PROPERTY ADVICE FROM SIMON MEEK: Q Dear Simon, I am hoping you can help me. I am short of money but I have reasonable handyman skills and can turn my hand to most things. Therefore, my question is this, what are the cheapest and easiest things you can do to your house before you put it on the market to help it sell at the best price?

A This could vary property to property but generally the cheapest and easiest things to do would be cleaning and de-cluttering. Presentation is so important and even more so today as potential buyers will be looking at high resolution photographs of your property on equally high quality iPads, smart phones and computer screens. Improving the presentation approach can also be employed in your garden. We all live in a way that makes us feel comfortable but offering a clean, fresh and bright property to the market is essential to a successful sale. Once you have been through the property it is ready for photographs and then a quick spruce up before each viewing will pay dividends. Decorating is probably the most accessible and affordable next option, particularly if you can do this yourself and it is limited to only one or two rooms. Then it could be general repairs, which are more time consuming than cost incurring. Beyond these options costs will increase and advice from your agent may help should you decide to go over and beyond the aforementioned improvements.

Q Dear Simon, as I edge towards retirement and after years of being in the property game, I have decided to sell my buy-to-let portfolio. However, I am not sure whether it would be better to break up the portfolio and sell them separately or sell them as one collective investment. Can you offer me any advice before I set the ball rolling?

A Depending on the calibre and quality of the properties within the portfolio they are more than likely to be worth more sold on an individual basis than as a collective. However, there will be further considerations for you before a sound decision is made. Dreaded ‘taxation’ for one, as whichever direction you take there will be the potential of income tax and capital gains tax implications. You will certainly need professional advice from your accountant as to which is the best option for your individual circumstances, for example spreading the sales over multiple years may prove to be more efficient from a tax perspective. Timescales will no doubt play a part too as one could argue a quicker route would be selling the portfolio as a whole rather than selling each one individually. You could speed this process up by placing them all on the market at one time but you may not want to flood the market and create direct competition for yourself, however, this depends on where they are geographically. A starting point would be to get both a global value and broken-up values for the portfolio from your local agent and then speak to your accountant regarding your liabilities.

Q Dear Simon, my house is currently on the market and I suppose it is possible to be concluded within the next few months. However, I now know that I will be abroad for most of the summer months and I do not want this to hinder a potential sale. Can my house sale still be processed even though I will not physically be in the country to deal with it?

A Absolutely, as long as you make suitable arrangements before you leave your sale transaction can be completed in your absence. Assuming you have an alternative place to live upon your return from abroad, i.e. friend’s house, with family or a second property, with the right preparations it can be done. Firstly you will need to speak to your solicitors to give them power of attorney (a written authorization to represent or act on another’s behalf in private affairs or business etc); this means they can conclude your sale on your behalf. Then agree with your agent the offer amount which would be acceptable to you if you were not contactable when an offer has been made. Packing your possessions and putting them into storage leaving only main furniture items for presentation purposes would be your next step. The same removal company who will be storing your belongings can then come and take the remaining furniture after you have exchanged contracts. With your furniture safely stored and money in the bank you can return to the country as and when you are ready.