Press Release

House prices in the UK are at a record high - at 11 times the average wage - but there are ways you can do your bit to beat the market.

Using free online tools, such as those at Freeads.co.uk the UK's largest independent classifieds site, there are ways you can make your money and your house work harder for you.

Freeads.co.uk chief executive Duncan Horton said: "Among the main ways are ensuring that you maxmise space - this means that if you have a spare room why not consider taking a lodger? The extra cash will mean your mortgage payments will be lower. Advertising rooms for rent is free on Freeads.co.uk so you don't even have to shell out to find a lodger."

For those looking to move house the thought that the average house move costs around £10,000 is a sobering one.

However there is another option as you can opt for a long-term house swap rather than selling up.

"This means that you're exempt from the killer stamp duty, however you must make sure that you take legal advice and that the necessary contracts are in place," said Horton.

If the thought of swapping houses is slightly too radical for you, there's the option of selling your house yourself, meaning that you waive the estate agents fees.

"As long as you realise that you won't have the option of giving someone else keys to your house to organise viewings while you're out and the time that this will take up, this could be a very viable option for those looking to save some money on the house move process," said Horton.

The National Housing Federation fears that house prices could continue to rise by as much as 40% over the next five years. This prediction would place the average house price at £300,000 by the year 2012. They also state that in the last decade, house prices have risen by 156%, whilst the average wage has only risen by a comparative 35%.