Think I have decided to put house up for sale..any tips..??

Good luck. Can you make friends with the next-door tenants and get them to tidy up, or at least let you do it?

I am afraid that i would not view your house if I saw the state of the house and garden next door!

Think you really need to do something about the house next door, biker. Could you contact the lettings agent? Also, check out properties local to you on Right Move so you can weigh up the opposition.

Lavender furnish polish makes me feel good. Try to make my cleaner use it, but she prefers the quick and easy ones!

Biker - may I talk about smell? Of course all our houses have their own particular aroma, which we don't notice because we are used to it. I've found that when I return from holiday I can smell my own house, but then I quickly become accustomed to it. When house hunting, there are certain smells that put me right off - animals (although I am an animal lover), smoke and the attempt to mask it with air freshener or scented candles, a damp or musty smell, fresh paint (what are they trying to hide?). I like a house that is not only really clean, but smells fresh and well aired out.

When I saw my house, it was painted brown and bright blue inside. Useless kitchen and bathroom, garden had not been touched 5years. I wanted detached, it was a middle terrace, I wanted S facing garden, it's N facing!

BUT THE VIEW I fell in love and have now been here for a few years (35 to be exact) and although its far to big 'I shall not be moved, I shall not be moved etc:'

Oh dear Biker sorry to hear of your difficulties . I'm assisting a relative with house hunting at the moment and we look at a lot of practical things things like:
how old is the boiler/when was it last serviced?
is the roof sound?
does the house need rewiring/plumbing?
is the house well insulated?
does the house appear to have been well maintained?
is there double glazing?
are there signs of damp?
A dirty house is off putting, but I don't mind if a house is simply untidy or cluttered - that's easily remedied.

Yesterday we looked at a HUGE double fronted 6 bedroom house that was lived in by a couple about to retire and return to their roots; they're moving to a bigger house because they don't have enough room in their present one!! It was true too, there was ample storage in every room, but all the cupboards and wardrobes etc. were chock a block.

Oh biker, what can I say but sending some (((hugs))). Thinking about the house, if you haven't already done so speak to the Estate Agent who should be able to tell you the sort of things you need to do and usually it is not as much as you expect because people like to make the house their own.

Look after yourself

I've only ever been put off a house if its grubby so I'd say spotless is the key factor. If people can live with a grubby house then I think they are not too fussy about maintenance etc.. so I look for a clean oven/kitchen/bathroom.. if the garden is well cared for too.