How Home Stagers Can Win Against Low-Ball Competition

As an experienced home stager, losing a bid to a competitor with a low quote can be frustrating. How can someone offer such a low price and still run a sustainable business? The truth is, not all home staging is created equal. This guide will show you strategies to stand out, maintain credibility, and win more clients, even when low-ball competitors are in the market.

Understanding Low-Ball Competition in Home Staging

Low-ball quotes may affect your business temporarily, but these competitors often:

• Operate unsustainably and eventually disappear
• Deliver lower-quality staging that fails to impress clients and get results
• Make clients question whether staging works

Tip: Stay focused on your quality, results, and professionalism. Clients eventually recognize the value of a skilled, experienced stager.

Help Clients Understand That Not All Staging (Or Furniture!) Is the Same

One of the simplest ways to set your business apart is to highlight the difference in quality. Include a line like “Not all staging is the same” on your home staging proposal, and back it up with stats or examples that show your expertise, quality inventory, and results.

When comparing staging proposals, clients should look beyond the bottom line. A lower quote may seem appealing at first, but hidden fees or a lack of insurance can make it more expensive in the long run. Hiring an insured stager protects their home, belongings, and investment—so paying a little more upfront can prevent big headaches later.

Framing it this way encourages clients to evaluate experience, insurance, and scope of work—not just price—reinforcing the value your staging brings.

How to Handle Price Matching Requests

Clients may ask you to match a competitor’s rate. Instead of lowering your price immediately:

• Ask for a copy of the competitor’s proposal
• Compare scope of work, fees, and included services
• Highlight value-added services such as professional photography, design strategy, and furniture rentals

Often, the price difference is smaller than it appears once you factor in hidden fees and differences in service.

Track and Showcase Your Results

Data is one of the strongest tools in your arsenal. Track metrics like:

• Average days on market for staged homes versus unstaged homes
• Sale-to-list price ratio improvements
• Outcomes of homes lost to competitors

Include these home staging stats in proposals, marketing emails, and client consultations. For example:

“Our staged homes sell 46 days faster than the average listing in this area.”

Numbers like this give clients confidence in your professional staging services.

Collect Competitive Intelligence

Document details on competitors and lost bids:

• Who you lost to
• Their pricing and scope
• The results of their staged homes

Over time, this data helps you adjust proposals, pricing, and marketing strategies to stay competitive while emphasizing your value.

Highlight Professionalism and Credentials

Stand out by emphasizing your:

• Insurance coverage
• Accredited certifications
• Years of experience and portfolio highlights

This reinforces the message that hiring a professional home stager is an investment, not just an expense. If you don’t have a home staging certification yet, check out our accredited home staging course.

Use Effective Marketing Strategies

To further differentiate from low-ball competitors:

• Include case studies and before/after photos with metrics
• Share client testimonials that highlight ROI and quick sales
• Educate clients through blogs, guides, and social media content
• Use email campaigns to showcase results and success stories

Positioning yourself as an authority helps clients focus on value and results, not just price.

Increase Profit Margins to Stay Competitive

While we definitely don’t recommend competing on price, it is always a good idea to keep your expenses as low as possible so that your margins are healthy. Healthy margins mean you can come down on price when absolutely needed.

A great way to do this is to join Staging Studio's Staging Design Professional® program so that you get even better wholesale pricing. We have negotiated amazingly low prices for our students! Be sure to check them out on our vendor list included in our staging course.

Key Takeaways

• Low-ball competitors may affect your business temporarily but often don’t last
• Use proposals to communicate that “not all staging is the same”
• Handle price-match requests by comparing proposals and educating clients
• Track metrics like days on market and sale-to-list ratios to prove your results
• Collect competitor intelligence to refine pricing and proposals
• Highlight insurance, credentials, and experience to reinforce credibility
• Increase your margins so that you have room to negotiate if necessary

By implementing these strategies, established home stagers can confidently win more bids, attract clients, and grow their business—regardless of low-ball competition.

This blog was inspired by a conversation in Cru, our coaching program for home stagers. Join us twice a month in Cru to have in-depth discussions about navigating issues that impact home staging entrepreneurs.