If the house is in REAL need of staging, I have the seller pay.

If the house is not chronically ill, I may pay for the consultation.

Why?

The seller values WHAT THEY MUST PAY FOR. If the chronically ill house receives FREE consultation, the value of that consultation is cheapened and not as likely to be implemented. The seller does not want to waste THEIR money.

Our sellers pay for staging.  

I pay for it myself if it is consultation. The seller pays for new furniture etc. 

I typically pay for 1.5 hours of consultation and anything above that is the seller's lookout.

I have done it two ways, one is to have the seller pay outright (either monthly or the usual 3 mo min) and the other is to offer to credit it back at closing.  The latter I only use for a very high end home, and or I credit a portion to show that I am invested in the process.  However I am very protective of my fees and rarely see the need to contribute.  If your stager is good at their craft, they can usually sell their services.

our sellers pay for the staging if they want more than what we give them for suggestions....many don't....

I give my stager a lot of business so she will do an initial visit for free. From there, if it is a great house I will roll the staging fees into the commission charged. But sometimes I have the seller pay.

Glad to read this input - a question I have been asking myself as well. 

Thank you for the question. I will look for the answers.

The client pays for this.

I recommend to agents that call me that they "suggest a 2 hr. staging consult" NOT pay for one. They suggest that the sellers call and pay me for the consult. I find better results when the homeowners pay. They listen better and take suggestions more seriously when they are invested in the process.

Sellers pay for staging. My stager provides a free consultation. Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 nailed it. The more FREE we provide the more we cheapen what we bring to the table. 

I've simplified this for space, it's a little more detailed when presented:

For referred clients:

If I can't get FREE, then I pay for 1 hour...typically I use the same stager so it's FREE unless there's a big commute.

Then, if they hire it done, I offer a "coupon" rebate on a %, based on the current days on market average; earned through close of escrow.

For "sign call" prospects:

If I can't get FREE, then I pay for 1 hour. (same deal both scenarios).

Then, if they hire it done, they pay. But, I share if they refer me two clients before we close escrow, I'll rebate a % as a thank you.

I offer clients a FREE 3 hour house cleaning with my cleaning lady, if they go with the stager. Most people turn this down believe it or not, citing they have their own lady or crew they prefer, but it's still heard as value added from my services.