Common Questions Stagers Have for Titus pay at close services
These questions were submitted by RESA® members during the soft-launch of our partnership with Titus. All answers below were provided directly by the Titus team to help stagers, agents, and homeowners better understand how the service works.
****All fees and terms are subject to change in the future as our business evolves and interest rates adjust***
How do I know I’ll actually get paid if the home doesn’t sell? (Is there a guarantee in place, or do I assume the risk?)
Titus operates like a credit card processor. Our agreement is with the customer, not you. Once they pay through your Titus pay link, the transaction is between Titus and the client. You’re paid up front, regardless of the home sale outcome.
When do I get paid—before the house sells, or only after closing? (Do I have to wait for escrow to close?)
You're paid instantly, just like with a credit card transaction. When a client uses your Titus pay link, they are approved and pay you at the same time. We transfer the funds to your bank immediately, and most banks process the payment within 24 hours.
What does Titus charge me as a stager to use this service? (Are there any fees or percentage-based deductions from my payout?)
We charge a 4% payment processing fee. For example, if a client pays $1,000 for staging, $40 is deducted before the funds hit your account.
Do my clients have to qualify for this service, like a loan? (What’s required from the homeowner or agent?)
Yes, clients must qualify. Our approval rate is historically 83%, and the application takes less than 90 seconds.
Homeowner requirements:
- Credit score of 640+*
- Verified property ownership
- Less than 80% loan-to-value ratio (including Titus line)
- Signed listing agreement
Agent requirements:
- Credit score of 670+*
- Active license in the state
- Signed listing agreement
*Minimum scores vary by state. Please check our current credit tier list.
Is there a minimum or maximum job size to use this service? (Can I use this for both small consults and full staging jobs?)
There’s no minimum job size. Fees are only charged on the amount the client uses.
- For homeowners: Max job size is $25,000
- For agents: Max is 1.5% of the list price, up to $25,000
What happens if the listing doesn’t sell or the seller pulls out? (Am I still paid? Who eats the cost?)
If a homeowner uses 'Pay at Close,' they start a 6-month loan, extendable for another 6 months at 18% annual interest. If the home doesn't sell or the listing is canceled, the loan must still be repaid.
Agent loans also last 6 months, with an option to roll over to their next commission for a fee. If a customer refuses to pay, Titus absorbs the cost and will hit the clients credit. That’s why client rates vary based on credit risk.
Do I have to change my current contract or terms to use this service? (How does this integrate with my existing process?)
No, since you’re not a party to the financing agreement, changes aren’t required. However, some stagers adjust their cancellation policy to match ours. For canceled 'Pay at Close' projects, you can issue a full refund with no fee within 7 days. After that, our 4% fee is retained.
Is this available in my state? (What if I stage in multiple states or plan to expand?)
Titus is currently available in 36 states plus Washington, D.C.
Can I still charge a design fee or deposit upfront? (Do I have flexibility in how I price or structure my services?)
Yes. Clients are approved for a credit line they can draw from in stages. They can use Titus to pay any invoice amount, including deposits or renewals, as long as they have room in their credit line.
Will using a pay-at-close service like Titus affect my client’s credit score or ability to qualify for their next home loan?
We use a soft credit pull for approval, which doesn’t affect their score. We reserve the right to report delinquencies, but we only do so if a client refuses to repay their loan.
How do I explain this option to my clients or real estate agents? (Is there a script or tool to help introduce it?)
Inside your Titus account, we provide marketing resources and tools to help you explain the service.
Here are simple one-liners for each audience:
- For homeowners: 'Titus lets you stage your home today but pay $0 out of pocket until close. Rates range from 0–8%.'
- For agents: 'Titus lets you pay for staging with your future commission check. Differentiate yourself by offering to pay part or all of staging with $0 out of pocket. Rates range from 0–8%.'
What happens behind the scenes after I complete the job? (Who handles the client communication, paperwork, and payments?)
Titus notifies you when a client is approved and when money is sent to you. Otherwise, think of it like a credit card transaction—we don’t handle your paperwork or contracts.
How do taxes work with this kind of payment processing? (Does it affect how I report income or handle my books?)
Titus shows up as direct transfers to your bank account. The only challenge is that the amount transferred will be 4% less than your invoice, which can make reconciliation harder. We're actively working on tools to simplify this for high-volume stagers.
Would this be available for occupied consultations?
Yes. There are no restrictions on project type or how funds are used.
Would this be available for occupied staging using only the client’s property?
Yes. There are no restrictions on project type or how funds are used.
Would this be available for occupied staging using a combination of my property and the client’s?
Yes. There are no restrictions on project type or how funds are used.
What, if anything, is required by the listing agent?
The listing agent will receive a text message from Titus confirming that they have a signed listing agreement. They need to reply with a simple 'yes' or 'no.'
Once the property goes into contract, we’ll text the homeowner for closing info. If they don’t respond within a set time, we follow up with the listing agent.
For the seller, if the house is not sold in 6 months, what happens?
The seller must repay the loan or enroll in an interest-bearing payment plan.
Their agreement says 'service pro' pays Titus 4% of the total staging project fee, which is deducted from the immediate payout to the service provider. Will Titus limit or put restrictions on my staging fees?
No, we don’t place restrictions on your pricing. Most stagers bake the 4% fee into their pricing. Because Titus is built to increase job size and close rate, it should more than pay for itself in just a few weeks.
If you upcharge and the client also pays a fee, it can feel like double charging, so be mindful of how it’s presented.
How can Titus assist my client with additional home improvement costs?
Homeowners are approved for up to $25,000 deferred to closing. After they pay for staging, they can use the remaining balance for other improvements, either directly through Titus-approved vendors or through you if you’re subcontracting the work.
Homeowners and agents can also cash advance funds, but this carries higher fees due to increased risk.
What if the seller disputes or is not satisfied with the staging?
That is between you and the client. Titus is not a party to your contract. You can choose to issue a refund through your Titus dashboard if you wish.
For canceled 'Pay at Close' projects, you can issue a full refund with no fee within 7 days. After that, our 4% fee is retained but the customer can be refunded in full with no added fees on their end.
Sometimes sellers incur additional fees after the initial staging such as extended rental terms or sellers re-scheduling the destaging dates. How are these additional fees managed?
Clients can pay additional staging fees using their Titus pay link in just a couple of clicks. The new charges are simply added to the total owed at closing.
Why do I need to provide the last 4 of my Social Security number?
We use the last 4 digits of your SSN for identity verification. Since we’re transferring large sums of money to your business, we need to ensure no one is impersonating you.
Can Titus accept the business EIN instead of my Social Security number?
Not at this time. We need to verify you personally as the business owner.
I don’t see my state listed on the approved list, what is the likelihood this will change?
We’re working to expand to all 50 states. The delay is due to individual state lending laws. We expect to be active in 90% of the country by the end of 2025.
Why don’t you offer options for Canada?
We don’t currently hold a lending license in Canada. While there’s no set timeline, we’ve received enough interest that we hope to expand there soon.