When you’re renovating to sell, it’s difficult to know where to spend time and money. Get it right and you could increase profit. Get it wrong and you’ll be throwing money down the drain.

Spending a little in the right place can make a big impact when the time comes to sell. We know the theory, but how do you know which things are worth investing time and money into and which ones aren’t? Here are a few tips to help maximise profit while minimising expenditure.

WHERE TO SPEND

Go Green and cash in on the latest change in buying behaviour. Buyers can’t get enough of solar hot water, rainwater tanks and drip-feed irrigation systems.

Clean up and air out the whole house. It must be spotless, so polish all the windows until they sparkle, remove any cobwebs and marks on ceilings, and go to work on any mould or mildew. Don’t just clean inside – think about kerb appeal.

Patch any cracks or gaps in walls, sand and fill with a flexible sealant. Be sure to choose a sealant that can be painted over.

Repaint walls, but don’t go crazy with colour. Choose neutral shades. If you don’t feel confident choosing colours, go for white to allow potential buyers to visualise their own colour themes, paintings and furnishings in the space.

Polish floorboards for a smarter look than worn carpet. Lift a corner of the carpet and check what’s underneath. If it looks good, pull up the carpet. Sand and polish boards using an odour-free, oil-based stain. If there are no boards, or they’re in poor condition, invest in professional carpet cleaning instead.

Throw out any clutter. Remove knick-knacks, souvenirs, children’s artwork, sporting equipment, toys, scatter rugs, pet food bowls, magazine baskets and scratching posts. A sparsely furnished layout implies elegant living and rooms appear larger with less furniture.

Decorate the interior with plants, vases or single feature sculptures. Don’t use air fresheners or burn essential oils, as some people are allergic to them. Most potential buyers are wise to the baking bread and brewing coffee tricks, but these smells still give a homely feel.

Step out of the house and consider adding a feature like a pergola. These look great, particularly when covered in plants, they define outdoor living spaces and give a simple but effective link between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Fence the property, making sure it fits in with the style of the home. Picket fences enhance a period-style home, but are less appropriate for a modern house. Repair broken palings.

Show how a north-facing garden can flourish on a sunny day. Set up some well-oiled outdoor furniture, barbeque and a sunlounge. The benefits will be obvious and the space will sell itself.

Attend to the garden. Strategicallyplaced pots of colourful plants give a splash of colour to the garden or highlight a deck area. Repair any cracked or broken paving and remove all the weeds.

Dirty Jobs such as cleaning guttering, replacing worn sections of downpipes or guttering, unblocking drains and removing cobwebs make a huge difference to the overall look.

Replace any blown lightbulbs inside and out. Consider installing security sensors that turn on exterior lights with a person’s movement.