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23 Comments on Staging FAQs: Can I Pay You at Closing?
Good for you. I would want to get paid for services rendered at the time, but that's not how commission based works :-( Have you ever taken a deposit and billed the balance?
Thanks Dan-you're my kind of Realtor!
Wanyne-Jean Marie-the idea for this series came out of an AR contest earlier in the year, and made so much sense...just answer the questions you hear the most, because for every time you're asked it, there are who knows how many that have the same question, but don't ask. Thanks for stopping by!
Hey Brenda! One way I know for sure this market is going in the right direction was it used to be a protest or expectation. Now it's just a question.
CARLA! I worked on straight commission against delivered for most of my career, but there was little I didn't have control over, so I was fine with that. Yes, typically I take a retainer for what I estimate 50-75% of my fee and costs will be, and bill (or in a few cases, refund) at the end.
Hi Marie...Thanks to Belinda I saw your post. As Marie said roofers are paid when they do the work, so do painters, landscapers, and many other professionals. Stagers are no different. They often incur expenses (rental furniture for one) that must be paid up front. Stagers need to be as well.
Kate
Maybe if stagers changed their answer for no to yes they might get more people to use them. Raise the price enough to cover the losses on the homes that don't sell. Maybe offer a choice, $1000 upfront or $2000 at closing, only if it closes.
I'm sorry, but I can't imagine asking this of a stager. To me that's sort of like asking if I can pay my roofer if I get the job I'm interviewing for.
Gretchen
I use a local stager and photographer for my listings and having to pay for their services upfront helps keep me focused on standing behind what I know works to sell a home instead of going along with an unrealistic seller who may want to overprice their home ... not if I've got skin in the game upfront
Hi Marie ~ this is an often-asked question online and one that needs to be repeated fairly often so that people understand the reason that staging is paid for at the time of service (not at closing). Whether the listing agent and the sellers want to work something out between them (as they often do) that is THEIR business ... the staging company does indeed have upfront costs for delivery charges, labor, and furniture rental. Since we can't control the property's location, the pricing, the Realtor's marketing efforts, the home's condition, local market conditions, buyer financing -- we shouldn't wait for payment - just as other contractors don't wait for it either.
"We're not banks so don't expect us to finance your staging project" :-)
First and foremost, in the near 8 years I've been staging homes throughout Atlanta, I've never been asked this question. Perhaps most realize that we're similar to other vendors (i.e., painters, roofers, plumbers, etc.) whom they would never ask that question. In other words, if I were to put my home on the market and it needed painting, I would never dream of asking the painter if they would wait until closing to get paid.
Kathy
Every so often this question pops up with a client, or here, in the posts of AR. I got it more frequently a few years ago, lately it's occasional, and again, more of a curiousity. I love that every agent who responded agreed-or had another suggestion. Home Staging is like any other personal service...value is in the eye of the beholder, and in my experience if it's a good fit between the parties, they can figure out how to get it done.
Marie:
Of course you can't wait until escrow closes before being paid. I don't blame people for asking but you like other contractors must be paid when the job is done.
Marie - This is a question that comes up. It's not surprising since so many things are paid at close of escrow in a real estate transaction.
How many doctors wait to get paid only if the patient gets well -- stick to your guns and get paid when you do the work -- you have no control , as a home-stager, when the house will sell , or if it ever will . Get paid. Out 2 cents.
Marie-I can see why you take this position on your fee. I guess some ask to pay at Closing for similar reasons they ask for commission reductions- "Well, we just had to ask."
Evelyn, Bob and Carolin-thank you!
@Christine, @ Wayne-you're right. It's not been a problem, and I'm not bothered or offended by someone asking the question. If you can't talk about money, how do you expect to move fw?
I don't think it's coincidental that nearly every agent who responded lives west of the Mississippi. Home Staging as a term, and a business got it's start in Pacific Northwest almost 40 years ago. Still a bit counter-intuitive in this area, but smart and successful agents who can comfortably speak about this to their clients are what raise the bar. Sincerely-thank you!
I can say that it was well worth it for me when I finally listened to a professional stager and paid them upfront when they completed staging. It was 1994 when we were selling our first home (that wasn't in the best neighborhood). Our REALTOR suggested some staging we could do on our own and also suggested a staging company. But, my hubby and I decided we knew best and didn't want to pay anyone to do the staging and also didn't follow the suggestions of what we could do ourselves. As a result, we had lots of lookers and no offers. After a few weeks, we made some staging changes on our own and it seemed the buyers were more interested, but still no offers. Finally, we realized that maybe the professional stager did know something about helping to sell homes. We called them in and paid them up front......our house sold within 2 weeks of when the stager was allowed to do what they do best.
It only makes sense that staging be paid for up-front and not at closing!
Elaine-we haven't connected before, but you are AWESOME. Thank you for sharing your experience!!
It is kind of like paying a lawyer who doesn't win or really care as long as the retainer check clears, the doctor that can't cure you but likes to bleed you bank account to drive a new mercedes. The only stagers I work with are those who don't get paid until I get paid. Your stick is your efforts will get the house sold, if that is true, the put up or .... The occasional deal that doesn't fly is just part of the business. Or maybe your staging isn't that great of contribution to the effort.
I'm happy you found a way that works for you Brian.