Here are a few great ways to add value to your home, before sending it to the market;

Tidy and paint the outside of the house

It may seem simple, but if you are selling a property, you initially have to get buyers through the front door. This means that the outside of the property should look smart and as attractive as possible. Painting and simple maintenance costs can set you back as little as 100, but could add thousands to the property price. Also, don't forget to pay attention to the windows (get them cleaned if necessary), clear up the driveway, and unblock guttering if needed.

Refurbish/clean the front door

First impressions definitely count when trying to sell a house. A dirty, old or generally unkempt front door will hardly encourage potential buyers. Make sure that your front door looks smart, pay attention to the doorknob and letterbox. A new doorknob and letterbox can cost as little as 50 and can be purchased in most DIY stores. Also, make sure that the number of your house is clear and in good condition, again, you can replace this for very little cost.

Focus on the kitchen

When preparing to sell a house, if you only have the budget or time to improve one room, make it the kitchen. The kitchen is generally seen as the focal point in any house, and small improvements can make a big difference. An attractive and efficient work surface should be your main priority, creating easy access between the three main points of the kitchen; the sink, fridge and cooker. If small appliances are looking particularly dated, they can be replaced at a quite reasonable cost at most high street kitchen firms. Equally, work units should be cleaned up wherever possible, or replaced if beyond repair. There are now options to simply replace the fascia's of cupboards, rather than install a brand new kitchen, so this may be worth considering. Before viewings, ensure that any personal clutter is removed, allowing visitors to gage the space accurately.

Change the windows

The windows should match the house as it is now, and should be in keeping with the age and style of the property. Don't be tempted to install brand new white PVC windows in an older-style property; it can actually be detrimental to the valuation price. Generally speaking, if the windows are in good condition, concentrate on cleaning up the paintwork on the windowsills and surrounds. Think about adding window locks inside, if you don't currently have them, security is a key consideration for many buyers.

Build a conservatory

Of course, there may not be room in your budget to add a conservatory, however, it has been proven that the addition of a conservatory costing 5,000-30,000 can add around 7 per cent to the value of a house, while a large scale extension costing 10,000-30,000 can add around 11 per cent. Always make sure that a conservatory matches the style of the rest of the house. A conservatory should be seen as an extension of the rest of the house, and should 'flow' easily into the next room.

If this has made you consider down-sizing, I suggest you check this out:  Sell Your Home Fast