PROPERTY NEWS - Before opening your house for show days or allowing potential buyers through the door, there are a few things that you need to do before listing your property for sale in Riversdale.

Selling your home can be trickier than it appears, and even though you may have a good estate agent, there are some things that you can do to help speed up the process.

This checklist is fairly simple and relies more on some elbow grease than cost. However, initially you should do a full inspection of the home and ensure that any minor fixes are completed. This includes tightening hinges on cupboard doors as well as tending to broken light switches, minor wall or door scuffs, as well as any damage on stairs.

Once that is out of the way, turn your focus to clearing up congested spaces. Whether you are using a room as a storage area, or have just collected items over the years that don't have a place of their own, you need to clean up and store items out of sight. This allows for viewers to move easily around the home, and also shows off the true amount of space available.

Next you want to turn your attention to some of the main areas of the home, namely the bathrooms and kitchen. These spaces are normally key selling points and if they are untidy or dirty, you can quickly scare off potential buyers. Keep these areas immaculate during the buying process.

Lastly, tackle any outstanding garden work. Outdoor areas need to be clean cut and tidy, both at the front and back of the property. Your entrance way makes the first impression, while the backyard should be a personal safe haven.

These simple checks can help speed up the sale process and prevent potential buyers from haggling over minor details.