Estate agent of the week: Entwistle Green, Preston

From left, Steve Harrison, Senior Marketing Advisor, Gemma Wright, Sales Negotiator, Laura Short, Senior Branch Manager, Rachel Lord, Sales Manager, Matthew Wood, Senior Mortgage Consultant

Among the first jobs is giving vendors a handy guide on how best to sell their property.

Branch manager Laura Short, with 15 years in the business, said: “We issue all our vendors with our 10 top sales tips.

“We strongly believe you only get one chance to make a first impression so make it count.”

Between them, staff at Entwistle have 40 years’ experience selling houses.

That makes them well placed to give the best advice about presenting a clean and tidy house inside and out.

Laura says: “Make sure you put clutter away and arrange your furniture to maximise space. Finally, kerb appeal - a potential buyer’s first impression will be when they pull up outside your house. Especially now when we are coming into the better months of the year, cut the lawn, trim the hedge and plant some flowers.”

With all that priceless advice and the resulting preparation, vendors using Entwistle Green are in with a good chance of taking advantage of an improving market. Sales are on the up as the North West market recovers.

Laura says: “Although the market seems to have improved and is more consistent it would be wrong for anyone to think things are perfect and that we are in the same market -place as London.

“It is important every vendor understands that price, presentation and promotion are still the three main factors that influence any house sale and do so in any market. I would also say to any potential buyers out there not to hang around if you see a house that you love.”