Don’t let out-of-date fixtures and unappealing decor cost you a sale. While some buyers may actually appreciate “vintage” features, home and design experts say these five features almost always serve as a turnoff.

1. Outdated Paint: Dated and excessively bold or dark paint and tile colors, such as “Pepto Bismol” pink, avocado green, deep plum, or jet black. Lacquered or high-gloss painted walls that are expensive to repaint and show all defects. Likewise, faux- and sponge-painted walls can be so passe. Painted trim that’s very dark-and costly to remove. Homes sell faster that have been freshly painted in neutral colors.

2. Wallpaper, which is a lot of work (and potentially expensive) to remove. Most disliked: Dated flowered or striped patterns. Again, think neutral.

3. Outdated Kitchens: Outdated, small-scale, and dirty kitchen appliances that look like they won’t perform are a deal breaker. Worn, cracked laminate countertops, and backsplashes or plastic cultured marble won’t help sell your house. And, a cluttered and dirty kitchen is always a turn off.

4. Outdated bathrooms: With “Pepto Bismol” colored tiles or other outdated bathroom fixtures that belong in the 1950s are a turn off. Small sinks, short toilets, squatty bathtubs, and tight showers-all of which aren’t conducive to unwinding after a long day’s work won’t help the sale along. As with kitchens, a dirty and cluttered bathroom is almost always a disaster for the sale of your home. Make sure bathrooms are polished, smelling fresh, and clutter is not seen.

5. Bad carpet: Stained and worn wall-to-wall carpet in rooms or on stairs. Worst choice: shag. Also, worn linoleum that suggests a house was never updated.

Get out the cleaning supplies, boxes, and get ready to sell your home fast! Perhaps you may be lucky and just need to do some long-neglected simple home repairs, get rid of clutter and add fresh flowers. Or you might have to repaint or recarpet your home to give it a fresh look.

If you're handy, you'll be able to do most things yourself. But you may need to hire a plumber to install a new faucet in the kitchen or other professional to replace outdated light fixtures or window treatments. If you’re overwhelmed by the cleaning and getting rid of clutter, perhaps it would benefit you to hire a professional cleaning service and organizer.

Rent a storage facility if you must to store all your boxes. All clutter must be boxed and removed from the house. Closets must be empty and very organized.

You need to keep in mind that you're not going to make the changes to live in your home. Your only goal is to show your home at its very best to potential buyers.

Without being distracted by clutter and dirt, they'll be able to picture themselves in the home you're trying to sell. They will find it hard to resist making an offer.

James Tibbetts is an associate broker at West Seattle Windermere and can be reached at 206-932-2550.

Full disclosure: James Tibbetts is an advertiser with the West Seattle Herald.