It is a belief within the industry of Estate Agency that a buyer makes their decision on whether to buy a house within 10 seconds of arriving at your home - which means that kerb appeal is absolutely key!

It can be difficult to see the things that might need changing in order to sell your home due to becoming desensitised to certain things that are so familiar to you as the owner.

This is especially true of any odours from pets. A great tip when looking to sell your home is to enlist the help of someone who will tell you the brutal truth. After all, you want the first impression to be the best and one that the buyer will remember for all the right reasons.

 A few things that help with the kerb appeal of your house include:

• Clearing front gardens of any clutter, leaves and weeds,

• Jet-washing any pathways and driveways,

• Repairing any broken fences and gates,

• Painting any exterior woodwork,

• Clearing gutters and repairing any damaged roof tiles,

• Planting seasonal flowers and hanging baskets.

On the days that viewings take place, ensure that the drive is clear of cars so that the buyers can park easily.

There is nothing worse or off-putting than arriving to a viewing and not being able to park! It is also best to conduct viewings during the day when there is the best lighting.

The kerb appeal of your house can be affected by the neighbouring houses too. If this is the case, you could approach your neighbours and offer to tidy up their front garden, paint the fence, etc as this ultimately will help you sell your house.