Fit for sale?

Maybe it's just jealousy because we can't keep our pad perfect, but I wouldn't want to live in anywhere that "wonderful".

I'm sure if we decided to move I would feel different. Before the "for sale" board is hammered into the front garden, most folk go into panic mode. They set to - redecorating, scrubbing, cleaning, tidying and clearing clutter. They put furniture into storage, put away photos, vases and personal possessions.

Once the property is actually on the market they spend many more hours tidying, cleaning, putting away - and living an almost unnatural existence in the hope that all this will make a difference and lead to a sale.

There are people who have made their fortunes by appearing on TV or writing books and magazine articles telling us what we actually know - that our homes are full of things we don't actually want or need.

If you're thinking of selling, a good estate agent should advise you for free on how to make the most of your property, where to put furniture, what to take out and what to leave in to make spaces look bigger, rooms look lighter and lovelier.

It's nothing new. People used to be told to put on a pot of coffee and fill the place with the smell of newly-made bread. There was the "fresh flowers in every room" phase. There was the paint-every-room magnolia instruction. The white is wonderful. The clear-your-clutter warning. I wonder what will be next.

But do you think all this actually make a difference to the saleability of a home?