You only get one chance to make a first impression as they say, so it has to be a good one. This is never truer than when you are selling your home.

Any potential buyer will have several properties to choose from in their price range and all too often yours might be only one of many they visit in a day. Presenting your home to its best advantage is vital if you want it to stand out from the crowd. Time and effort devoted to this will encourage that hoped-for offer.

The exterior of your property is the first thing any house-hunter will notice. Is it in good order? If not, are there running repairs you can make?

Is the garden tidy? After all, it provides the setting for your home. Buyers will have their own ideas about the sort of garden they want, so there is no need to redesign it or do any special planting. But you should clear away toys and bikes and park extraneous cars away from the house.

No one expects your home to be a show house. A welcoming ‘lived-in’ feel is preferable, if it is also clean and tidy. Some homely features may include fresh flowers, soft background music and good lighting. Keep children and pets under control!

Kitchens and bathrooms are both important selling points to a house and viewers expect to find them hygienic and orderly. Strong odours are off-putting, so keep those cooking smells at bay and ventilate thoroughly.

Beyond the normal tasks of vacuuming and washing down, you may feel it necessary to perk up a dingy room with a new coat of paint. Bear in mind, though that you are unlikely to recoup the cost of more extensive redecoration.

If you are considering increasing the value and saleability of your home with more major improvements, keep them appropriate to the intrinsic worth and style of the property. A new kitchen, double glazing or conservatory are attractive features but their cost may not be compensated for in the sale price. If however you can enjoy these new additions yourself for a couple of years before you sell, it would make them more worthwhile.

Finally, remember that last impressions count too and show viewers the best features of your home again before they leave.