If you're thinking about putting your house on the market, you will be worried about getting the maximum value for your property. In the lead up to a sale, many people invest heavily in fixing it up cosmetically in order to increase its value in the eyes of an independent surveyor.

Whether you're thinking about selling up in the short-term, or just want to keep your house as desirable as possible in the meantime, read on. Below is my list of things you should look at doing to add value to your property before it goes on the market.

Ensure Structural Stability

The first thing on your mind should be improving the structural integrity of your house. For all the bells and whistles you can add on later, they mean nothing without a solid foundation. And there's nothing that can decrease the value of your home like structural damage. What buyers are looking for in new homes is stability. They will be extremely wary of purchasing a home that needs work before it is tenable. Perform a thorough check of your home and fix any problems that arise. This can include roof repair, damp, rotten beams and stress cracks, all of which could scupper any potential sale. Fixing them comes at a price, but not as costly as having to lower your asking price.

Cosmetic Surgery

With a sound structural foundation, you can begin to think about improving your home aesthetically. This is where all the superficial upgrades come into play. Could your walls use a new coat of paint? Do your door hinges need replacing? Should the flooring be ripped up and upgraded? Inspect your house and scrutinise every detail you can find, because you can be sure somebody else will later. If you have to ask yourself whether the peeling paintwork is such a big deal, also consider if that would affect your decision to buy. Generally, you want to leave no stone unturned. Try to fix every detail, no matter how insignificant it may seem, that your time and bank balance will allow. Believe me, it will only pay off in the long run.

The Conversion Conversation

There is a long-running debate throughout the home-owning community. Plenty of people wonder whether home conversions do, in fact, increase the value of their properties. As far as I'm concerned, the answer is a resounding yes! The doubts usually stem from the time, effort and cost involved in performing a conversion, but ultimately, it pays for itself. The same is true of extensions - money spent on home improvements inevitably results in higher value. Especially if you're only thinking about selling up in the long-term. Dealing with it now allows you to enjoy the fruits of your labour for yourself. Why wouldn't you want to enjoy the benefits of a conservatory, loft, or garage conversion? This will ultimately sway buyers in your favour. As far as they're concerned, you've already taken care of the hard work for them.

Take care of these issues, and your sale will take care of itself!