Absolutely, it is worth it.
I'm such a proponent of staging that I include a professional staging consultation and styling in my services and have been doing so for over 6 years. 
One of the stagers that I regularly use is Jodi Kelly of Kelly Home Designs who states, "Staging your home is the first step in connecting with buyers and since 9 out of 10 buyers start their search online, it is more important than ever to stage your home before listing to ensure the MLS photos stand out
above the competition." This will lead to better, higher priced offers and get you to the top of their "must see" list!
I've had over 60 of my listings staged and have seen first hand how the staging can positively shape the buyer's perception of the space and their offer. Of the listings that I've had staged, they averaged only 24 days on the market and sold for 99% of the list price!
But getting to that success takes time, effort and convincing sellers that it is worth it. The words "home staging" can be scary and overwhelming to homeowners because they may associate it with having to spend a lot of money by removing their furniture and renting from a staging company. This is a common misconception because they only know what they see on TV According to Kelly, "The great news for homeowners is home staging doesn't have to cost a lot of money and it will have a huge impact on how your home looks in the listing photos and in-person! You can have your home looking its absolute best by using what you already own. Most of the time homeowners just need to invest a few hundred dollars to freshen up their home with new (or rented) decor items."
Check out the amazing transformation that Jodi Kelly of Kelly Home Designs recently did on one of my recent listings where she just leveraged what was already in the home. The result: 12 offers and it sold 13% over the listing price!
"Home staging is the critical first step in preparing your home for sale so it will appeal to the broadest range of buyers. Staging is an artform used to market a home by highlighting its positive features while downplaying imperfections. It is not about decorating to your personal taste, but to what buyers are looking for. "
The goal is to create an emotional connection with potential buyers by allowing them to envision themselves living there. Once they are emotionally connected, they will be willing to overlook flaws and be more committed to making a strong offer.
Read more about "Why Stage" on Kelly Home Designs' site and let me know if you would like a complimentary staging session.
Kristin Graves, Broker/Owner, RE/MAX Properties.