For two hours in Charlotte NC or surrounding areas, I would expect to pay $250-500 depending on the size of the home.

Oh... I am just gonna keep my big mouth shut and just book mark this baby.

haha me too

cindy

i stage & redeisgn to sell, live and work in san francisco bay area!
cindy@staged4more.com
www.staged4more.com
http://stagingtipsandmore.blog.com/   

Hi Lucie, I noticed you're in Whitby, I'm in a totally different end of real estate(closing gifts and name branding) but I deal with realtors all across Canada and the U.S. and was curious, how is the realty market in your city?

Lucie,

I am normally a very positive person, but the fact that, so far, you only have one true response to your quiry from a realtor , (the other 3 comments from stagers and 1 other), is discouraging and akin to the response I have been getting when doing presentations for realtors.  No enthusiasm! 

If I were a realtor and discovered a 'tool' that would make my listings look better than most, and easier to sell for the highest possible price, I would be using it on every listing that I had!  I would be so excited that while other agents were using the same old marketing techniques, I would be known as savvy and on top of new trends!  I would stand apart from the rest - much like my listings would!!

I'll keep checking back and hopefully you'll have some real action on this within the next few days!

Great idea for a blog, Lucie!

And I did it again - commented without signing in! 

See what I said above!

I think one of the reasons you're not getting comments is that realtors don't expect to pay for our services, nor frankly should they. 

I am curious about the response from Debra Gould.  Why shouldn't they pay for our services?

Lucie, great idea for a blog.  I wish you had more responses from Realtors.  I think that Realtors should always present this to their clients and let them decide.  Having experience in property investing, I have always been amazed while looking at comps.  The way that sellers present their house and then wonder why it is not selling.  They will reduce the price $10,000-$20,000, instead of investing $300 or even $2300 in Staging.  It doesn't make sence for the seller or the Realtor to cut profit!

Good Luck,

Dawn

Home Squad

To Dawn's comment, you can read more about why I think agents shouldn't expect to pay for home staging services at:

 http://activerain.com/blogsview/18399/Should-real-estate-agents

Lastly, I think it's important to remember that if the selling price is reduced by $10,000, that's $10,000 right out of the homeowner's pocket. However, it will only cost the agent about $150. So who has the bigger incentive to invest in home staging? Right, the homeowner! 

Debra Gould, The Staging Diva
President, Six Elements Inc.

Sorry, I misunderstood what you were saying.

 I agree that Realtors should not be expected to pick up the tab for the staging, I guess in this area I have not heard of that ever being the case.  Many Realtors are starting to offer staging as part of their package as a marketing tool.  Many of them feel that investing in staging their listings will help them sell the house faster and increase their profits.  Now that most home buyers use the internet to shop for a home it is important to have great pictures on the MLS.

Dawn

Home squad 

We don't EXPECT anyone to pay for our services, plain and simple. However, many stagers have encountered Realtors that are reluctant to even suggest home staging to a client because they don't understand the process and even more importantly they don't have a clue what fees are involved.

The point of this blog was to enlighten Realtors on home staging fees, and how REFERRING our services will both help the Realtor and the homeowner. 

When we first started our staging company in Raleigh about a year and a half ago we didn't know who was going to be paying for the services, just that they needed to be done.  As it turned out, each of our agent partners offered to pay for the consultations as part of getting the listing ready for the photographer.  They were just tired of clients not taking their recommendations.  Sellers respond better to a professional stager, especially if they are viewing their sold portfolio.  Many of our agent partners pay for a portion of the full service staging, too.  That negotiation is between them and the seller.  The bottom line is: Staging works, it protects your investment, and it gets rid of the endless stress of the For Sale sign in the yard.