Selling your home ain't easy. You've got to find an agent to market the home, keep it in showing condition and deal with the heartaches of no feedback, no shows and canceled tours. Even so, there are a few ways to improve your odds of selling your home each time it's shown. Here are seven showing mistakes to avoid:

Leaving the lights off - It's second nature nowadays and we all do it. Leave a room, turn off the light. Unfortunately, buyers want to see your home at it's brightest and best. Make sure you turn on all the lights before a showing!

Not taking dogs out of the home - This is a tricky situation. It's okay to have a pet in the home while buyers look through it but if your dog barks a lot it can ruin a tour. Often times after seeing a half dozen homes buyers try to remember a sticking point about each home. You don't want yours to be the one with that really loud chiuaua as a lasting reminder of what they won't be having a second look at.

Dirty litter boxes - On the flip side, cats don't make a lot of noise but can leave a not so fresh smelling surprise for your potential buyers. Prior to showing the home you should do your best to ensure all litter boxes have been cleaned.

Not putting away or hiding laundry - We all have laundry but unmentionables and other articles of clothing should be out of sight during a tour. It's a better bet to store your laundry in a washer/dryer than it is to leave it in an exposed area.

Cooking high odor foods before a showing - Depending on your eating habits you may have an odor problem. Foods with lingering or strong odors like steamed broccoli, onions and certain spices can leave a negative lasting impression on a buyer as they walk through your home. Sometimes you won't be able to avoid it (like a showing with one hour notice) but if you can, do it.

Being present throughout the buyer's tour - If you work from home or are able to open the door to let buyers in then you have a great advantage over the competition. Give the buyers and their agent a brief overview of your home and then head out the door. Sticking around can answer some questions but could also stop the buyers from fully exploring your house (and cabinets) like they would if you weren't home.

Leaving large objects in potential walking paths - Animal toys, doll houses, toy boxes, treadmills and more. If you have any significant objects that you normally shuffle yourself around it is time to take them out of the house. Buyers aren't conditioned to remember the precise walking route around a treadmill and will leave feeling cramped for having experienced it.

Utilizing the seven tips above will take you a long way in selling your home faster than the competition and often for more money. The value of your home starts with what you have in it (granite, hardwood floors) but showing that it's a tranquil place to live is of equal, if not greater, value to a buyer.