It's show time!

Home staging transforms rooms from that everyday lived-in look to ready-to-be sold for top dollar. This step-by-step guide offers the tactics used by home stagers - from de-cluttering and cleaning up to arranging and remodeling - that will often yield a quicker sale and higher selling price.

—Decorating tips to make a house appeal to the widest range of buyers

—Cost-effective techniques to highlight the home's selling points, whether it's the floor plan, the high ceilings, or a newly renovated bathroom

—Suggestions on how to downplay or eliminate features that might be considered negatives. such as smaller rooms, minimal storage space, or ghastly wall colors