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The following are some suggestions for some relatively low cost improvements and repairs you might consider, inside and outside your home.

De-clutter the house.

Most of us have unnecessary items that are much loved displayed around the home.  Buyers have treasures of their own that they wish to display.  You need to "open" up the house so they can envisage their own belongings in that space.  If storage is a problem, ask a friend or relative to "baby-sit" some boxes for you until your home is sold.

Kitchens and bathrooms are very important aspects when selling a home.

Ensuring that these two rooms are consciously tidy and clean can be the difference between making a sale or not.

Give the interior walls and mirrors a clean.

For families with small children, this can be difficult but very worthwhile.

Make the beds.

Teenagers and children need to be aware this is a great thing they they can do to help out.

Have a "spring clean" of drapes, curtains and venetians.  It would have to be done before the Pre-settlement inspection anyway.

Have the carpets cleaned. 

This is not appropriate for homes with small children, and most people looking to buy will (or should be) considerate of that.

Clean out the gutters on the property.

This should be done prior to a buyers Building Inspection anyway.

Flowers around the home are always nice.

Some of the new artificial flowers are very nice and can work out to be less expensive in the long run.

• You want to give the impression of a healthy, luxuriant, colourful garden. If there is time, plant some flowers and reseed the lawn. If not, consider hiring or borrowing flowers and shrubs, especially for the entrance to your home.

• Make sure the plants you do have are kept healthy and neat. Put down fertilizer and mulch, weed your garden beds, and prune the shrubs and trees. Make sure the whole garden is generously watered.

• Keep your lawn mown and raked, and make sure your driveway and paths are swept (including the footpath outside your home).

• Thoroughly clean the outside of the house, including its guttering and windows.

• Clean up your garage and garden shed (if this is impossible, keep it safely locked!).

And at the last minute...

• Have you cleaned up everywhere? That means inside cupboards, under beds and so on.

• A few finishing touches to the garden can also make a difference, so rake up those fallen leaves and branches. You might put the sprinklers on to give the lawn a wet, healthy appearance.

• Buyers are often concerned with how much light a home receives. Open all curtains and blinds, and consider using some artificial lighting in very dark rooms.

• Make sure your home feels comfortable. If it's cold, heat the rooms, especially if you have an open fire. If it's hot, make sure your home is cool: if you only have fans, consider borrowing an air-conditioner.

• Put out flowers in vases, particularly near the front door where first impressions are made. But don't clutter the place with decorations. Each of us has different tastes, and it is harder for a prospective buyer to imagine what the home might be like if it is filled with your own idiosyncratic style (this may mean storing away that collection of hubcaps!)

• A home which smells beautiful will seem much more attractive to buyers. Make sure your home is properly aired. Put out potpourri, or even bake something in the oven the morning of the inspection. Avoid incense and other strong aromas.

• Have you removed all your valuables?

• Go out and see a movie! Your agent knows best how to run the inspection, and you may get in the way.