Is it a good idea to stage a house before putting it on the market? ABSOLUTELY!!!!

Let me tell you a story about staging. 
This past summer, I was selling a house. It had tenants in there (most of the times, tenants dont have a good taste or the capital to make the house look good). We tried selling the house while they still occupied it. Held several open houses, etc. No offers. After tenants  moved out,  we took the house off the market. Sellers spent about $10,000  in new paint, carpet, yard clean up and staging. We put the house back on the market and raised the price $10,000 to make up for the costs. Within days, I got a full-price offer and closed escrow 30 days later. Buyers just love that new paint, carpet with nice furniture feeling and have no problem paying more money to get that. On the other hand, they have no problem walking away from a house which is full of "Projects". By that, I mean things they have to do if they buy the house. Things like paint, carpet, pet odor removal, repairs, landscaping, etc. 
GET IT CLEANED AND STAGED TO GET TOP $$$$$$