Homeowners trying to sell their property before Christmas should try and make it as buyer-friendly as possible, it has been suggested.

With the housing market already slowing and people gearing up for the festive season, experts warn that it could be a tough time to be a seller but there are steps that can be taken to make a home more attractive to those coming to view it.

Jane Ringe, who runs Poised To Move, a service offering advice to sellers, told the Daily Telegraph people should "de-personalise" and "de-clutter" their property in order to allow people to fully appreciate the space and help them "imagine their own possessions there".

She also suggested the kitchens and bathrooms can benefit from a quick revamp, commenting: "Bathrooms and kitchens give away a home''s age and condition so freshen them up: new taps perhaps and new cupboard doors on the old carcasses."

Andrew Leech, technical consultant to the National Home Improvement Council echoed this, adding: "Although you don''t see them from the outside, you definitely have to have them in good order. The kitchen is probably the first port of call for the buyer."