How often clients request staging? Is it necessary

Question

Wondering if paying for a staging tool is really that efficient or useful for getting a client to the finish line. A lot of those tools take around 4 hours to produce results, and I just can’t wrap my head around customizing something when my client might change their mind an hour later about the look or furniture style

Rick Albert · Answer

The challenge is that it is too expensive to cover unless you raise your fees.

It can make a difference but you really have to look at the comps. You also have to understand your target demographic. Some Sellers are tight on money.

What is a better value is showing them how to work with the furniture you have BEFORE addressing staging. Also listening to the client's needs and wants will also play a factor.

Jeff Copeland · Answer

Are you referring to actual IRL staging furniture, or virtual staging?

In my experience, actual staging makes a huge difference. But more so for actual physical showings when prospects are viewing a property (whereas virtual staging is quick, cheap, and easy, but does nothing for you during a viewing of your listing).

A big part of photographing and marketing a listing is about managing expectations - You want it to look at least as good (or better) in person than it looks in your listing photos. And that's a possible downside of virtual staging: If the photos look amazing, but the actually property looks cold, empty, and sterile, there's a mismatch between expectation and reality, which can be an instant turnoff.