10 ways to dress your home for sale

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so if you want top dollar when selling your home it's vital that you put a little time, thought and elbow grease into presenting it well.

There are cheap and easy ways to make your home appealing to the largest number of potential buyers. Here are some ideas:

1 Ask your real estate agent for advice on which jobs are worth investing time and money in. Starting at the front gate, take a wander through the property and list anything that needs tidying up.

2 Bayleys residential sales expert Kirsty Stevenson says people tend to concentrate on the inside of their home, whereas it's vital that the outside creates a good first impression. Invest in a new mailbox, lay a new brick path and fix fences or trim hedges. Plant colourful flowers or modernise garden beds with riverstones. Leave outdoor lights on at night in case prospective buyers conduct a drive-by.

3 Tidy up the garage. Hide the wheelie bin and waterblast the concrete clean.

4 If the exterior is letting the rest of the house down, consider painting it a neutral colour that will have wide appeal. At the very least, paint the front door and garage door if they're tatty. Put pot plants either side of the front door. Buy a new doormat. Arrange an outdoor table and chairs on the deck.

5 Harcourts' Kevin Hill recommends making small repairs, such as replacing missing window latches and leaky washers. Touch up chipped or damaged paint on the walls or skirting boards. If these little things are in order, buyers will be more inclined to believe the house has been well maintained.

6 Paint any unusually coloured rooms a neutral shade, such as white, grey or taupe.

7 If your carpet is worn, check what's underneath. Pulling up the carpet and polishing the floorboards is an affordable way to update your home. Otherwise, have carpets professionally cleaned. Wash curtains, polish windows and scrub the oven.

8 If your shabby furniture is letting the side down, consider hiring smart modern furniture and artworks. Buy new throw cushions for the sofa or duvet covers for the beds - they'll update the rooms instantly and you take them with you when you move!

9 Rooms look bigger if they're not cluttered with furniture. Sell or store anything unnecessary and arrange the rest into clearly defined zones so buyers can see how the rooms are used. If you think your executive home is most likely to appeal to young couples without kids, set up one of your children's bedroom as an office instead. Kirsty says some buyers have fabulous imaginations, but others can't visualise how a room could be used, so you need to make it easy for them.

1 0 Remove ornaments and knick-knacks from surfaces throughout the house and box up personal effects such as family photos and sports trophies. This minimises distractions and allows the buyer to imagine themselves adding their own personal touches.