Helping your home looks its best when the weather’s woeful can be challenging - but there are steps you can take to make your property more sellable.

Kevin Shaw, national sales director at property specialist Leaders, has compiled a list of simple steps that sellers can take to improve saleability despite the gloom:

1) First impressions count

The outside is where the impact of the weather can hit hardest, so focusing on this area is a must. It is common for paths, driveways and entrances to look dull and dirty, so be prepared to sweep up and clean to make your property more appealing.

2) Make use of warmth and light

Warmth and light are two qualities that will make your home more inviting in winter. If the viewing is taking place after dark, make sure both the inside and outside of your home are well lit, and that all lights, including security lights, are working. During daylights hour make sure curtains or blinds are wide open to allow natural light inside, and on a dull day switch on lights to help brighten rooms. Buyers will be put off by a cold house, so make sure the heating is on or light a fire to create a warm and cosy environment.

3) Focus on floors

Treading in mud, rain and leaves is a frequent occurrence in the winter, but dirty floors and carpets will be off-putting to buyers. Make a special effort to keep your floors clean and tidy to set the right impression.

4) Create a great garden

Your garden takes the brunt of bad weather and it is easy to let it get out of hand in the winter. Buyers can be put off if they believe too much work is required to get the garden back in shape, so ensure you stay on top of it in the run-up to putting a property on the market. Mow the lawn, cut back branches, fix the shed door or garden gate and trim larger bushes.

5) Tackle seasonal maintenance

There are a number of tasks that need to be done during winter which you should stay on top of so buyers can see your home is well maintained. For instance, clearing drains of dead leaves and making sure gutters and down pipes are not blocked or leaking. Buyers look closely for signs of problems so it is worth making the effort to get those maintenance tasks sorted.

Kevin adds: “Small touches can make all the difference when it comes to selling in winter, so spend some time on enhancing your home’s appeal before viewings.

“This is a great time to put your property on the market, as thousands of buyers use the festive period to look for a new home and many others make a new year’s resolution to move, so putting your home up for sale now ensures it will not be missed by this audience.”