Okay, so you’re really on top of Christmas this year. You’ve written the cards, iced the cake and made the brandy sauce for the pudding, and of course you’ve bought all the presents and they’re carefully hidden at the back of the cupboard under the stairs.

There’s bath smellies for Gran, a bottle of port for Dad, and a smart new tea tray with a picture of Windsor Castle on it for Mum. Yes, that’s all well and good, but what have you bought for your house and home? It is possible that in the fuss and the excitement you’ve over-looked the building that has kept you warm, dry and secure all year. We’re talking about your sanctuary – the house that has welcomed you back after every long, hard day and watched over you every night. Surely it deserves a prezzie too.

As George Burnard of property specialists Strutt & Parker says, ‘One of the very best presents for your home would be to get out the phone directory and look up a good local decorator. Nothing rejuvenates a home quite like a lick of paint and new wallpaper’.

You could do it yourself of course, but only if you’re sure that you are up to the job. If in doubt, get the professionals in. You can have all the fun of choosing colours and patterns and they can do all the real work. See if they can start straight after the New Year break.

Floor coverings take a lot of punishment; how are your carpets, tiles and floorboards? Again, this is an area where you can give your home a real lift. One thought though; don’t cut corners. Using cheaper laminates, or carpet which really isn’t up to the sort of traffic you get in a particular room, really is a false economy. You’re better off spending that little bit more and going for higher quality. It’ll pay dividends in the long term.

George who is based at Strutt & Parker’s Mayfair office points out, one present for your home which you are bound to enjoy would involve taking a good look at the insulation levels; ‘Go up into the loft and inspect the insulation (checking for vermin infestation while you’re there of course). Does it meet the standards currently recommended by the government? Are your doors and windows sealing well and not letting in draughts? The cold days of January and February are ahead and attending to it now will mean that you can be warm as toast through the dark winter nights’.

If you are feeling generous, who not treat your house to a conservatory? Again, don’t do it on the cheap or else you will always feel a bit short-changed, and do go for one that’s in scale with the house – neither too big nor too small. It’s a real joy to be able to sit or dine in a well-designed conservatory, but don’t forget that you can grow plants in there too. With the long hot summer we’ve had this year conservatory owners have been able to grow a whole range of exotic plants and shrubs, from productive vines to lemon trees. Think of the fun of putting a slice of home-grown lemon in your G-and-T, let alone establishing your own premier cru!

What about outside the house? Have a walk round and really look at the property critically. Now everything has died back is it worth getting a landscape contractor in and cutting back those bushes which are starting to get out of hand, and lop those low-hanging branches? What about your fences? Could they do with repairing, or at least re-painting? Is the shed weatherproof; does the roofing need attention? What about that trellising which is no longer exactly vertical, and the stone path under the trees which is turning a curious shade of green? A few Sundays in the garden getting everything into shape will perk up the whole property – and help you lose some of that post-Christmas flab too.

One of the cheapest presents for your house is to check gutters and drains for blockages The leaves have fallen and the rains will have washed all sorts of detritus down, and nothing is more damaging than rain-water going where it shouldn’t. You could save a fortune in repair bills later if you check that drains ands grids are clear. If you’re not good with heights you may need to get someone in to go up a ladder and clear the gutters, but it shouldn’t be a big job.

‘If you really want to treat your home’, George says, ‘Nothing will give you and the house quite as much pleasure as a new kitchen. There are a lot of specialists these days and it needn’t cost a fortune. Get them to design it too; you’ll be surprised what a difference they can make and how much extra space they can create. Also, give a lot of thought to the style of kitchen you want. Just because it’s cottage pine at the moment it doesn’t mean that hi-tech aluminium might not look good. Also, if you’re thinking of putting your home on the market in the spring, a ‘wow’ kitchen will be a great selling point.’