What are your top tips for selling a home? - £300 voucher to be won

I think it is important to have a clean, organised and well maintained home free from clutter. I have a clear out before moving, store items I rarely use in the attic and make sure the house is easy to keep clean and well aired. The garden should be neat and tidy and if possible have some colour in it. I highlight tings such as solid oak skirting boards, a pull down ladder for easy access to the attic etc.

Looking around a new potential property, the key things I like to see when I walk through the door are all the little bonuses that take you by surprise!

Nice finishing touches to decorations, clean sides, open curtains to be able to see the views. As well as a warm/comfortable temperature and a nice smell (air freshener can never hurt)! All of these things do not cost extra but add value.

Declutter and clean

Definitely use a local, traditional estate agents rather than an online agent!

Make sure the front of the property looks inviting as first impressions count. Also make sure the rooms look spacious by clearing all clutter and personal items.

Clean it, declutter it, lick of white paint, make it smell nice.

Paint in neutral colours and try to make it look cosy and lived in but not busy.

Make the house a clean canvas by stripping back on the personality you have put into it. Decorate with neutral colours clear any clutter (including kitchen worktops) to make it look bigger and brighter. It must appeal to all viewers and the trick is to make it look as appealing as possible by furnishing it with a few co ordinating accessories which will make it look fresh and cosy.

Keep it clean and tidy.

Price it realistically - don't be too greedy.

De-clutter as much as humanly possible, box unused items and store in attic or garage

I always make sure the house is squeaky clean and very tidy.
I have fragrant flowers and ensure the dog has gone out for a walk and hide his toys and bed.

My advice is invest in some neutral coloured bedding and bake some cakes or bread as the smell in the house will warm to buyers coming round

Find a good local estate agent with the best track record for sales then take their advice.

A fresh coat of paint throughout in neutral colours, garden cut and tidied. No clutter anywhere and bread baking in the oven so the house is filled with a homely smell.

Show your home in the best possible light - clean and declutter, spray a bit of air freshener around and make as much space as possible.

Get rid of any clutter as an over cluttered house always looks smaller, fresh coat of paint and fresh bed linen (only kept for viewings) always worked well for me

When selling declutter, declutter, declutter. Clear tops of wardrobes and kitchen units, clear under beds so the house doesn't look cramped for storage space.
Tidy up outside. Clean and freshen up doors and windows. Have a few hanging baskets and tubs. Make your house look attractive 'kerb appeal'

We sold a few over the years, my advice would be to put it up for more than you want for it (people like to get a bargain and offer less), check out your estate agent - ring some of them up and see if they answer their phone!!!! Look at their other properties and see how well those are photographed and whether they sell or not in the time you are considering putting yours up for sale. NEVER sign anything without reading the small print (e.g. the full fee shall be paid if the vendor sells the property even if we dont introduce the client blah blah). Walk away from anyone who pressures you - tell them you need time to think about it before you sign.

After that its the usual advice give it good kerb appeal, it does not cost money to keep it tidy and smelling nice with a bit of a de-clutter but dont make it look clinical, it should still look like a loving home. We have had various pets over the years and its never put anyone off as we have always maintained cages and washed pets that were smelly. If you have pets its important to get that vac out (and pop a freshner in it).

Its best if there is a job that needs doing if you can afford it to get it done, as people assume it will cost a fortune to get any job done, and if they have a choice of houses they will usually end up going for the one that needs the least work.

Cost effective ways of making you house look better - buy light coloured curtains and bedding (they look fresher and cleaner and bounce more light around rooms), re-emulsion any paintwork that is looking drab and hire a carpet cleaner if your carpets are looking a bit dowdy (some of them have attatchments that can do your sofa too). You could also buy a rug and cushions (and remember you take your bedding, rugs and cushions with you so its not "lost" money).

Lastly, try to change any really dark decor - even if it means painting over wallpaper - some dark wallpapers really make a room seem dark. Just remembered we had a friend years ago who pulled up a carpet in his new home to find a witches pentagram painted onto the floorboards! - now that is mega dark!

Make sure all clutter is put away, so that viewers can get a clear picture in their mind of how they would have things if it was their home.
Clean clean and clean again, I hate viewing houses that are dirty and even if they don't buy it at least your house is clean.
Make sure your home smells fresh, I normally light a nice smelling candle a few hours before they are due to arrive or buy fresh flowers and have them in a nice vase.

Make it as tidy as possible, no clutter and a few fresh flowers won’t hurt

It goes without saying I hope that you clean every nook and cranny and don't forget the windows outside, and keep the garden neat and tidy, however inside remember that not everyone wants or likes children or pets so keep pets under control or better still with other family on viewing days and keep the childrens toys and drawings put away tidy until you find a new home.
Bathrooms need to be spotless so deep clean and check all the dripping taps put on display posh products and all your normal everyday use products from Aldi out of sights, good towels on display, the buyers are buying into a lifestyle so tired and worn out is not an option and remember you do get to take them with you.
Bedroom, fresh linen and ironed not looking as if its been on for a week and a room thats tranquil so all clutter put away out of sight.
This is always a good time to declutter as it saves on removal costs and the hassle of packing it all up just to unpack at the other end and then sent it to the charity shop.
Having moved nine times in the last 15 years I can recommend the last one.

Personally I like to see that a house is a home rather than a show home, but do make sure all rooms are tidy and that the loos are clean. (Speaking from experience of a smelly cloakroom with the seat up displaying unflushed contents...)

Choosing the right estate agent is VERY important! You need an estate agent who can give you good value for money but can also use the right techniques to pull the viewers in. When it comes to buyers, you need to be very careful and make sure they are reliable. The best buyers would be first-time buyers or chain-free buyers.

declutter, and get rid of bright/bold colouring and redecorate in neutrals