However, Rightmove data suggests there is an average 20 per cent increase in people looking for homes online between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

The property portal records over 10 million page views on Christmas Day, with around 10,000 people taking time out from the festivities to email agents. On Boxing Day it gets even busier, with page views jumping to over 20 million, with views peaking on New Year’s Day at almost 40 million.

These stats show that putting your house up for sale ahead of the festivities can pay dividends.

People who are looking to move have more time to search for properties and research the market over the festive period, so it is a great time to sell. You’ll get a head start on anyone not ready to make the most of the increased activity and generate mass interest in your property.

These tips will help you get your house market-ready ahead of the festive rush.

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Give your home a quick DIY makeover

Spending a couple of days sprucing up your property can make a huge difference when it comes to attracting buyers. Give grubby walls a quick lick of paint, make sure all lightbulbs are working and tackle any small DIY jobs you’ve been putting off. First impressions really do count, so it makes sense to make your property look polished.

Winter proof your garden

Gardens never look their best at this time of year, so spend a few hours making yours look spic and span. Trim bushes, cut the lawn, clear dead plants and tidy away dead leaves and summer garden furniture.

Declutter and clean

Get rid of all your old clutter and give your home a really deep clean to help make it as attractive as possible to buyers.

By following these tips, you really will increase your chance of selling ahead of the January rush. Recent research conducted by us as part of our buyer barometer showed buyers’ biggest turn ons are neat, well-kept gardens (48%), cleanliness (43%) and fresh internal paintwork and décor (43%).

I know of so many people who hadn’t planned on moving, but then did some research over Christmas while they were off work and actually ended up putting in offers and buying houses they’d seen over that period. It really is the perfect time to sell.

Sarah Beeny is the owner of online estate agents Tepilo. She has presented numerous Channel 4 property shows, including Property Snakes and Ladders, Streets Ahead and Britain’s Best Homes.

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