RALEIGH, N.C. — No matter how hot the real estate market is, to sell your house, you often need something to set it apart. That is where a new trend comes in.

Linda Beam is what is called a home stager. She makes homes look better, so they sell faster.

"When you first walk into a house, it's important that it be warm and welcoming," she said. "When you get ready to sell a car, you detail it. When you go on a job interview, you pick out a new outfit and look your best, so it just made sense when you're putting your home on the market that you would want it to appear as good as it could."

Here are some tips for doing home staging yourself: