What Is That Smell? Ready your Home for Sale
“What is the fact that Smell?” asks the customer. Maybe it’s a good smell or a bad smell, too much of either is really a bad thing when it comes to selling your house. Buyers will concentrate on the odor inside a house and never concentrate on more important details about the property. Buyers tend to label houses in order to help them remember salient points concerning the property. Do your want your house to be remembered as “ash tray house” or “cat pee house”? I don’t think so!
Visual and sensory presentation is very important in assisting you accomplish the goal of selling your home for that highest price possible. So, in preparing your home for sale, consider the following:
Smell Sources
You need to remove sources that induce odors. Many folks try to eliminate bad smells by utilizing some sort of air freshener. Well…it doesn’t work. Unhealthy odor will invariably filter through and when you use an excessive amount of an aura freshener product, the buyer will usually wonder what you are trying to hide.
Smoking – Buyers will instantly recognize homes where people smoke indoors. Sometimes, they even pick up on smoking that occurs outside. For a non-smoker this may be a big issue as it often necessitates the removal of carpets and washing/painting of walls to get rid of the smell entirely. You can help improve this problem by using an ionizer to remove smoke odors and smoking outdoors.
Trash – Empty the trash often. In particular, it is a good guideline to remove the kitchen trash any day a home is likely to be shown. Would you store the trash can in the spare room? Make sure the lid is tight and secure so that odors don’t result from that area as well.
Pets – Pets could be a large source of odor and make up a major road block. Often, prospective purchasers will wonder if the odor is originating in the pet or maybe your pet has soiled carpeting and/or floor making the odor much more difficult and dear to eradicate. So, for those who have pets, it’s important to perform the following: have your dog bathed regularly, keep all kitty litter boxes immaculately clean, wash pet bedding often.
Cooking – Be careful that which you cook and when you cook it. While we all want to be able to enjoy a good meal, be mindful of the lingering effects particularly of eggs, fish, garlic and foods which have been fried.
Carpets – You’ve stopped smoking inside, you’ve washed your dog, emptied the trash and stopped cooking your favorite fish dish. Unfortunately, your carpets and upholstery can still be harboring the odors. An intensive cleaning of your carpets, upholstery and curtains may be essential to eradicate stubborn odors.
Basement – Installing a de-humidifier might help eliminate musty/damp odors. If you can, open a window or door to assist freshen the environment.
Good Smell Sources
Studies have shown the odor of a home can affect a person’s mood. You need to focus on smells that most people discover appealing. Be very careful if you are going to introduce any scent to your house. Too much scent might have as much of a negative impact badly smells (consider the man/woman who wears too much cologne).
Citrus – Lemon and grapefruit scents tend to have an energizing effect that most people find pleasant. Run a lemon using your garbage disposer or burn a citrus scented candle.
Floral – A floral scent tends to create a pleasant atmosphere when not overdone. Consider adding a fresh bouquet of flowers as a focal point inside your dining or eating area.
Vanilla – Vanilla seems to be the universal scent that people find comforting and relaxing. Cinnamon seems to create exactly the same effect. Burning a vanilla scented candle or soaking a cinnamon stick in water around the stove can help you achieve a comforting and relaxing atmosphere.
Baked Bread – Everyone seems to enjoy the odor of fresh baked bread. If you cannot make the real thing, pour beer right into a pan and set it in the oven on low.