1) Staying in - When you have potential buyers coming over to view your home, get out! Far too many sellers stay in their house while people are viewing it. There's nothing more awkward than examining kitchen cabinets, the size of the walk-in closet, or making comments about the condition of the carpet while the homeowners are within arm's reach.

2) Animals - Speaking of staying in, make sure to take your pets with you when you leave the house. While a lot of people are pet lovers, there are also plenty who are deathly afraid of them. Also, seeing animals in the house may open the prospective buyer into thoughts that may not be conducive to a sell (pet stained carpet, chewed up walls, etc.).

3) Dirty laundry - Don't leave your dirty laundry out for all to see. Whether it's clothes, toys, or other junk, home buyers do not want to tip-toe around your crap.

4) Dog crap - Speaking of crap, if you have a dog make sure that you keep your yard clean of its "droppings." You want the attention to be on the beautiful atmosphere of the house, not on a potential buyer having to walk through the back yard as if it was a potential land mine.

5) Dirty dishes - Keep your counter space and sink clear of dirty dishes and day-old food. If your schedule keeps you from cleaning up before a buyer comes by for a viewing, take advantage of your dishwasher (or oven, if you don't have a dish washer)

6) Holes - Fix those little holes in the bedrooms and bathrooms before putting your house on the market. A little putty and paint can go a long way to getting you a more favorable offer. It's often said that washing your car before you sell it can get you a few hundred extra dollars, and the same is true for fixing those little "eyesores" around the house.

7) Landscaping - Just as fixing a few holes can help your resell value, so can planting a few flowers. Nothing looks more like "home" than a well-maintained yard. Be careful not to overdo it though; nobody wants to see a messy clutter, especially if it makes it seem that the yard is smaller than it is.