When people are looking for a new home to buy, they tend to be ruled by their emotions. So if you want to sell your property, it pays to make potential buyers feel instantly at home…

When you’re trying to work out how to make your home more attractive to potential buyers, remember what it was that you found most appealing about the house when you bought it… Was it the size of the rooms? Then make them look as spacious as possible by clearing away your clutter. Was it the ease of finding somewhere to park? Then make sure your buyers don’t have to park miles away – even if it means you have to free up a parking space. Was it the well-tended garden? Then do a bit of pruning and weeding and tidy up the toys and garden hose.

First impressions count, and that means that the outside of the house needs to look appealing: the front garden, the driveway and the front door. Mow the lawn, trim any hedges and maintain a weed-free path. Try to make sure that paint isn’t peeling off the front door. These are all worthwhile efforts in the quest to sell your home as soon as possible.

Inside the house, concentrate on the decor, more than the furniture or fittings – a buyer will most likely replace those anyway and you want them to be able to visualise their own belongings in new surroundings. Neutral colours are a good idea, and make sure windows and work surfaces are clean.

Try to have as much light in your house as possible and be aware that some people don’t like and may even be frightened of animals. It can be a good idea to try and keep pets out of sight.

Although it’s a cliché, attractive smells do have a positive impact. If you can’t stretch to home baking, then fresh flowers and fresh coffee are a good idea. And the opposite also applies: make sure there aren’t any unpleasant smells – throw out any old or dying flowers, for example.

Make bookshelves, cabinets and closets look bigger by clearing about half of the contents off them. And one final tip, when the hordes arrive to look round, let the buyer go in front as they walk from room to room.

When you’ve made the sale and are ready to settle into your new home, don’t forget to sort out your insurance. For existing policyholders, it’s easy to transfer your Direct Line Home Insurance to your new property. Simply give our hotline a call on 0845 246 8709 and we’ll re-evaluate your premium for you. If you’re looking to take out a new home insurance policy, Direct Line offers a good deal better. Why not get a quote now and see if you could save.