Are you sale-ready? Top tips for selling your St Albans home this summer!

With fewer homes coming on to estate agents’ books than there are eager buyers ready to snap them up, the St Albans area is currently a sellers’ hotspot. But if you are hoping to achieve the best price for your property it is still worth doing all you can to make your house sale-ready. Here are some inexpensive ways to do just that...

* De-clutter by boxing up your nicknacks ready for your new home.

* Re-organise your rooms to make the best use of space and put bulkier items into store while you show your property.

* Tidy the garden and add colourful pot plants if necessary. You can take them with you when you go.

* Spruce the place up with a thorough deep clean, particularly the kitchen and bathroom. And de-odourize.

* Encourage more light in by hanging mirrors.

* Eliminate strong colours and go for a neutral scheme if possible. Magnolia has had its day but white is in.

* Send pets away. Though you love them, some buyers may not.

* Ensure kitchen cupboards and appliances are in a good state of repair.

* Worn carpets and lino look unattractive and are a trip hazard. Cover with a rug.

* Finish off all those DIY jobs that have been hanging around. If you don’t have time employ a professional.

* Replace spent light bulbs and keep the lights on when potential buyers visit.