Many of us have been taking stock of the past 12 months and making plans for the year ahead, with moving house often on our to-do lists.

But how easy is it to attract buyers at Christmas and New Year? Easier than you might think, according to Carlisle estate agents. If you're serious about selling, boost your chances with their help.

Kerb appeal is vital - Karl Dixon of BPK

December through to January is considered the worst time to put your property on the market. But while the thought of selling during this period may dampen your Christmas spirit, it actually isn’t as bad as you may think.

Christmas buyers tend to be more serious, and competition is less fierce with fewer properties being marketed, so December and January can be excellent times to start marketing your home.

Not only will you have less competition from other sellers but if the right buyer is looking at the same time as you are marketing, then a potential sale is just around the corner.

Here are a few tips to get you off to the right start.

Maintaining the exterior of your property becomes more important now that the trees have shed their leaves. Bare trees equal a more exposed home, therefore it is important to touch up the paint, clean the gutters and tidy up the garden. Make sure steps and paths are free from snow and ice.

Turn up the heat. Make your home feel cosy and inviting during the winter months. Play soft music and bake some mince pies! When buyers spend more time in your home, they will have longer to admire its best features.

Finally, no matter what time of the year it is, a property that is priced correctly will make buyers feel very merry. Rather than gradually making small price reductions, make a large reduction to attract viewers and offers.

Christmas is stressful enough, with presents to buy, turkeys to prepare and relatives to entertain. Take a moment to remind yourself that BPK Estate Agents can take away some of the stress. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Declutter your space - David Hogarth, Cumbrian Properties

We often do valuations at this time of the year and get the response: "We'll leave it now until into the new year or even the spring."

There is no reason for this as the peaks and troughs that used to exist in the property market are now not so prominent, so the Easter rush and December shutdown are no longer that relevant.

True, there aren't as many buyers at this time of the year but the people who are viewing houses in December and January are serious buyers. We often get viewings from people visiting family in the area but also here to view properties for a return to their home town or to be closer to family settled here.

In addition, there are fewer properties on the market in competition with anything newly listed and what there is for sale has probably been on the market for some time.

The new year is a time when people make decisions on the year ahead, including whether to move house. This is an opportunity to capture the enthusiastic new buyer at the beginning of their search for a property.

First impressions and kerbside appeal are more relevant than any other time of the year as the 'for sale' board may be the first indication that the property is newly on the market .

Follow this up with a declutter to make the property more presentable and more spacious and allow us to take plenty of photographs to be used in our sales details, in the Cumberland News Homes supplement every Friday and on the News and Star and Cumbrian Properties' websites.

Finish the odd jobs - Tina Murray, Allan Letting and Estate Agents

As families and couples have time to spend together over the Christmas period, they start to look at their plans for the new year. Some families may have outgrown their property and are looking to upsize whereas others may be looking to retire and downsize.

A few clicks through the News & Star property listings or a leisurely glance through the local papers lights up the fire for this change and gets the ball rolling. If you are looking to put your property on the market in 2017, we at Allan Letting and Estate Agents would advise you to take the following into consideration:

* Talk to a financial adviser to see what the best decision is for you financially.

* First impressions are very important once the property is on the market as potential viewers will most likely drive past before arranging a viewing.

* Does the property look ready to go on the market or are there any jobs that still need to be completed? Should you be picking up the tool box or will you need to hire a contractor?

* How will your property look in photographs - do you need to declutter?

* What are your plans and where do you want to be? What do you need to achieve to move on to your next adventure.

Make your New Year’s Resolution to move house a reality and call Allan Estate Agents. A change really is as good as a rest.