From updating the garden or lawn, to decluttering and giving the place a good clean, you want your home to be in tip-top shape for a potential buyer to view or to make your surroundings a little more comfortable.

If you are thinking of selling, there is a time-honoured list of renovations and updates you can follow to ensure the best features of your home are being showcased during a viewing.

The best way to go about these updates is to choose one or two projects which will really standout to interested parties, while also allowing buyers to imagine any personal touches they may like to make.

Check out the 'how to' guide below to help you get motivated and prepare your home with small (and big) ideas which may even add value to your property.

Before deciding on your projects, you need to take a good look around the inside of your home and think about how a buyer may see it when they first enter.

Are there any projects you've been putting off like repairing minor damage? Are your fittings a little out of date? Is the paint starting to peel?

Choose a couple of quick jobs which you can tackle yourself on a small budget first to see if these make all the difference.

A bit of gumption can go a long way to making your home feel cared for and more appealing to a buyer.

Among other things, dripping taps, stained carpet and peeling paint can be a bit of a turn-off for buyers. If you're unsure of where to start, have a chat with your agent about what areas they think need a bit of TLC.

If you've already moved out and your home is looking a little bare without furniture, consider hiring someone to style your home for you or simply hire a handful of items to fill the space out and give it a bit more warmth.

Make your outdoor areas more appealing with some freshly planted flowers or a lush, green lawn - and don't forget to clean your windows (inside and out) and brush away those cobwebs.

Hiring professional cleaners for both the interior and exterior of your home will ensure a thorough job is done and can take a lot of pressure off as you prepare to sell.

If you're willing to do larger renovations, the kitchen and bathroom/s are often the first place potential buyers will want to see.

Think about whether new appliances such as a stovetop or new tiles have the potential to add further appeal.

However, before making any drastic changes, consider your budget and whether any major refurbishments or renovations will increase your profit or if you'll be left out of pocket.

There is no point going all-out if buyers aren't willing to pay more for your efforts.

Once everything on your list is ticked off, make sure you do a final check of the interior and exterior for anything you may have missed and then kick back and let your agent handle the sale.

Making just a couple of these simple changes can increase the value of your home.