Odors Can Make or Break The Sale of Your Home

  It’s amazing how important the sense of smell is to many people. If you’re selling your home, and this applies across the board to houses, townhouses, condos, apartments, or whatever, you need to be aware of the power of odors. An odor like cigarette smoke can cause potential buyers to leave quickly without ever really considering purchasing your home. On the other hand, an odor like that of bread baking can conjure up all sorts of homey feelings and cause the same potential buyer to linger.

Do You Have “Deal Killer” Odors?

The two most common offenders are cigarettes and pet odors. Sadly, most people who smoke or have pets don’t realize this. Often, they don’t notice the smells themselves, so they think this isn’t a problem. Well, it is. A surprising number of people will have a swift, strong, negative reaction. Would you like to smack every second or third prospective buyer in the face when they come through your door?

Anything cloyingly sweet like “room deodorizers” which really just cover up other scents by overwhelming them is likely to be an offender. The same thing is true of other strong, funky smells. Unwashed gym clothes and shoes, cooking smells from foods such as cabbage, fish or more than a little garlic or curry will probably be offensive to many people.

So is it really necessary to stop smoking (or only smoke outdoors), ban the dog to the garden and basement, wash the laundry, and stop cooking strong smelling foods until your home is sold?

Yes.

Beyond that, it’s necessary to “clean up your act” if you’re really desirous of selling your home. You’ve probably cleaned it up visually already, but what to do about lingering odors? Anything made of cloth holds odors for a long time. Carpets, upholstery, curtains and draperies, table skirts and the like will smell for months or forever. What on earth do you do about them?

If it’s bad enough, carpets need to be replaced and upholstered furniture put into storage. However, it’s often adequate to shampoo carpets and the upholstery in the most intense areas (your favorite smoking chair and the pieces nearby) and launder the curtains. Keep fans going while things are drying; you don’t want to end up with mold and mildew smells. Your goal is to clean up the cause of the smell, not to cover it up.

Attractive Odors Attract

Odors people find attractive are very personal, but there are general smells that are pleasant and cause good emotional responses in most people. We’ve already mentioned baking bread. Almost anything that smells sweet when tends to be in this category – cookies, apple pie, cinnamon buns, etc. Of course, it’s not practical to bake the whole time your house is on the market, but one thing each week-end might be possible.

In cool weather, apple cider simmering with a cinnamon stick or two and a few cloves has much the same effect and is definitely easier to do. A vase or two of flowers with mildly scented flowers is another possibility.

Of the two, cleaning out offending scents is much more important than adding pleasant ones. If you can successfully do both, you’re way ahead of much of your competition and it will help your home sell faster.

About the Author

Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - sell and view homes for sale by owner online. Sellers list your home for free the first month.

 Raynor James

More Articles 

Jacuzzi - A Brief Overview - Claire Quaty
Jacuzzi is a brand name of a water pump system used in bathtubs. When people refer to a Jacuzzi, it also means a hot tub or a spa. The terms can be used interchangeably. When shopping for a Jacuzzi or a hot tub, there are several things to keep...

Descriptive Terms In Real Estate Ads – Yet More Definitions - Raynor James
If you are buying or selling a home, the chances are good you struggle with the meaning of descriptive real estate terms. Here are explanations and definitions for more terms. “Plantation Shutters” Refers to interior shutters with large,...

Wow! Outdoor Tile Murals ~ Any Image, Any Size - Alicia Tapp
Something amazing is happening in the world of ceramic tiles--Outdoor tile murals-------A new and exciting way to have a dramatic focal point outdoors on the floor or walls. Imagine a dining room far from the kitchen heat, a reading...

Fleas And Roaches - A Safer Alternate To Poison - Phil Bate PhD
Some years ago, I hosted a talk show about health on a Palm Beach radio station. Someone called in, and wanted to know what to do about fleas, as she was violently allergic to the various poisons that people put on the back of the neck of their...

Homemade Hummingbird Nectar - George Steiner
We love hummingbirds and love to watch them throughout the day, especially after a long day, relaxing in our backyard nature retreat. We have 4 feeders that are strategically located throughout our gardens. The red, hummingbird nectar feeders (...

Silk Trees - Kent Pinkerton
This article provides useful, detailed information about Silk Trees. Trees are a beautiful, enchanting, and magical addition to every place, be it indoors or outdoors. But such beauty requires regular and proper care,...

Get Your Small Plants Ready For Planting - B Hirst
Seedlings need to be hardened off. Hardening off plants means introducing them gradually to the outdoor envirement. The best method to harden plants is to move them outdoors on a mild day. Hopefully on a mild and cloudy one. Leave the plants in...

How To Paint A Plaster Ceiling Medallion Or Ceiling Rose - Jean Morrison
Some home owners paint their plaster ceiling decorations in the same colour as the main ceiling. This seems such a pity when a painted accessory can highlight the other furnishings in the room. The colours of carpets, lounge suites and other...

Why Rose Gardening Is So Addictive - Chester Smith
For many of us, the act of gardening brings us closer to nature by getting us outdoors and allowing us the opportunity to tend and grow objects that in the absence of our assistance would not be able to survive, let alone thrive. There is a special...

How to Care for Laminate Flooring - E Timothy Uy
It's hard to damage and easy to care for laminate floors. Here are some tips on how to properly maintain them: 1. Carefully read the warranty and care instructions provided for your flooring. Follow them as much as you can and refer to them if a...

Camps for Troubled Teens: Disciplines and Wilderness - - Kent Pinkerton
Parents looking for a quick fix usually choose troubled teen camps. There are two types of teen camps: boot camps and summer or wilderness camps. They usually last from one to six weeks, and while teens may shows signs of improvement for days or...

Outdoor Decks - Understanding Seven Elements Of Good Deck Design - David Buster
You’re all comfortable in your favorite lounge chair, reading your latest novel with a cool beverage nearby... the aroma of your favorite BBQ drifting from the grill teases everyone... catching a few rays of sunshine never felt better. Warm...