So you’ve put your house up for sale with a trusted agent who has placed ads on the Internet and in newspapers. You just had your first sample and the feedback you received was less than positive. In fact, people were so turned off that they didn’t even complete the tour. There is more to selling a home than marketing. As a seller, there are some very basic things you should never do, or you risk turning away a potential buyer.

Paint Colors You’ll Only Love: You may have enjoyed bright blue and orange paint on your bedroom walls, but it’s not likely to fit most decorating schemes. Certainly the new owner has the option of repainting, but why not spare them the trouble and cover the walls in a more neutral tone? Some potential buyers, if put off early on, carry that negative sentiment through the rest of their journey. While you can’t please everyone, try to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Overlook a Dirty Home – When selling a home, it’s not enough to just cover up the dirt, it needs to be spotless. A clean house smells good and seems to have been taken care of by the owners. Pay particular attention to stains, grout, and dishes in the sink or uneven floors. Once you do the general cleaning, it’s pretty easy to maintain between performances. You will be surprised how good it feels to live in a clean house.

Noticeable Odors or Smells – Especially if you smoke or have pets, you probably won’t even notice how your home smells, but most everyone else is affected by the smell upon entering. Again, clean up well, smoke outside, remove pets during visits, and make sure the litter box is cleaned regularly. Lots of people use spray deodorants, but I found the best solution is to burn scented oils before the show. Enzymatic cleaners that actually eliminate odor rather than mask it are also highly recommended.

Cluttered Exterior: A home can be bought and sold before the customer even walks through the front door. Street appeal goes a long way in attracting or deterring a potential buyer. It can be as simple as making sure gardens are weeded (mulch makes this job easier and looks neater), grass is mowed and hedges trimmed. Focus on making the front of the house the best it can be by removing clutter, painting the porch or fence, and cleaning up the steps.

Not everyone loves your pets: I know it’s hard to believe, but not everyone loves Fido like you do. It can be disconcerting to walk into a house and have a herd of animals come running to greet you. Many people these days have pet allergies and may reject a nice home due to an allergic reaction. It is safer to hide your pets during any type of display.

Unusual Furniture Placement: Our old house didn’t have much room for a kitchen table, so we divided up part of our great room and put the table there. When we were trying to sell our house, our agent mentioned that people didn’t think we had a dining room. It was strange to see a kitchen table in the living room. After a few changes, we swapped the dining room table for the kitchen table, instantly creating a formal dining area. It made a big difference.

Don’t hesitate to change things simply because they have always been a certain way. You may be surprised at the results.

Dreary interiors: Consider light walls and millwork, especially in a house with few windows. If you can afford to add windows, so much the better. Also consider adding more lighting, and at the very least, keep your windows clean.

Nightmare Basements: Even if your basement isn’t finished, it can help buyers see the potential in this unused space. Clean up any mess and make sure the floors are spotless. Consider painting the floors or adding inexpensive carpeting or laminate flooring. Paint the ceilings white to open up the area and give the walls a fresh coat as well.

Dirty Appliances: There’s nothing worse than opening a dirty oven or refrigerator, and make no mistake, people will be looking in both places. Don’t forget to clean under and behind your appliances and clear out clutter from cabinets.

Water stains – This is a definite sign of a current or past leak and can even suggest signs of mold. Make sure there are no leaks and paint over old stains.