The housing market is competitive and buyers, be it for property investment or to live in, want to get the best bang for their buck. Here are some simple and effective home renovation tips for selling your home. No fuss property maintenance and intelligent interior design will have potential buyers' eyes twinkling with lust.

My kitchen rules

The kitchen is the most critical room in the house. Most potential buyers head straight for this room, so if it's not of a current design and décor, some buyers will not look any further.

Depending on your budget, you can replace the kitchen sink and update old fixtures, or get a professional to give it a fresh coat of paint. And while they are there, get the rest of the house done.

Give the bathroom some soap appeal

Next to the kitchen, the bathroom is the next most crucial room in the house. Interestingly, the room we want to spend the least amount of time in is one of the most important. Simple cost effective improvements like changing the fittings, vanity, or toilet or reorganising the space might improve the aesthetic and can be easily done by a licensed plumber.

House designs fall prey to fashions. So those tiles that were in vogue 20 years ago might not have the same appeal. If this is the case, consider getting a tiler to do the job as the quality of a professional’s work affects property prices.

A house of art

Not everybody has the same tastes. So how then do you coordinate changes to match your home décor and appeal to the highest number of people? The simple answer: hire an interior designer.

They can advise you on the latest designs that promote the best possible house prices in the current housing market. Modernising your house in order to increase interest in it should lead to a higher sale price.

Make the outside welcome people in

People judge things by how they look, so if you have a fully restored sandstone house or one designed by an award winning architect, it will not mean much if your lawn and garden are not playing their part.

Speak to a landscape gardener who, as well as getting your lawn and garden in shape for the sale, can suggest simple and effective improvements to show off the best assets of your house, ensuring that the exterior of your property attracts buyers to have a look inside. A case study by Brisbane City Council found that landscaping and trees added up to $29,000 (5.4%) to the median sale price of properties.

We all accumulate stuff over time, especially if you have been in your property for a long time. Consider having a big clean-up and calling a rubbish removal company. Also carry out simple maintenance and repairs to the exterior of the property.