diff --git a/ipyfilechooser/filechooser.py b/ipyfilechooser/filechooser.py
index 12f6479..fd5ecd7 100644
--- a/ipyfilechooser/filechooser.py
+++ b/ipyfilechooser/filechooser.py
@@ -3,17 +3,20 @@
 from typing import Optional, Sequence, Mapping, Callable
 from ipywidgets import Dropdown, Text, Select, Button, HTML
 from ipywidgets import Layout, GridBox, Box, HBox, VBox, ValueWidget
+from traitlets import HasTraits, Unicode
 from .errors import ParentPathError, InvalidFileNameError
 from .utils import get_subpaths, get_dir_contents, match_item, strip_parent_path
 from .utils import is_valid_filename, get_drive_letters, normalize_path, has_parent_path
 
 
-class FileChooser(VBox, ValueWidget):
+class FileChooser(VBox, ValueWidget, HasTraits):
     """FileChooser class."""
 
     _LBL_TEMPLATE = '<span style="color:{1};">{0}</span>'
     _LBL_NOFILE = 'No selection'
 
+    value = Unicode('', help="The selected path + filename")
+
     def __init__(
             self,
             path: str = os.getcwd(),
@@ -342,6 +345,7 @@ def _apply_selection(self) -> None:
 
         if ((self._selected_path is not None) and (self._selected_filename is not None)):
             selected = os.path.join(self._selected_path, self._selected_filename)
+            self.value = selected
             self._gb.layout.display = 'none'
             self._cancel.layout.display = 'none'
             self._select.description = self._change_desc
@@ -430,6 +434,17 @@ def show_hidden(self, hidden: bool) -> None:
         self._show_hidden = hidden
         self.refresh()
 
+    @property
+    def select_default(self) -> bool:
+        """Get _select_default value."""
+        return self._select_default
+
+    @select_default.setter
+    def select_default(self, select_default: bool) -> None:
+        """Set _select_default value."""
+        self._select_default = select_default
+        self.refresh()
+
     @property
     def dir_icon(self) -> Optional[str]:
         """Get dir icon value."""
@@ -569,11 +584,6 @@ def filter_pattern(self, filter_pattern: Optional[Sequence[str]]) -> None:
         self._filter_pattern = filter_pattern
         self.refresh()
 
-    @property
-    def value(self) -> Optional[str]:
-        """Get selected value."""
-        return self.selected
-
     @property
     def selected(self) -> Optional[str]:
         """Get selected value."""
@@ -626,4 +636,4 @@ def register_callback(self, callback: Callable[[Optional['FileChooser']], None])
 
     def get_interact_value(self) -> Optional[str]:
         """Return the value which should be passed to interactive functions."""
-        return self.selected
+        return self.value