Whatever the time of year your front garden and back patio area must be tidy. This means sweeping up leaves and debris on a regular basis, keeping flower beds weeded, lawns mown and hedges clipped. Front gardens are a real pain, as rubbish will often get blown in from the street and undermine any ‘kerb appeal’ your property may have. Be extra vigilant before potential purchasers arrive.

If you have a gate make sure it works properly (oil that squeaky hinge) and has been painted or treated recently. If you have wooden fencing, this should also be treated.

Clear out any outhouses, garages, sheds and greenhouses. These are often neglected areas of our homes and become dumping grounds for the clutter removed from living spaces. Now is the time for a thorough sorting out and several trips to the recycling centre/tip. Keep bits and pieces in storage boxes and banish the cobwebs. Wooden sheds should be treated as for fencing; greenhouse glass should be cleaned.

Children’s toys and bicycles should be tidied away as much as possible. Rubbish bins should be kept in a bin tidy or, at the very least, somewhere unobtrusive.

Clean patios, terraces, decking, steps and garden furniture with a suitable cleaner. Lichens and mosses can be slippery, as well as looking unsightly. Furniture should be clean, even in winter.