Selling your home can be an exciting prospect, with the dream of a mystery buyer waltzing in and offering double what you were expecting. Your new-found riches can be invested in a waterfront mansion, with everyone sitting around the pool with smiles on their faces and martini’s in hand. Back to reality… selling your home is hard work. However, it’s always worth the extra sweat to make sure you give yourself the best possible opportunity to present your property as attractive and sellable.

When you’re looking to sell, make sure you run through this list before the first open house:

• DIY projects

For some, the simply acronym D.I.Y. can be enough to cause nightmares and cold sweats. Focusing on the right DIY projects when looking to sell your home usually means a bit of hard work, but it’s almost always worth it. Those loose boards on the deck? Fixing them could use you a few screws, but avoid a potential trip hazard at an open house. That mouldy curtain? Tearing it down could completely change the perception of the room. Those weeds in the front garden? 10 minutes with a spade and bucket and your garden can be transformed from mediocre to lovely.

• Clean and tidy

It seems obvious, but you’d be amazed at how many homes are still messy and dirty when the house inspection rolls around. Real Estate agents frantically packing away rubbish and scrubbing bench tops, just to give the property a fighting chance at selling. Always walk through your property and try to see things how buyers would see it. First impressions are important. Ask a friend or neighbour to walk through and ask for their honest feedback. If needed, hire a cleaner for a few hours to do a thorough clean and vacuum.

• Lick of paint

There’s not much that’s appealing about a pink lounge room or peeling paint on the ceiling. A few hours spent applying a fresh coat of paint in neutral colours (think white or a soft pastel grey) can prove the difference between a motivated or lukewarm buyer.

• Personal artifacts – in or out?

Whether to keep personal items on display during an open home is always a contentious issue. While there are pros and cons to both options, it’s best to stick somewhere in the middle. You need to give buyers the option to use their imagination so they can visualise themselves living in the space. At the same time, presenting yourself as a friendly and lovable person can be valuable when it comes for negotiating terms.