I'm a property expert... here are SEVEN tips to ensure you home flies off the market

• Joshua Houston, property expert at Household Quotes, shared his top home tips

A property expert has revealed their top tips to help you make your home sell as quickly as possible. 

Joshua Houston, from Household Quotes, shared seven pieces of advice that budding sellers can use to make their home seem appealing to first-time viewers. 

Mr Houston said: 'Selling your home can be a nervy time, you may have your heart set on another property, but can't buy it until your house has sold.

People tend to be picky when it comes to potentially making an offer, which isn't surprising as it is one of the most important decisions of their lives. Do your absolute best to make your home feel like theirs, cover every base and take away potential excuses buyers could make not to put in an offer.'

Read on below for the property guru's advice on what to do prior to a viewing to increase your chances of a sale.  

Keep your home light and airy

Sharing his first tip, Joshua noted that the first thing buyers tend to notice the amount of sunlight that can get into the home.   

With this in mind, he said you should endeavour to make your home look as bright as possible by opening the curtains and inside doors, as well as having a lightly coloured interior.

He said: 'Bright rooms can make your home feel bigger than it actually is, which would really go your way as the seller. 

'It can also work to your advantage for that all-important first impression, walking into a bright airy property will urge people to want your home a lot more. 

'In the day of modern technology, you've got to take into consideration how photogenic the property is, it being lighter will look better on listing sites.'

Declutter 

Joshua's second tip addressed clutter in a household - stressing that it must be avoided at all costs. 

He remarked: 'If a home looks cluttered in its online photos or during the in-person viewing, this will put a lot of people off. 

'This is because your clutter takes up space, making it harder for potential buyers to see the space available, and imagine their belongings there. 

'Clean up your home to the best of your ability, and store clutter out of sight in either your cupboards, loft, garage or shed.'

Ensure the house smells fragrant 

Keen to focus on the importance of a first impression, Joshua advised hopeful sellers to always make sure that their home smells rosy. 

He explained: 'Walking into a home for a viewing that has a nasty smell would cause some to walk straight back out again. 

'To ensure your property smells as fresh as possible, in the days prior to viewings leave the windows open to allow odours to escape. 

'Then a few hours before, invest in plug-in air fresheners to place around your home. You can also light candles for that extra nice scent. 

'Don't make something as little as the smell be the reason you lose out on a buyer.'

Manicure your garden  

Joshua also noted the impact that the state of a garden can have on any home, as he warned that an untidy front or back garden could intimidate interested buyers. 

He advised that any potential buyer who sees overgrown grass and bushes on listing sites or in person may persuade people that this is too much of a challenge for them to take on. 

The property expert stated: 'To eradicate potential doubts in their mind, mow your grass and cut back any overgrown bushes. 

'This will make the surrounding area of your house look neat and more attractive for those viewing it.'

Give your property a homely feel 

Moving on to his next tip, the home sales expert said that it was important to allow a buyer the chance to imagine themselves living in your home as a means of being able to sell it. 

Mr Houston said: 'What I mean by this, is even though you don't want your house to be cluttered you also don't want it to be sparse. 

'For example, lay out a chess set before viewers arrive, and keep important ornaments on the windowsills and cabinets. 

'This will make your property seem more homely and cosy, which might be enough to convince a buyer to put in an offer.'

Apply a fresh coat of paint 

Giving his penultimate tip, Joshua said that while it is key to make your home feel lived in, you also don't want it to look run down. 

He shared that you can ensure a fresh look with new coats of paint, so that your abode can feel as if it's ready to be moved into without any work required from buyers. 

The expert said: 'Keep in mind the first point I made, try and choose brighter colours to get as much light into your home as possible. 

'A fresh lick of paint is a great way of getting someone to get their out of their pocket and put in a bid.'

Carry out any repairs 

Sharing his seventh and final tip, Mr Houston said you should carry out necessary repairs so that buyers are not put off from a purchase at the eleventh hour. 

The property guru warned that not doing so 'would reduce the selling price due to the money and effort that goes into [required repairs.'

He added: 'Holes and dents are common bits of damage to a home, make sure to fill them in and paint over them so viewers will not see any difference. 

'Your aim is to make your property look as attractive as possible to a buyer, so cover every step.'