Get rid of all the excess stuff that has accumulated in every nook and cranny. Put it in storage, sell it, give it away or bin it. People need to be able to envisage what the property would look like if they were living there. You should also Consider removing any bulky furniture that makes the room feel small and replacing it with smaller furniture, people often find this difficult, so make it easy for them to see all the fantastic living space

you’re offering them.

Don’t make it look like a generic hotel; leave some personality. Apart from anything else it gives unimaginative buyers suggestions as to what they might do, people are often buying into a lifestyle as much as a property. Show them the attractive side of your lifestyle

Cleaning your house is a vital step when preparing for a sale, take a deep breath and give your home a deep clean. Let in the light by opening the curtains and making sure that the windows are sparkling. Dust on top of shelves and mantles and other surfaces, polish appliances, clean the faucets and of course, don’t forget the toilet!

If you really have decluttered each room, this task will be a lot easier. But pay attention to detail, removing stubborn stains from carpets and making sure showers and sinks smell fresh and clean. If you’ve already moved out or have a busy schedule, you may need to hire a professional cleaner to help out. Whatever it takes, everything should be gleaming when preparing to sell your house.

Bad smells are the single biggest turn off for prospective buyers. Don’t just cover them up, fix the source of the smell. Clear drains, wash bins, open windows, air the kitchen from old cooking smells, get rid of furniture that is embedded with cigarette smoke, and wash any grimy bed sheets.

If you are a smoker, place bowls of vinegar around the house and leave out for three days. Though the vinegar will smell when you open the windows it will disappear quickly taking a most of the stale cigarette smell out with it. Conversely, good smells can make a property feel like an alluring home. While it might be impractical to bake fresh bread, cakes or brownies for every viewer that visits your home, you could perhaps brew some fresh coffee.

You don’t need to give the house a full renovation but updating and fixing a few things can be vital to selling a house quickly. Focus on the smaller issues that can be quickly repaired. Some things can be easily ignored when you pass them every day but to a new buyer, they can be glaring.

In a survey of over 2,000 homebuyers, it was discovered that 68% of British

homebuyers believed that “kerb appeal” was an important factor when buying a house and the key features they were looking for were well-maintained windows and a roof in good condition. This proves how important cosmetic and external issues are when preparing your house for a sale. Don’t forget to check those windows and to review your roof’s condition before organising a viewing.

If you suspect there are major jobs which need tackling – such as a new roof or rewire -consider having your own property survey to highlight the most obvious defects. Once you’ve agreed on an offer, the buyer will likely have their own survey conducted, so having one to compare with can be vital when negotiating the final sales price. Don’t forget to compare surveyors to make sure you get the best deal possible.

A good tip for selling your home is to prepare your garden. Property experts

discovered that more than 25% of potential buyers would be “put off” by an

overgrown garden when searching for a new home. The external of your property should never be neglected, so mow the lawn, prune overgrowing trees and shrubs weed any flowerbeds and footpaths. Position your outdoor furniture in a welcoming spot, clean up after pets and tidy away children’s bikes and garden toys. You should also touch up exterior paint, repair gutters, eaves and patios

Lloyd’s Bank says the kitchen is the most valuable room in British homes, so don’t neglect it. Many people view the kitchen as the heart of the house and so it’s important to make it stand out. Give everything a thorough clean and degrease and polish the stove and oven thoroughly. It’s quick and inexpensive to revitalise your kitchen without going to the trouble and expense of a full renovation. Give tired cupboards a lift with a fresh coat of paint and replace shabby door knobs and drawer pulls.

It’s a good idea to visit a kitchen showroom and have plans drawn up, with costings, showing the potential of a new kitchen. Then you can show this to viewers to help them imagine how improvements could be made.

It’s time to make your home warm and welcoming for potential buyers. Use bright colours and house plants to draw the eye to any special features your house contains. Add a few coloured pillows and throws to highlight any furniture that’s still there. If there’s a fireplace, light it for a cosy atmosphere and don’t forget to think about how the rooms smell. If you have pets, there could be some lingering scents.

Research by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed that 83% of buyers’ agents stated that staging a home made it easier for potential buyers to visualise the property as their own. Almost two-thirds of sellers’ agents said that staging a home decreases the amount of time a property was on the market, proving its importance.

Another way to stage your home before a sale is to think about giving each individual room a purpose. If there’s a spare room you’ve been using as a dumping ground, turn it into a walk-in wardrobe or office. Stage the room to represent that purpose and give the buyers a few ideas they can run away with.