Research conducted by a major High Street building society on what buyers look for in a home resulted in the following top tips to sellers:

• Tidy up....it may sound like a simple concept, but a clutter-free environment can make all the difference. Over half (55 per cent) of potential buyers say they would find an untidy house a major turn-off
  
  
• Be polite....almost 70 per cent of buyers are most likely to be deterred by a rude seller or estate agent
  
  
• Eliminate smells....75 per cent of people are put off by household smells made by pets or cigarettes
  
  
• Tackle DIY disasters....poor building work or DIY is a big turn off according to around 90 per cent of potential homebuyers
  
  
• Fix those fence panels....over 80 per cent of viewers would think twice about putting an offer in on a house with a garden that lacks privacy
  
  
• Introduce 'green' features....when given the choice between two properties of a similar size and value, the majority of homebuyers (82 per cent) claim a house with environmentally friendly features such as solar panels, has more of an influence on their decision to buy than an attic room (68 per cent), period features (63 per cent) or walk-in wardrobes (62 per cent)
  
  
• Focus on the kitchen....over half (54 per cent) of potential buyers believe this to be the most influential room when making the decision to buy
  
  
• Ditch the decking...along with Jacuzzis, decking is one of the features least likely to tempt a potential buyer
  

While there is no evidence to suggest that these top tips would command a higher price, sellers might find they come in useful when they encourage potential buyers to view their property