Removing some furniture and painting walls in a calm neutral colour will probably do more for your sale than replacing a worn carpet and a dated bathroom.

I noticed how dreary the place seemed: a worn carpet, plain walls and poor lighting.

Paint the walls, replace stained or worn carpet and get it professionally cleaned — this means that you can require the tenants to do the same when they leave.

The worn carpets are mended with gaffer tape, and the artist owner's own canvasses and shell collection line the walls.

Slightly worn carpets, a fireplace and red sofas sit beneath vaulted ceilings.