The tiny tweaks that can add tens of thousands to the value of your home, by an estate agent with more than 40 years' experience

Competition is fierce in the property market right now, with new research showing that 48 per cent of homes are ideally presented when the for sale sign goes up.

So how could you entice buyers and increase the value of your house without spending a small fortune?

With over forty years as a successful estate agent and chartered surveyor in the Test Valley, Hampshire, David Smith is ideally qualified to answer that question.

Consider a name change – adds up to £30,000

When changing a property's name, do ensure the new one is in keeping with its character

A property’s name can make all the difference. Research has shown that changing the name (or switching from a number) can add thousands to a property’s value and attract potential buyers.

Names such as The Old Rectory, Manor House, Rose Cottage and School House are among those thought to be most valuable.

But do ensure the new name is in keeping with the property’s character. Manor Farm House for a new-build terraced house in a city, for example, could confuse and end up putting off buyers.

Use throws and put the heating on – adds up to £2,000

Use throws to disguise battered old sofas and create a boho look

Buying a new suite of furniture for your living room can cost thousands – so make the best of what you have got.

Use throws to disguise the battered old sofas and create a boho look. Tastefully positioned lights in dark corners will add to the effect.

Ensure that the room is heated to a comfortable temperature and see to any badly fitted laminate flooring.

Boost kerb appeal – adds up to £15,000

Make sure the front door is freshly painted and add a few pot plants to the front of your home

Never underestimate the importance of making a good first impression.

Tidy up your front garden, add a few pot plants, jet wash the drive and touch up the paint work on the exterior walls.

Clean the moss off your roof and clear the gutters. Make sure the front door is freshly painted, check that the bell works.

Pay attention to hall and stairs – add up to £1,000

Sprucing up the stairs and hallway can make a good first impression

Too many people overlook these areas. Again, first impressions are vital so make sure you touch up any peeling paint and clean any dirty walls, especially near door frames and light switches.

Put on a pot of coffee to make the home smell welcoming – it’s a cliché but it works. Make sure coats are stored away and not draped everywhere.

Paint kitchen cabinets – adds up to £5,000

Create a fresh, clean look in the kitchen by painting the cabinets

Kitchens are a high impact room – but you don’t need to spend north of £20,000 to have a new one fitted to entice buyers.

Instead, paint units, replace cupboard handles or doors. Clean surfaces and make sure you have as little as possible on them.

The aim should be to create a fresh, clean look. Repair any moulding sealant and remove any limescale build-up around the sink.

Add off-road parking – adds up to £50,000

Adding a parking space to a property, particularly one in a prime city area, can boost its value

Most people dislike the idea of parking their vehicles overnight on the road so make a parking bay.

Phil Spencer, the face of Channel 4 show Location, Location, Location, estimates that paving over the front garden to create a parking space could add as much as £50,000 to the value of a property in a prime city area.

Replace bathroom taps and re-grout – adds up to £3,000

We are now a nation that prefers to shower rather than bath – so keep the latter if there's room

Having a new bathroom fitted can be very expensive – but seeing to the basics can be almost as effective.

Replace the taps with the latest designs, buy a stylish, statement mirror, paint the walls a clean, neutral colour and re-grout the tiling.

There is one item, however, on which it pays to invest. We are now a nation that prefers to shower rather than bath.

Keep the bath if you have room but install a shower if it is at all possible.

Empty the garage – adds up to £5,000

Garages often become full of junk, which is an immediate turn-off for prospective buyers

According to the RAC, 53 per cent of people never put their car in the garage, mainly because most modern cars are too big for a single garage.

They therefore often become full of junk, which is an immediate turn-off for prospective buyers – and a wasted opportunity to add real value to your property.

Clear out the junk, put in a computer and create a comfortable office space.

Alternatively, if you are a fitness enthusiast install your exercise cycle, rowing machine and other instruments of torture to create a home gym.

Get to the garden centre – adds up to £2,000

You can tidy up the lawns with some pre-planted containers from your local garden centre

Nature takes time to nurture so you can’t transform what you have in a matter of weeks.

However, you can tidy up the lawns and add a dash of colour with some pre-planted containers from your local garden centre.

Fix or replace any fencing that has had its day. Solar lighting in the flower beds is cheap and cheerful yet surprisingly effective on a summer evening.

Ditch the decking – adds up to £3,000

It's best to take up any decking that is past its sell-by date

Although new decking can work as the base for a patio it can also be dangerous.

When it ages it becomes slippery, broken struts are a hazard, particularly for young children and rats and other vermin have been known to build their nests under it.

Best to take up any decking that is past its sell-by date. Stone patios are a better alternative.

Give the shed a purpose – adds up to £2,000

If you have a shed full of junk then now is the time to have a clear out and give it a new identity

Out-buildings – be they home offices, man caves or ‘she-sheds’ – add considerable value to a property.

If you have a shed full of junk then now is the time to have a clear out and give it a new identity.

Could you put in bookcases and a comfortable armchair to make a ‘book nook?’

Crafting is all the rage now, with TV programmes such as The Repair Shop watched by millions. Why not hang some tools, buy a cheap work bench and make a workshop?

Energy efficiency – adds up to £5,000

If you can improve your EPC rating from an E to a C you will add value to your property

You must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when you are selling a home.

Until about ten years ago, however, nobody took much notice of their A-G rating.

Today it is a different story. Since the energy crisis buyers are more mindful of both costs and the environment.

If you can improve your EPC rating from an E to a C you will undoubtedly add value to your property. Consider double glazing, roof and wall insulation and solar panels.