Could presenting a dirty house for sale really lose you money? What about leaving smelly pet-food bowls on the kitchen floor or following potential buyers around at an "open for inspection"?

It's difficult to put a dollar figure on what it will cost you if you fail to prepare your home properly but there are some things a vendor should try to do when putting the home on the market.

These are our top ten tips when opening your home for buyer inspections...

THE 'TO DO' LIST

* Ensure open days do not coincide with a big celebration
* De-clutter every room in the house
* Make minor repairs to walls, floors, fixtures and fittings
* Spring clean, consider using a professional
* Clean the yard, cut lawn, clean pool, weed flowerbeds and trim edges
* Book pets into a kennel or leave them with friends
* Lock away any valuables
* Try to co-ordinate inspection times for when house looks best, eg when the sun is shining in
* Put the best linen on the beds and best towels in the bathroom
* Make yourself scarce.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOOK