Gathering all your house information together so its handy for when you have potential buyers visit your property is an important task. You want to be able to answer any questions that you are asked immediately and with confidence.

Start off by colllating all your legal documents. If you are organised then you'll probably have all these together in one place. If not, now is the time to get hold of them - either the originals or copies.

First of all you'll need the title deeds which are the legal documents that prove your ownership of the property. If you have a mortgage then these are probably with the mortgage lender, if not, they should be with your lawyer or solicitor.

Next, if your property was bought leasehold then there will be a lease in existence. This document will detail how long the lease is for plus any other important conditions which you and the next owner of the property have to adhere to.

If your home has been altered in any way then, depending on where you live, you may had to obtain permission to make these modifications to your dwelling. You may also have changed the boundaries on your property. Collate any paperwork or contracts that give details on this.

If you live in a community or pay a service charge or management charge then there will be a document which lists the regulations and rules that govern the management of the property.

For any properties that have an outstanding mortgage on them you'll also need to gather together your mortgage documents and any information appertaining to the mortgage on your home.

In addition to the legal documents, there will also be a number of documents relating to the property itself. These will include insurance policies, buildings insurance, mortgage protection insurance and valid housebuilders certificate.

Also gather together warranties and guarantees for items such as repair work, double glazing, damp proofing, fixtures, installations, equipment and appliances that will remain in the property after it has been sold.

Manuals and instructions for equipment such as heating systems, together with instructions and manuals for fixtures, appliances and equipment being sold with the property should also be found. Other documents that may be useful are property tax bills and utility bills, so that you can refer to them when asked by the prospective buyer.

Try to find any other useful information about the history of the property and the site upon which it stands. You can use the internet to research these as well as finding environmental reports on your locality. These are good talking points to introduce when viewers call.

Gather as much information as you can about local schools, bus and train routes, fitness and leisure centres, the nearest shops and supermarkets, health centres, dentists, the best local pubs and restaurants. Make sure that you give this information to the viewer depending on their situation. For example, a young couple may not be interested in the nearest nursery but they may well be interested in the nearest clubs.

Bear in mind that some countries have a legal obligation for the seller to provide information about their property to the seller in a pre-determined format.An example of this is the home information pack (HIP) in the UK.

When you've got all your information together, keep it in a safe place. Make sure you familiarise yourself with it and remember the pertinent points as you never know when it may come in handy during a viewing.

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