Apparently, it only takes guest 38 seconds to judge your home (and can you guess what they notice first?)

We are heading into the festive season soon, and many of us will be welcoming guests into our homes.

And while most of us will make sure our floors are clean and the clutter stashed away before opening our doors to visitors, did you realise this might not even be what guest first notice about your house? It's true. But be warned that first impressions count – and some new research points out that on average, it takes guests just 38 seconds to judge your home.

Smell, decor, temperature, and mess – according to this study by the Independent Network powered by VEKA, visitors are often quick to make a mental note on the appearance of how a home looks and feels.

The UK researchers spoke to 2,000 adults and uncovered that three quarters form an opinion on the homes of others in just under a minute. But can you guess what is it they notice first?

"Our homes are of course very personal to us and in many ways are a representation of our style," said a spokesman for the Independent Network to Red Online. "So there is a sense when we have visitors over that we are leaving ourselves open to criticism and judgement. But people shouldn’t be apprehensive about what others may or may not think — ultimately it’s the opinion of the homeowners themselves which is most important."

Coming in at the top of what visitors spot upon arrival is the smell of the home, followed closely by the temperature and whether the house has been vacuumed or not. Better get the hoover out, so...

The study also found that as many as three in 10 wouldn't tell their hosts what they really think of their homes – especially if their feelings were negative. The researchers also found that six in 10 would consider themselves to be house proud, with half worrying about what others think of their homes when they first arrive, and many also explained that they feel pressured when people come to visit, with over 86 per cent giving the house a 'major' clean before guests arrive.

Curious as to how your holiday guests will judge your home? Here are the top 10 things visitors tend to notice first:

1. The smell 2. The temperature 3. Whether or not the house has been vacuumed 4. How comfortable the furniture is 5. If the washing up is done or not 6. Dirty windows 7. The books they own 8. How well kept the furniture is 9. Colour of the walls 10. If the ornaments are dusty