Selling your house may not be as easy as you first thought. You may love your house, but in a tough economic climate, getting others to fall in love with it may be slightly tricky. In order to sell your house quickly, whilst still getting a good price for it, you may want to follow these simple rules.

1. First impressions count When selling your house you need to remember that first impressions count. Why not wander round your house with a different mindset, try to view your property as if you were looking to buy it? The things that you have in your property and the way it is laid out furniture wise, may not lend itself to selling quick. Make a list of things that need to be changed or altered. This could include fitting that new tap, painting the front door a more inviting colour or even doing a spot of gardening.

2. Time to de-clutter If your house has fast become a hoarding place and is starting to look more like your local rubbish tip than a warm and inviting home, then you need to de-clutter. Now is a great time to get rid of all your unwanted items. Not only will it make your property look better and open up more space, but it will also make packing to move house much easier. Why not have a car boot sale and make a few pennies too?

3. Choose your estate agent carefully Estate agency is a highly competitive market place. In a slow market your house won't sell itself, so your estate agent will need to be extremely proactive. Get recommendations and ask friends and family who have recently sold their property. It is advisable to get three estate agents in to come and value your property. But don't always be tempted to go with someone who values it at the highest price. The valuation needs to be realistic and you don't want to keep knocking the price down. You also need to keep in mind that you will be dealing with them on a regular basis so it needs to be someone that you feel you can get along well with.

4. Speculate to accumulate.  A lick of paint here and there never did anyone's property any harm. But be careful, don't go for bold and bright colours. Try and keep the decorating as neutral as you can. Remember that prospective buyers will be trying to picture themselves living in your property. If you make your home too quirky or unique then buyers may struggle.

Also, don't overspend on your property either. Your buyers will probably want to update your property once they are in. Ensure that your estate agent is putting your property on a portal site. With so many people using the internet these days to find their dream home you could miss out if you are not searchable on a portal site. Don't expect your property to sell instantly. Give people time, they may need to come back for a second or third viewing too. It is a big decision moving house so you would be wise to remember that patience is a virtue.