Did you know that the sense of smell is one of the strongest senses that we have? Also that it can deter someone from selecting your home even if your house has everything that the buyer is looking for in their new home?
How a smell can ruin a sale
Smells can come from a number of sources – pets, lack of cleanliness, stale air, water damage, and much more. You may not even notice it, but your real estate agent may have hinted to you that something needs to be done.
There’s not a buyer in the world that will buy a home that smells unless they’re investors looking for a bargain. Even so, they’ll get a forensic inspection to find out the source of the smells. If they find anything like undisclosed water damage, or pet urine under the “new” carpet, then they will either severely discount their offer or walk away.
Pets
Yes we all consider our four legged friends part of the family and we not even notice the smell of them in the house. But it is there. Pets have accidents; and while it is possible to get used to the pet smell over time, new visitors to your home will be sure to notice the smells. This is not something you want to happen. In fact, above all else, this may be important tip for selling a home when you have pets. Cleaning their beds and or blankets, yes this was a new one for us too. We never even thought of it. Odorzout. It’s 100 percent natural and animals and kids can be around it without worry, Odorzout is a dry product that you sprinkle on the affected area, and it absorbs the odor. Then you vacuum it up! A little goes a long way and it works great.
Smoke
Cigar or Cigarettes, Cigarette smoke can cling to furnishings, drapes and other window coverings and work its way inside walls. Some topically applied solutions can help to reduce the stench, but an ozone generator, hydroxyl generator or air scrubber should be more effective. These approaches are “very effective in absorbing odors,” though there is no guarantee that an odor can be eliminated completely. Best to eliminate smoking inside the home prior to listing your home for sale, if you were going to paint, it may be better to do prior to listing as well. If you smoke, at least take it outside while the house is up for sale. Use fabric refresher on upholstery and air fresheners or room scents where needed, but use a light hand. Another thing you could try is Use a hand towel and pour white vinegar over it, then wring it out. “Take the towel and walk through the house swinging it in the air, like you’re rooting for your favorite team.” This will get rid of the smell in no time, and it’s all-natural, so no one is breathing in chemicals.
Food Smells
Odors are a big one, especially kitchen odors, we advise our clients not to cook fried food, fish or greasy food while the house is on the market. One of those inexpensive, natural wunderkinds, baking soda neutralizes pH levels, effectively cutting through bad smells. Keeping an open box of baking soda in your fridge is an old standard. But you can sprinkle baking soda anywhere you want to remove odors such as in a trash can in the kitchen area.
White vinegar can be used to neutralize many of the same smells as baking soda. An open cup of vinegar in the fridge is an alternative to the box of baking soda, or an open cup or bowl of vinegar can be left in a room where you want to eliminate an odor. Vinegar is also an effective cleaner for everything from shower glass to kitchen counters. Some people dislike removing smells with vinegar because it has a strong smell of its own, but it dissipates soon after use.
You don’t need to cover up smells with fake “lemon-fresh” scents to improve odors with lemon. The fruit is especially useful in the kitchen. It’s great for neutralizing the smell of the same foods it’s often served with, including garlic and fish. Try rubbing lemon juice on your hands after handling garlic, or rubbing half a lemon over the cutting board you just cut fish on.
Aromas to Add
After cleaning and eliminating any unpleasant scents, you can rely on the following 5 smells that have almost universal appeal:
- Lime
- Grapefruit
- Bergamot
- Orange
- Peppermint
Baked goods can also be an inviting smell for homebuyers as long as you avoid overly complex scents. Stick to simple chocolate chip cookies, bread or cupcakes to entice house hunters.
Consider this though, you will want to pick one scent and stay consistent with it throughout the house. You do not want to have a different scent in every other room. Hopefully this has given you some good ideas to get started. When you are ready to sell your home. Nick & Cindy are ready to assist you. You can always reach us at 813-300-7116 or simply click here and we will be in touch with you shortly.