Like most real estate questions, I think "it depends" might be the best answer. Strength of market and the nature of the home are both influencing factors here. I've walked into staged homes before and thought "Now I can see it" and walked into staged homes and thought "This was a waste of money". 

Anne,

Like Cody Carmen said, it depends on the house.  Here is my experience with investors:

Used to never stage a home, were of the philosophy "let them imagine their furniture in it without distractions."  At the most, would put in some little knicknacks in the kitchen and baths to "warm it up" and maybe a picture or two.  Years ago we flipped a home, it sold a couple times since then and was listed again.  We brought the buyer to it.  During escrow it was used for an upcoming Bravo house hunting show "Yours, Mine, Ours" and was staged by a Hollywood stager.  They knew every inch of that house from flipping it, but were blown away by the staging.  It WAS a different house!  We hired that stager for a house we had listed 5 miles away that had just fallen out of escrow.  We staged the entire house and ended up reselling it two weeks later for over $50,000 more BECAUSE OF THE STAGING!!

Since then, we've noticed that people don't have the imagination they once did, thanks to all the flipping shows, and that staging has become a "must do" item.  The flippers now stage all their homes and they and I are convinced we get more money for them staged than empty.

It really depends on the property and the local market. I've had sellers do their own with suggestions and do a fantastic job. Some homes I've listed really need very little. But if needed, we'll talk about it. Ssellers often don't want to pay for it

It depends on the market, the property, the price point.  Right now not enough inventory to worry about staging. 

I rarely do, but not because I don't want to, but because my sellers don't want to take the effort.

I believe every house can use a little attention to detail and staging.  

It depends on the situation... but I always have a stager on hand to help if necessary.

Thankfully, the majority of my clients live in showlike conditions.  I've not yet needed the services of a stager and when I visit homes that have been staged, my Buyers often comment that they don't look like homes - too clinical and sterile!

Hi Anne - If staging can improve the attractiveness of a home, we tend in that direction - our experience has been extremely positive.

We have not, since our RE markets are so strong in most cases we see multiple offers in days if not hours.

i think there is NEVER a time that GOOD staging doesnt help. the question is who pays for it.

how often does a human body look better NAKED than with some clothes on it. The answer to that is like staging.

No staging in my area - condos come with standard furniture dressing and are 99% of the time cleaned up and ready for vacationers

If the property is anything above a true "fixer upper" definitely do some staging. The question isn't whether to do staging but how much staging to do. Some homes don't need much, some need more.

Every property needs at least partial staging. If they do not want to bring a stagger, leave a list for them to go through ( if you do not have a check list, you can print one of the AR posts, there are plenty of good ones)

Case by case- usually not.

Real Estate performs. When it doesn't, we need to do something about it. There are so many tools available to the pro agent. Staging be one of them

Anne,

It really depends.  Two clients of mine just sold a property in 5 days.  It was staged, the popcorn ceiling removed, the carpet shampooed.  Everything was pristine.  They would not show a home any other way, it is just who they are, they do not do anything halfway!  A

unless it's a fix and flip, always stage.... there's not a home that doesn't need to be staged unless it's owned by a stager!!!

Anne - I think it depends on a few different things. Price point, the market, condition of the home, and the sellers themselves, are just a few things that would determine whether staging was a possibility or not.

Yes, stage all the time. How do you prepare for the market otherwise. Living everyday is not showing your home up to it's best potential.

You have to plan to get the most money for your home.

Anne,

I walk through the home with my sellers and discuss every room. What needs to go, what needs to be put away and so forth. All my sellers are very cooperative and there has been no need for special staging.

Yes.

If by staging you mean coming in with furniture and accessories, I would also have to say...it depends. In some situations, I recommended doing other things (like painting, updating, repairing) before they even consider bringing in furniture.  9 out of 10 occupied homes I've seen could benefit from a consultation. 

Stage if the client can.

It really depends on the house/condo. Most cases it does help.

it depends on the house.  It depends on the market.  It depends on the seller.  

Staging is good for business.

Always recommend it

Depends on the house, the seller and its condition

If you have to consider it, it is time to stage!

It depends.

A choice that every seller needs to decide, do they want to be at the top or the list of similar homes or save some money now in exchange for a lower sales price down the road.

Some do nothing, some do a little bit of decluttering and cleaning, others hire a stager and really make the home shine.

It depends on the situation.

Anne Corbin - and the answer lies in seller's desire to sell at best price in shortest period of time...

Staging hasn't caught on in my area. Sellers don't want to pay for it. 

Almost always yes.

It depends. Many homes show very well and don't need help with staging. I have seen vacant houses that looked so much better staged.

There are no stagers in our market.

If a property is vacant and needs staging and the customer will pay for it or if the price of the home is worth me paying for it then it happens.

It depends seems to be the popular answer to your question Anne Corbin 

It depends..but if you have a great stager definitely!! Not every ones home is show worthy without some help.

Most of the times ... staged.  I won't if the property is distressed. 

Can your client afford it

Anne Corbin Staging help, but it depends on the property.

If the seller is not good at staging or it is vacant I would hire a stager.

In our area it is a no brainer. Who ever suggests it foot the bill.