Can DIY help you sell your house? Canterbury estate agent's top tips

The Canterbury housing market may not be in as much trouble as many places in the UK - but selling your home quickly and for a profit can still be pretty tricky.

So what can you do to improve your chances? Could some home improvements be the answer? Or just a costly waste of time? We asked Paul Page, from local estate agents Godwin Curtis.

"The most important thing is to make sure your house is clean and tidy", says Paul, "if you haven't decorated for ten years but the property is clean it can look better than a newer house that's messy".

So keeping on top of the housework is a must if you want to sell, but there are also ways you can use your DIY skills (or call in the experts) to appeal to buyers?

Here are Paul's tips:

Declutter

Put up storage to help the house look neater, potential buyers will find it easier to imagine their own things in the house

Neutrals

Keeping things neutral throughout the house can help, but its in the kitchen and bathroom where this is essential. "A white suite is must" according to Paul. "A lot of buyers these days don't have that extra money to spend on doing up these areas, so it's important that they're right".

Modern Essentials

Buyers these days expect double glazing and good central heating, if you don't already have these they can be a big investment, but money well spent.