Guide to selling your home

Property improvements

• If you're thinking about selling in the long term, it is worth considering improvements that could help the prospects of making a quick sale. Updating your kitchen or bathroom can be a good move that can help sell and add value to your home. So are adding central heating and loft insulation.
• But costly additions like swimming pools may actually hinder the sale - they're a lot of hassle and can put off families with children.

Neat and tidy

• In the short term, there are a number of things that can improve your chance of a sale. A tidy front garden and new outside paintwork are small but valuable improvements - remember, first impressions really do count.
• Light and neutral colours inside are good - bear in mind that whereas you might like vibrant colours, they are not to everyone's taste.
• Give your home a proper spring clean. Remember - if you do any painting inside your home to wait a few days for the smell to disappear before you put it on the market. Buyers may assume you are trying to hide something under a fresh coat of paint.
• Clear out clutter - it may make you feel at home but can put off purchasers. Remember that a light uncluttered room will look larger.
• Clear up the garden and get rid of any rubbish. Cutting the grass and trimming hedges and unruly bushes is also recommended.

Alert the public

• Sole Agency agreement giving one agent the exclusive right to sell your property for an agreed period. Although this is the cheapest option, one drawback is that, if in the end, you sell your property through a private sale, you still have to pay the agent's commission.
• Joint Sole Agency agreement where two agents have sole selling rights, but split the commission whichever sells the property. This is more expensive than a sole agency agreement.
• Multiple Agency Agreement where several agents have your details. Whichever agent sells your property gets the commission on the sale. The most expensive option.