Struggling to sell your property? We have the top turn offs for potential buyers here

So how can you make your home more sought-after with buyers? It's a difficult time to be putting your home on the market, to help give you the best start we have compiled a list of the biggest red flags that could delay and ruin your chances of selling your home.

To see your property through buyers' eyes is essential – you have to be as objective as possible about your home. This means making it as easy as possible for prospective home buyers to imagine themselves in your home. Tidying up rooms and gardens, fixing anything that could present significant issues, and even getting rid of garish décor will all help to make your home sought-after with buyers.

Here are our top turn offs to avoid:

Clutter

Dirty rooms, appliances or furniture are a sure-fire way of putting doubt in buyers' minds as to how well the rest of the property has been looked after, so keeping your home clean and tidy is really important.

Damp/mould

Signs of damp and mould are enough to stop the majority of homebuyers in their tracks, no matter how smitten they are with the rest of the house. Damp stains, stained ceilings and crumbling plaster work are all red flags, pointing to a problem that could be expensive to sort out.

Dark rooms

Nobody enjoys living or even sitting in dark and dingy rooms, so you might want to consider getting brighter light bulbs or position lamps in strategic spots for viewings. Also, think about replacing curtains or blinds with something light and translucent, and position a mirror in the darkest corner of the room to reflect light.

No kerb appeal

First impressions are a huge factor in selling a property, and often decisions will be made before buyers even consider setting foot through the door. 'Drive-By's' are the way lots of potential buyers make their decisions these days. This means you need to present your house in the best possible way and consider how it presents from the street. You might have to replace a front door or windows, paint tired woodwork, and give everything a good clean. You could also plant a welcoming flower bed and jet wash walkways. Consider stylish plants in pots either side of your front door!

Cracks

Home buyers' number one concern is that the house they purchase may be hiding an expensive secret, so visible cracks in walls or ceilings are sure to set alarm bells ringing. But this doesn’t mean you should just cover up the issue. If you can’t repair it, you need to be upfront with the buyers.

Overgrown garden

If your property has a garden with grass, make sure it has been cut, the hedges have been trimmed and flowerbeds weeded before viewings. This goes for all garden areas but particularly front gardens, as this is the first impression potential buyers will get. You don’t want to fall at the first hurdle!

Garish décor

You’ll want to make it as easy as possible for prospective home buyers to imagine themselves living in your home, so that might mean giving it a quick paint job before arranging any viewings. If your personal décor choices are too garish – think elaborate wallpaper patterns or gaudy paint colours – buyers will have a hard time seeing past it. Instead, choose inoffensive, neutral tones.