How to stage your home.

Dark houses are a definite "no no" for potential house buyers so, before the sign goes up, make sure to maximise natural and artificial light in your home.

A brightly-lit home is a welcoming home and has the added bonus of maximising the sense of space in a house.

First up are your windows. No matter what your financial circumstances, there is absolutely no excuse for a dirty window. Get cracking and get them gleaming, inside and out. Trim tree limbs or cut back shrubs that block light getting into the house.

On the inside, remove net curtains and even curtains if your room is up to the ultra modern look and your drapes are a bit dreary.

Lighting is inexpensive, but it's important to get right, because nothing else can create a better atmosphere than some well-placed lamps. Consider brightening your home by increasing wattage on existing lamps, but be careful not to exceed the capacity rating on the lamp. Soft, atmospheric light is the most important light to harness, according to estate agent Felicity Fox.

"You must try to avoid having rooms dark at all costs," she warns.

However, rather than upgrading the wattage in main lights, concentrate on atmospheric and occasional lights. Having a main light on may draw the viewers' attention to the fact that the room is dark - occasional lighting is best, she says.

Re-arrange table and floor lamps to create an even distribution of light around the room and avoid dark corners if possible.

Make sure all outside lights are on and several rooms are lit from within in the evening to cater for prospective buyers who frequently drive by properties in the evening.

Finally, make sure that all lights, even out of the way closet and back shed lights, are in working order.