An estate agent has highlighted the importance of putting a property on the market at the right price in order to attract house hunters.

With the credit crunch continuing to have an affect on consumer spending and many mortgage lenders tightening their lending criteria, property prices are becoming increasingly important to buyers who need to keep a close watch on their finances.

Coupled with a broader housing market slowdown, it is vital that homeowners are realistic about what their property is worth in order to ensure that they do not alienate searchers before they have even looked at the listing.

David Clarke, the head of country houses at Strutt & Parker in Ipswich, told the Times: "These days everybody starts their search on the internet.

"You need to have a competitive price in order to get buyers to make the journey to view it in the first place. Without viewings you are never going to get a sale," he explained.

Mr Clarke also pointed out that quirky homes with unusual features may be easier to sell than conventional properties during a slow down but warned that houses that are extremely unusual may act as a deterrent to buyers.