The hot, humid temperatures of late can be used to advantage if you are selling your home during the summer, explains Caroline Knight and Karin Hawkes.

The warm weather is a chance to show just how useful your garden can be. To convey the feeling that the garden acts like an extension to your property to create an outdoor seating area – even if you have absolutely no intention of dining outdoors yourself.

An ‘all-weather’ metal set can be purchased relatively inexpensively and you will be able to take it with you to your new home. Or a bench seat filled with comfortable cushions will offer the inviting possibility of a quiet read. Don’t forget a sunshade for the ultimate feeling of luxury as it will conjure up the illusion of rest and relaxation – something that most people feel is lacking in their busy lives.

Surround the patio with pots of aromatic herbs that could be used on the barbecue or within refreshing salads during this balmy time. If you have a vegetable patch, make sure it looks productive as it will give the impression of a healthy lifestyle and enjoyment generated from your outdoor room.

You could compare the preparation of your house and garden for sale with the art of dressing a shop window – you are suggesting many positive things with the use of colour, scent, props and the hint of endless possibilities that your home will offer to its new owners.

July and August are months in which to appreciate your garden to the full. Make sure that your prospective buyers notice all of its possibilities such as areas for seclusion, entertainment space, shade, sun, wildlife spotting opportunities and space for play. You are merely planting the seed of an idea – hopefully your buyers will make it blossom.

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