I've written about this subject before and suggest too many properties list for sale and contain gardens lacking in appeal and presentation.

An old car salesperson mate of mine used to say "Mate, the art of a sale is in presentation''. He was exceptionally good at it. His yard always reflected tricks he picked up over the years including the constant moving of vehicles around the yard to convince customers the yard was turning over plenty of stock. He purchased red, blue, green and black cars to add colour in the yard. He ensured the yard was spotlessly clean, had soothing music in the background. Coloured flowers in pots, banners and flags and vehicles displayed for ease of movement and not just lining them up along the front but staggered and some displayed at different angles to the other.

As I put this to paper he is holidaying in the Mediterranean enjoying the fruits of life and his philosophy echoing ''presentation is the art of selling''. What about the garden? No need to know anything about gardening but a clean, tidy and healthy garden has appeal. Maybe you don't know how to "Chi up" a garden but a few pointers can help.

- Ensure the garden matches or is better than the appeal of gardens in your street.

- Ensure clean lines of vision, no adverse smells. Colour presented in its Yang form (reds and whites) and contrasting against the traditional greens and earth tones. Life and vitality do have a value. You don't want to sell a place to die in!

- Ensure lines of movement are uninterrupted to the front door

- No intrusive (detrimental or sha Chi) influences such as oil on the driveway, garbage bins or a dilapidated letterbox. No untidy shrubs present and the lawn mowed and green. Why create a beacon that suggests work? It gives the buyer a reason to knock the price down

- The home itself standing out like a sore thumb. If so, spend the money and conceal its starkness and remove ''I've been put here and not loved feeling''. Why not create an instant garden?

- Gardens take on a Yin image and appeal if pathways and garden beds are gently curved and flow from one place to another. Try to create some mystery by not allowing the eye to view the entire garden from one location.

A home has a place in its surroundings and should be attached to them. The garden is the ideal way to infuse the two. Presenting the home and garden as a package surely is more preferable than the salesperson having to bypass the garden and only present the home. Besides these days the land generally costs more than the home placed upon it. Why neglect something that's cost you so much money?