Do I Really Need To Do That?

Interesting take.  I don't think I've had the same experiences with agents/homeowners as you maybe.... I guess one of the questions I might have is, "Are your agents properly preparing their clients for the importance of your suggestions?"  Most of our clients are top producers in their companies and are clear with their clients of our importance in getting their home sold.  When we have newer agents hiring us, we have to do a lot more ground work with the client. 

Typically our agents pay us as part of their marketing of the home and the clients pay us for the actual staging services.  Whether the client follows through on recommendations or hires us to do the job typically has to do more with the prep work of the agent (how important the agent thinks our work is) rather than who paid for it.... at least that is my experience.

I do think you have a really good point though... I this might be particularly true for more inexperienced agents or agents who are new to staging in general, where they don't have the information to get it through to their clients.

I'm currently training :-) a realtor on how to sell me.   This is the 3rd one that I'm trying personally!

Now if he doesn't get it  ..... I'm going to quit and keep working my estates.

I've told him that I would go with him on his listing presentattions and take my notes and photos OR I'll go with him with he gets the listing papers signed.

He's such an old fart that he's going on the presentation and then gives them my brochure.

That's gotten no where.

One of the best posts I've seen on why the seller should be the one paying for the consultation and staging fees. People value what they pay for. If the broker is getting a better commission rate because they are providing these services, I'm hoping they are making it very clear that it is what the commission is paying for to get the sellers on board.

I agree that people value a service more if they are paying for it.  I also agree with Melissa that the way the agents handle the subject of staging will have a great deal to do with the sellers attitude toward it.  I've had a problem in the past with agents giving two free hours of staging to their listings and then the sellers aren't willing to pay for anything after that.  They want a miracle to happen in two hours.  I now have agents suggest that their sellers consider staging, but to help with the expense, the agent will pay for the "first" two hours.

I find it works best when the agent pays for some and the homeowner pays for some.  I have a realtor that tells me to "upsell" the homeowner.  When they invest their time and money, she feels that they're really ready to market the home.  This way the realtor sells the idea of staging, and I sell the actual staging tasks.

Interesting topic.  Personally I've never had an agent pay for a staging or consultation.. its always the homeowner.  The only exception has been vacant homes with out of town owners.  I'll have to think about this one awhile!!

I agree with you completely and have similar experiences.  Many of my consultations have been paid for by the realtor and the level of involvement is so different on the client's part.  Most of those houses did not stage well because the home owner would not buy into what was ebing done or needed to be done.  You hit the nail on the head with this one.

Maybe some homeowners think that we are going to come in and suggest costly repairs and unecessary remodeling.  I'm not sure what the public thinks, if that's how they're thinking they are way off base.