Property developers specialise in buying and converting a house or flat to maximise its value.

Typical examples would be anything from a tasteful redecoration to adding an extra bathroom – which definitely adds to the value (though oddly, loft extensions don’t).

You will be sold on a home by your initial first impressions.

So clever sellers will, for example, put down a new lino on the kitchen floor at a fraction of the price of “real” flooring.

The point here is how long will these “touches” last before they need to be replaced – and at what extra cost to you.

If you’re interested in learning more there’s a huge number of home improvement books and TV programmes that cover this area.