When I sold my last house, about seven years ago, we got a free consultation from Redfin. "Should we fix anything or stage it?" we asked. "Meh, don't bother, just put it up for $250K and we can sell it."

Just to be sure, we consulted the realtor who had helped us buy our new house, and she convinced us to do maybe $15K of remodels on the kitchen and bathroom (for which she sourced the contractors) then told us how to stage it and put some little shrubberies up front, etc. Final selling price was $350K.

To me, that's the difference between places like Redfin or Zillow vs. an agent.

Staging is actually counterproductive

Anyone can take pictures

Most people already have the printout via some website

The network connections is a myth. If it's on MLS everyone that counts is already seeing it

Anyone can push a shutter button. Very few people can take pictures that really sell a unique property. If you're listing a cookie-cutter 2 bedroom urban condo then pictures don't matter much because buyers pretty much already know what they're getting. If you're listing a rural luxury property with acreage and a view then good pictures matter a lot.

Same thing with staging. It's counterproductive for some properties and almost essential for others. You have to know the local market and target buyers.

If you actually paid 20 percent for that I have a bridge to sell you

They are not saying they paid 20% fees for that. They are saying the agent boosted the sale price by 20%, more than paying for the agent's fee.