realtors are afraid to insult their clients by pointing out the flaws in a person's home. in that case, a staging expert can help. but they can also be expensive (charing up to $200/hr.). you really shouldn't need much help. follow obvious rules...keep your home clean and uncluttered, which will make the rooms look bigger. make sure your home smells nice at all times by burning scented candles. open the windows and blinds for fresh air and sunlight. follow these simple rules and you can avoid paying a staging expert for advice that you really already know. a good realtor should also be unafraid to give you honest criticism and you should not take any suggestions personally.

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December 03 2011
Profile picture for AIEMMA
I am an ASP (Accredited Staging Professional) and also a Realtor. I can tell you that Staging works when listing a home for sale. So, my position is that staging definitely pays prior to listing a property.  I would also like to say that the cost of staging varies according to need. Speak to an ASP [website deleted by Zillow moderator]. Good Luck
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November 27 2011
Most home stager will work with the home owner to stay within a budget that is reasonable for them. They will try to improve upon the home using mostly what the home owner already has, incurring no additional cost. Having a home staged will definitely help it stand out from the inventory on the market. All the little things that need to be taken care of will be addressed ahead of time which will probably result in a higher selling price then if it was not staged.  
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August 25 2011
Profile picture for karlaw
Staging does help and can help in making a property more presentable. However, the fees can make it a bit difficult, especially if the seller is barely equitable. I believe chosing an agent that has an eye for design and detail can make a difference, and save the seller a lot of money.
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August 24 2011
Profile picture for Howard Cohen
Staging is good,and does wonders with some homes. It is expensive. A less expensive option is find experienced,successful Realtors. Invite them in to offer their suggestions regarding what you can do to stage your home. Then use the advice that works the best for you.
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August 18 2011
Profile picture for John Fagan
I have to agree that in this market staging, of some sort, is a must to set a home apart.  It will definitely make the home more appealing, and likely produce higher offers.  Just as important, staging will likely reduce DOM putting the extended holding costs back in your clients pockets. 

As some of the others mentioned, staging can be as simple as removing clutter and rearranging furniture, or furnishing a vacant house...either way it can make a huge difference in the eyes of potential buyers.
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August 18 2011
I think home staging is a great idea...keep an eye on the fees they can get out of control...but it usually sets your property apart from the others...and ultimately thats what you want to do.....

Good Luck!
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August 17 2011
Profile picture for Janice Gross
In todays market, I think it's very important to have your home stand out in the crowd!  If affordable, a staging company is great!  If not, a homeowner should walk through their home and look at it as if they were a prospective buyer.  How can the rooms appear more spacious?  Are the shelves too cluttered or the counters?  What distracts they eye from seeing the beautiful features of a room?  If the home is too personal, a buyer may have a harder time picturing themselves in it. 
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August 17 2011
Profile picture for Roseville_Broker
I was able to find a great staging company and I have an appointment to sit down with them and my client this week. After speaking with the staging company, I am confident that their services are going to be a huge help in marketing my listings. I am excited to see what the outcome is. Thanks for the advice!
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August 15 2011
Profile picture for Wil May
I agree with many of the answers here, but I would also add if the staging does not directly add to sales price, which it may, it almost certainly will add to time on the market, which is a great benifit to the sellers and will reduce their closing cost and most likely give your clients the impression that you are a great agent who sold their home quickly in a not so hot market.
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August 11 2011
The cost can vary depending on what is needed.  I always pay for an accredited stager on all my listings because I realize the seller may not understand the benefits.  It is usually just a few hundred dollars and if there is furniture rental, I have the sellers pay that.

I am convinced it is well worth the cost.
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August 10 2011
Profile picture for Roseville Loan Guy

David,

I'm not sure if you're responding to me but if so, I am not a stager. However I do know a couple local stagers that are reasonably priced and pretty good at what they do. I can send you their information if you would like.

Sincerely,
Greg

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August 10 2011
Profile picture for Roseville_Broker

Thank you very much for the quick response. I have a listing in Granite Bay that I need help with right now. Can you give me an idea of how much your services would be?

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August 10 2011
Profile picture for Roseville Loan Guy
It's hard to say, it definitely can. It will depend on a lot of factors including the area, buyers, if it's occupied while listed, and the property itself.

I think if you're serious about selling for top dollar in this market, especially in a place like Roseville or Rocklin, staging is a must. With all of the short sales and REOs out there it's worth the extra money to have it done PROPERLY.

My question is, what is a LARGE fee?

Greg
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August 10 2011
 

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