Five secrets to selling your house quickly

If you want to sell your house quickly, keep it free of junk and don't force your bad taste in decoration on other people.

That common sense advice works time and time again, according to the experts on property website http://www.PublicAngel.com.

They say you're removing the barriers that will stop buyers making an offer quickly.

The expert tips are:

5. Price your home to sell: In the good times there are plenty of buyers in the market and lenders are offering competitive rates. But these aren't the good times, thanks to recent rate increases. So do your research. Find out what the houses in your area are selling for and what they have sold for in the past. And get several estate agents' opinions.

4. Don't force your bad taste on others: There's a reason TV property shows tell you to neutralise the colours. Assume that prospective buyers have no imagination and can't see beyond the garish colours. Help them project their own colour schemes by only using light colours like cream, beige, magnolia and white on walls and ceilings.

3. Lose the junk: Don't treat the viewing like an assault course... buyers don't want to step over old newspapers and slip over dog droppings! Clear away anything that detracts from the viewing. You need to give each of the rooms the feeling of spacious living. Remove any over sized furniture that make the rooms feel claustrophobic.

2. Fix your house: Leaking toilets and loose tiles give an impression the house is a high maintenance nightmare. Fix them. If you don't have the time, get a handyman to do it. You will lose more value on the house than the cost of fixing the problems.

1. Be ready to move in a short time: Have all your plans in place. Get quotes from removal companies and short term storage sites. Be prepared to rent a home for a short term so that you are not caught in a chain.