When selling your home, it's best to be honest with potential buyers. However, that does not mean you should not present your home in the best possible light. To avoid turning off the pickiest of buyers, there are a few things you should consider hiding before you start showing your home.

The litter box.

If you have cats, make sure the litter box is well hidden. Put it under a staircase in the basement, in the corner of a spare bathroom that's rarely used, or even in the mud room or enclosed patio. You don't want the smell of the litter box to make the buyers assume your home always has a bad odor. Plus, the mere sight of a litter box can make the home viewing experience less pleasant, which won't help your home sell.

Family portraits.

There's nothing wrong with having some art of photos on your walls. In fact, this can help your home sell since the buyers will have a better idea of what the home looks like when decorated. However, you should take down any family portraits and other more personalized photos. The presence of these personal items makes it harder for potential buyers to see themselves in your home.

Small valuables.

You always want to assume the best of people. But sadly, not everyone who comes to look at a home has the best of intentions. You would not want a less scrupulous buyer to walk off with a valuable or meaningful keepsake. So if you have anything that's valuable and small enough to be hidden in a pocket or purse, make sure it's well hidden before you start showing the home.

Tools and repair items.

Even if you did just fix a hole in the wall or tighten the bolts on your toilet, you don't want to leave the tools and products used for these repairs out in the open where buyers can see them. While people are probably aware that you'll have fixed up a few things before putting the home on the market, you don't want them thinking that the home has ongoing issues that you're dealing with—or that you've just done a quick repair job while waiting for them to arrive.

For more advice on preparing your home for sale, speak with a realtor. They can walk through your space and recommend things to change before you start showing the place.