Kirsty Walker of Eves Real Estate (Bethlehem)

Oh boy, that yellow and green kitchen – it attracts the Australians, but it may have limited Kiwi appeal. Here is our advice: be careful with the use of strong colours.

Sometimes it works wonderfully well, especially if the home on offer is a little different.

For many buyers though, strong colours make it more difficult to successfully see themselves in your room. I am not saying you need to repaint, but be mindful your aim is to attract as many and as wide a range of potential buyers to and through your home to increase your chances of a swift and successful sale.

Instead, it is easier to be bold with furnishings to offset the neutral colours. It is much easier to change things like cushions, paintings and perhaps even drapes to reflect and embrace a personal taste.

Paint shops and websites offer colour wheels and allow you to play with colours on the computer before you take up your paint brush.

As an agent, I can often quickly tell the era that a house was built in by the tonings of the furnishings. Remember the pink and grey era or the blue and yellow rage?

Buying a home that is a little outdated may provide opportunity for the incoming owner. But it is usually done at a discount to those homes with a fresh inviting and modern look.

Similarly, exterior colours may attract or repel.

A great idea is to take a walk through and around your home and see what else is in your neighbourhood and what is for sale. Check out what sold recently and how fast it happened.

If a paint job is out of your budget, and not on the cards, remember to check the state of your paint and wall covering finish.

Glue back those pieces of wall paper that have lifted, paint where the kids (or you) have knocked the walls. Test pots can offer a really low cost way to cover some of those unsightly blemishes.