How to stage your home

No matter how much work you put into getting your home into pristine condition for the sales campaign, it's not just your house that househunters are vetting, it's the neighbourhood too.

Your windows may sparkle, your lawn may be manicured to within an inch of its life and your toilet décor may put Hyacinth Bucket to shame, but a broken down car or wild garden next door could make a difference to how your property is rated. The worst of it is that it's totally out of your hands.

A recent UK survey revealed that estate agents believed that a scruffy banger in the next-door driveway can wipe as much as 5.5 per cent from the price of your home. Caravans and mobile homes have a negative impact on house prices, too, according to the survey.

While you may not be brave enough to take on your neighbour and their caravan, it can be an idea to tell your neighbours that you are selling up before the sign goes up and ask for their co-operation.

Some serious diplomatic skills could be called if they don't take the hint. You could offer to put a lick of paint on their rusty gate while doing yours to get the message across. If you are sprucing up your garden you could also offer to trim their hedge or mow their lawn.

In apartments, communal areas, such as the hall, stairs and landings can be a real pain.

The best idea is to make sure everyone knows that you are selling and gently remind neighbours to collect their post and help keep other communal areas tidy. Have a word with the management company and try to ensure that bins and repair work don't get in the way of your sales campaign. The most important thing, however, in an apartment scheme is to make sure all the light bulbs are working.