If you have a property for sale you naturally want the best price you can get. Spend thousands fixing up the place and you could end up over-capitalising and not recover the amount you spent on the house. A lick and a promise is often all that’s needed to improve your property and help buyers fall in love with it.

First Impressions

The outside of your home is the first thing people see. Stand on the street and check your home for "curb Appeal". Spend a small amount of money to make sure the driveway is free of weeds and grease and ensure that the garage or carport is presentable. Repaint if necessary.

It is recommended to spend a bit on the garden too. You do not need to spend thousands landscaping, just make sure it isn't overgrown, that the trees and shrubs are trimmed and the lawn is cut. Brighten up the flowerbeds with pretty flowers and shrubs.

The front door gives a vital first impression while the Buyer waits for you to answer the bell, make sure it is scrubbed clean or painted if necessary.

Don’t forget to have all light sockets fitted with bulbs, buyers will feel more welcome when you turn on your lights for an evening inspection.

Rooms that sell

Experts confirm that there are two areas that boost the value of a home - the kitchen and bathroom. Again, you do not need to break the bank to get them looking good.

Kitchens with plenty of cupboards and space for a fridge, freezer, washing machine and tumble dryer are a great draw card. Most families have a fridge and a freezer and this should be taken into consideration. You could remove a few cupboards next to the fridge to make room, provided you have enough storage space. If space is tight there are other tricks to give the appearance of space.

Replacing old flooring with linoleum or light tiles makes the kitchen look bigger and brighter. A warm yellow is a great colour for the kitchen – it gives a bright sunny feeling. Put a colourful pot plant on the window sill and a vase of flowers on the table or counter for a cheery, homely look.

If you have an old-fashioned bathroom with psychedelic tiles that should have been replaced years ago, don’t despair. Here are some quick-fix solutions.

Tiles can be painted over quite easily – ask at your local hardware for the best paint for the job.

Re-enamel the bath and basin if they are in bad condition.

Fit a new blind to the window to add a modern look to the room.

Buy some crisp new towels and face cloths, a new soap dish, a few fragrant soaps and a flowering pot plant.

Shop around for an unusual mirror- it will add style and space to your bathroom.

Break out the elbow grease

Simply make the best of what you’ve got. Scrub cupboards, wash windows and get in the carpet cleaners. If you have a pool make sure it’s sparkling. Consult a pool expert if necessary. There is nothing more off-putting than a pool that looks like pea soup.

Do not fall into the trap of overspending on improvements. No matter how much you spend you’re unlikely to sell your home for more than 15% above the average price of other homes in the area.

The right price

It’s pointless putting an unrealistic price on your house – it will just sit on the market for months and you’ll end up dropping the price anyway.