Benefits

More Money
When your home sells faster than its competition, it usually sells for close to its asking price. This means more money in your pocket.

More Competitive
Again, if other houses in your neighborhood are on the market (with the same square footage and price) your better looking home will usually sell sooner.

Less Stress
It's stressy to sell, move and buy. You have tons to do with the repairs, painting and packing, along with career, cooking and kids. The sometimes speedy process of getting your house listed and up on the MLS may mean the most buzz and visitor traffic occurs when you're in the middle of repairs! Staging can help, because you will be ready for visitors in about two hours. Even if the plan is to paint a ceiling at some point, the room will be show-ready until then.

Less Overwhelm
You may be overwhelmed by the list of things to do, but the stager can prioritize for you: maybe you don't need to paint that upstairs bedroom, if its function has changed through staging. Prioritizing will make the best use of your time and turn your lengthy 'to do' list into what really matters during that 15-second first impression. Why get tense blanketing the water heater, when the stager will want you to focus on the foyer or fireplace! Your list may be crazy-making, while the stager's list will be manageable.

Less Uncertainty
The less time it's on the market, the less time your house will be a source of uncertainty. All those unanswerables, like "Why don't they do something," or "how long can I manage two mortgage payments," or "Maybe I should sell it myself," etc. really sap you and the realtor of the strength and patience you need at this time. Staging is something you can affordably do to cut down on uncertainty: it's proactive and freeing.

Less Work
It's hard to keep a house clean for showings, especially with kids. Staging sets your house up for easy maintenance and quick sale; obviously less work for you.

Less Inconvenience
Quck sale means you'll be able to put your life back on the front burner. Living 'in a fishbowl' gets old fast, so make it a clean, bright, open and functional fishbowl -- it will sell faster.

It's Fun!
If you're talented, and the stager doesn't have much to do, this will confirm your talent to your spouse. If you're stuck on what to do, staging will get your creativity up and running, and you'll find yourself tearing around like the Marx Brothers in Night at the Opera. Fun is practically guaranteed in the staging process. You probably just need support in what you've wanted to do forever!