Am I a rooster or a chicken?

Absolutely tell them the home NEEDS staging.  I think the current perception about staging is that people don't think they can "use" home staging, while in actuality they "need" home staging.  So crow away!

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

Becky - I feel (especially in that situation) you are offering your professional opinion and if you think the house NEEDS staging, you should state it as fact - not an option.

Becky, I love the whole idea of the Rooster versus Chicken word play. I honestly believe some people are absolutly wonderful Home Stagers but will never make it in the business because they are not marketing or are marketing the wrong way. What I've noticed over the past few years is the people who are making it in this industry (I thought about naming names but I would forget some and hurt their feelings) have either been marketing gurus themselves or have hired great marketers.

So back to your question when you say I am saying...you should stage, whereas she is saying... you need to stage. I read that several times and thought about how with the change of only a couple of words we go from cackling in the hen house to rightfully rising to the peak of the roof and CROWING the morning awake.

Wake them up and tell them they need it! (Well that is my vote anyway. tee hee)

Almost every home can use some staging from the highest end to the lowest end - it's just a matter of how you present it.  A consultation would be a great "in" for any level of staging of any property.  You'll give them the perspective from the "eyes of the buyer" and I can see this report actually becoming a standard as part of a listing presentation in the future. 

Do what YOU feel comfortable with and change it up over time- step out side your comfort zone when you can.  You may not be feeling confident enough to go in crowing about the fact they HAVE to stage - that's ok - the more you say it and do it the more you'll truly see it and as your confidence grows so will your marketing and your approach.  When you go to Open Houses, you are "cold calling" so I can understand your tact in your approach to Realtors, not to offend them but to educate.  Good luck and this was a good question.

IMHO, saying you "need" to stage is more business-like and direct, and more authoritative. Saying you "should" stage is not as direct, and gives the potential client more wiggle room to think of why they shouldn't stage. Who can argue with "You really need to stage this house if you want it to sell quickly and for more money"?

Michelle Minch, Moving Mountains Design, Pasadena, CA