New stamp duty rules mean property affordability will change within months - how to get ahead of it

It also means sellers need to be reasonable on price. You may think your house is the best on your street but an unrealistic price will mean your home remaining on the market for a long time.

Pitching your home below one of those thresholds is going to make it much more appealing ahead of April whereas if you try to hold out for a higher price, your potential buyers will fall in number.

You can be optimistic by all means, but if you want to sell in a reasonable timeframe that has to be peppered with some realism. Any property which languishes on the market unsold is going to lose its desirability.

For a quick sale, you will need photos of your property that are nothing short of amazing because many buyers will make a quick decision on your property when they are scanning sites like Rightmove.

It is also worth doing all those jobs which you might have left to another day to make sure your house has the ‘kerb appeal’ and any viewers don’t leave thinking they would have to spend a lot of money on decorating.

A few changes to your home such as fixing broken handles in the kitchen, painting walls in a neutral colour or planting some flowers in a front garden can make a big difference to that first impression.

It’s also important to be flexible on viewings. With stamp duty rates changing, there are likely to be more homes going on the market. You’ll need to accommodate buyers wherever possible and that could mean evenings and weekends.

But the other crucial decision is getting the right agent. Don’t make the mistake of choosing one solely on the basis of the commission charged or the price they say they can secure. Bad agents will tell you a figure you want to hear just to win the business.

Check they have sold similar homes in your area and look at their marketing materials and websites to judge suitability.

And when it comes to selling your home, honesty really is the best policy. All properties have some issue or another. Undisclosed issues are likely to delay sales and, in the worst case, could lead to legal action post-sale.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Britons could get more for their homes as buyers prioritise location over price
• 'I'm a property expert - a tree species could hike your home's value by 15%'
• Nine ways to protect your home as Britons resort to private security to fend off gangs

To avoid any issues, aim to make sure you get all your legal work done in advance so problems can be resolved promptly. You should choose a good solicitor and have all receipts and guarantees to hand for quick inspection by buyers.

On the buyers' side, have funds ready for the deposit and if borrowing from family etc, inform the bank in case additional checks are needed (such as a source of funds). Get a solicitor on the case ASAP, they will need ID checks too, plus money on account before they lift a finger.

Choose a property with a reliable owner, with a genuine reason to move – less likely to pull out at the last moment. Be fair on price, we are likely to see prices rise as the deadline approaches so don’t try to negotiate the last penny. Beat the deadline but be flexible on dates too, try to accommodate the owner to bag some goodwill.

Accept minor issues that can be fixed cheaply. Don’t trust the agent to progress the sale – they will be too busy to give it 100 per cent focus. Instead, keep on top of things yourself to push things along.

Jonathan Rolande is a property expert from the National Association of Property Buyers