If you want potential buyers to choose your property over that of the competition, home staging -- the act of making a home look visually appealing to buyers -- can make your house stand out from the crowd.

"Buyers often have a difficult time envisioning how a property can be used," says Dan Keating, owner of Coast Home Staging, based in Long Beach, Calif. "When they see a house that's beautifully staged, it's warm and inviting, and they perceive a much stronger value to that property."

That stronger perceived value often translates into a higher selling price. In a survey, real estate Web site HomeGain found that home staging resulted, on average, in a $1,780 price increase or a 586 percent return on investment. "We've seen that the value home staging brings to the table is dramatic," says Keating. But sellers should understand four staging basics.