Are you putting your property on the market? We've teamed up with the experts at The House Sales Advisory to make sure you're place is as presentable to buyers as it can be

The secret to a fast house sale is good presentation, and the good news is that you don't need a degree in interior design or a large budget to make a dramatic difference to the attractiveness of your property.

Fundamentally, all buyers want the same thing: a tidy well-ordered house, filled with light, space and storage. Follow these eight simple but effective tips for a sellable house and see it get snapped up in no time.

1. Clean your home from top to bottom, inside and out
Cleaning your house is possibly the biggest chore you'll face when selling and because of this, most vendors don't bother to do it very well.

Their laziness is you chance to profit! If your home stands head and shoulders above your competition you'll be the first to sell. Cleaning costs nothing but if your carpets or curtains could do with a professional clean, don't hesitate to spend a couple of hundred pounds. It will be money well spent.

2. De-clutter
De-cluttering makes your property look bigger. It also enhances the feeling of tidiness and order, which is exactly what buyers want. You'll also find de-cluttering to be a cathartic experience and an excellent way to mentally prepare yourself for moving.

Unless experienced first-hand, this emotional side of selling is easy to underestimat so don't be taken aback if at first you find de-cluttering hard going. Keep at it because you'll be rewarded with a higher sale price.

Throw away (or donate) as much as possible and then throw away some more. After this, look again at your cupboards and other storage areas. Your goal should be to have all cupboards and storage areas no more than 75 per cent full.

Buyers always like to have a snoop around inside cupboards and if there isn't enough storage for you, they may assume there isn't enough for them.

3. Finish odd jobs
Every time a buyer sees a problem that needs fixing, they mentally reduce the price of your house, so make sure all DIY jobs and any other ongoing projects are completed before you go to market.

4. Don't neglect the exterior
Once you have the inside of your property looking great don't jeopardise your chances of a quick sale by neglecting the presentation of the exterior. First impressions really do count.

Look at your property from the road. How does it compare to other houses in your street? As you walk from the pavement to your front door, does every element of your property look cared for and well maintained?

5. De-personalise
Buyers do not want to buy your home, they want to buy your house and then make it their own. Buyers will fall in love with your house when they can imagine themselves living there. It can't be done with evidence of you or your family everywhere.

It will feel strange purging your home of personal effects but it really will help you to sell for more, so try to pack away family photos, souveniers, trophies, certificates and children's artwork. The more you sell for, the more you can buy so just keep focused on your new life while you box up your memories.

6. Go neutral
Sarah Beeny, presenter of Channel 4's Property Ladder, has made us very familiar with the concept of 'neutrality'. It might go against all your better instincts, but keeping your colours neutral means that your house will appeal to the widest range of tastes and is the quickest and cheapest way to increase the value of your property.

You'll find that your rooms will immediately appear bigger and brighter (major selling points) and you'll have created the blank canvas necessary for buyers to project positive visions of what their life could be like in the house.

7. Define the use of each room
While living in a house, the use of certain rooms can become blurred over time. Lounges often become partly office space, spare bedrooms tend to become storage rooms and dining rooms quickly become the kids' play area.

Consider converting these rooms back to their original use. It makes sound financial sense and will help raise your achievable sale price because certain rooms hold a greater perceived value than others. For example, buyers perceive bedrooms to be worth more than offices, and dining rooms to be worth more than playrooms.

8. Eliminate smells
Cooking, smoking, pets, damp and blocked drains all produce odours that turn off buyers. Smell is a funny thing and something that we tend to build a resistance to.

It may be embarrassing but it's always a good idea to ask a trusted friend to come by and have a sniff. An estate agent will never point anything as personal as this out to you. Finally, don't forget to air your house often while it's on the market.

At the House Sales Advisory you will learn how to get the best from estate agents, Online conveyancing solicitors and mortgage lenders. You will also find free guides on property valuation, selling property privately and how to deal with cash house buyers.