While it may be a bit of a cliche to bake bread or brew coffee in advance of a viewing, remember that smell does play an important role in setting the scene and there is nothing like a bad odour to turn potential buyers off.

Pet odours and cigarette smoke can be a real deal-breaker for buyers, and be warned, people who don't have pets or don't smoke outnumber those that do. In other words - you may think your house smells fine, but it could well be whiffy. Get a trusted friend or agent to comment on noticeable smells in your house.

The most important thing is to get rid of bad odours at the source. A house with a clean, fresh atmosphere and not a house that's full of cover-up perfumes will impress buyers.

Getting your carpets and curtains professionally cleaned helps combating lingering odours. Putting an open box of baking soda in smell-prone areas is also a good tactic.

One professional cleaner advises using a simple lemon technique to combat bad pet smells. Place a large bowl of water and thick slices of lemon in the microwave and cook it until it boils. Then open the door and watch the fresh lemon smell chase even the worst pet whiffs out the door.

Once the bad smells are gone it's time to introduce pleasing fragrances to your home. Avoid strong potpourri, heady scented candles, or obvious air freshener smells.

A light floral oil in an oil burner or a natural scented furniture polish are better options. A fragrant bunch of fresh flowers can do wonders. During the campaign avoid cooking fish or strong-smelling foods and keep the dogs and cats and smokers outside.

Air out the house just before the scheduled showing, but close the windows before they arrive.