Re our intimidating agent: I remember her telling me we needed white pillows, white towels and preferably a bedspread. I was a bit taken aback, as we already had a rather minimalist style, just not pure white. I caved and bought some white pillow covers, and some new ice blue towels. She sighed. I found a tatty fake fur white pillow hidden somewhere, and she was quite pleased. "See, you DO have something white."
Luckily the weather was a bit damp the day we were showing the house, which camouflaged the itty bitty white pawprints caused by our cat tracking fresh paint all over the newly oiled patio.