Listed below are some key points to consider when selling or buying.

Adding value to the INSIDE of your home:

Giving your home a good spring clean is always an excellent start when preparing your home for sale and last week this column looked at simple ways to ensure your outside areas look in top condition at open inspections.

This week, we will look at the inside of your home.

The front door is the gateway to your home so make sure the area around the door is nice and tidy. Give it a good sweep so there are no cobwebs and then take a fresh look at the inside area that it opens up to. Does it appear welcoming? Perhaps consider placement of items such as a hallway table with a bunch of flowers or a hatstand if it looks a little bare.

If you have carpet in the home, getting it professionally cleaned will remove most of the day-to-day stains and give the carpet a fresh lease of life. Also, don't forget to clean or dust blinds and curtains as these can become quite dirty over time and easily overlooked.

Throughout the house, make sure everything is neat and tidy and avoid clutter. Potential buyers often like to visualise their own furniture and belongings in a home, so it is important to keep the areas nice and open which will also make rooms appear larger. As suggested last week, consider placing items in storage if you feel that you have too much furniture.

A fresh coat of paint can really lift the atmosphere within a home, but when considering colours, remember that everyone's taste are different, so the safest colour choices are neutral tones. If you decide that painting throughout is not necessary, a thorough wall clean and paint touch-ups in high traffic areas will still make a big difference.

Smell has a huge impact on people's senses and any unpleasant odours should be removed through use of neutral odour agents. You might also like to consider burning subtle fragrant oils, however make sure the scents are not too overwhelming.

Now you feel that your house is ready for an inspection, ask a trusted family member or friend in for an honest opinion. They will be able to point out the little things that you might have overlooked such as light bulbs without shades, windows that need a quick wipe or furniture that looks out of place.

Adding Value to the OUTSIDE of your home:

Attractive, well-presented homes are usually the most popular properties on the market so it is important for vendors to consider what can be done to make the home most appealing.

There are many little things that a vendor can do to give the property a facelift which are modest in cost and will reap financial rewards in the long-run and this week we will look at the things that you can do to the outside of your property.

The front garden is one of the first things a purchaser will see when they arrive at the property. Is it neat and tidy? Does it welcome people to the property?

If your garden leaves a little to be desired, invest some time in cleaning it up and then visit the local nursery to buy some flowering plants and shrubs to fill any open spaces. For around $100, you should be able to purchase a nice range of plants that will ensure your front garden has some colour, looks neat and welcomes potential buyers inside.

Perimeter fencing can also make all the difference to the streetscape appeal of your property. If your property has a wooden fence, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. Brush fences can be repaired for a modest cost if starting to look a little tired or if you have a hedge fence, trim it up so your property looks neat and tidy.

Garages can offer excellent storage space, however this can also leave them looking cluttered and messy. As you have made the decision to move home by placing your property on the market, why not get a head start and clean the garage up now so it's seen as a clean and tidy area with plenty of open space when potential buyers step outside the backdoor? Storage space can be rented for very reasonable rates and removing clutter is essential to ensure the property looks its very best at open inspections.

And don't forget your backyard – is it tidy? Is your outdoor furniture clean and strategically placed to invite purchasers to use the area for entertaining?