Retro Spoof

When they say the "nose" knows, it's really true.  I have been into alot of homes that were emitting some strange smells.  Pet odors, body odor, dirty house odors, dirty laundry odors, food/cooking/spice odors, smoke, dirty linens odor, and some strange unidentifiable odors.  There's more, but you get the idea. 

Unfortunately, we get used to the way our homes smell.  Have you ever gone into someones house, and walk through an area and catch a whiff of something, maybe from the dirty laundry hamper?

This is one of the biggest turnoffs for buyers when looking at homes, even over cleanliness (it's a very close 2nd).  The difference is, a house can be cleaned, but odors penetrate into carpet, padding, walls, linens, draperies and fabric of any kind.  And it can be quite a chore to banish them.

One examples of the worst cases I've ever smelled was from pet odors.  I walked into the front door and it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I thought maybe it was isolated in that area, but the further in I got the more intense it got.  I literally got a migraine, and went outside a few times, it was that bad.

They explained their kids had brought down a couple of dogs and a cat.  The dogs were long gone, but the cat was still there.

Here was the puzzle, this house had been practically gutted because of some water damage.  The floors were down to concrete, the walls had been stripped of all wallpaper, there was no fabric type materials left, and no draperies.

I felt extremely bad for these sellers, as it was an odor free home before, and now they are plagued with this extreme odor.  The sellers didn't smell it, but I guarantee a buyer will and turnaround and walk right out!

Luckily, it's being updated and we will be replacing everything and will make sure sure the odor goes away.

Sellers... you can't smell your own odors. 

Don't lose potential buyers, have a home stager give you a consultation and see what their opinion is.

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Redesign Etc. Houston, TX,  Full-Service home staging with expert professional stagers.

Please visit our website for more information.  We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area League City Home Staging.  Or contact Cindy Bryant for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.  And all areas down to Galveston Island.

                                                                   

                                                   "Staging Houston Homes to Sell"

 
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Post is included in group: Advice for Sellers

18 Comments on Biggest Turnoff for Home Buyers

NOV
09
Outside Blog

Isn't that the truth.  Smells can really turn you on or off on a property.

12:33am • #1
370,698 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Elite Home Team-Yes, as a buyer, I've walked out before I even made it to the family room and went to the next house.

12:40am • #2
Outside Blog

Hi Cindy,

Thank you for sharing an informative and helpful article.

John Pusa

12:49am • #3
Outside Blog

In our area there's a company that can solve this problem called Rainbow Services. Many agents have claimed this fixed the problem with no remaining smell.

1:04am • #4
2 Featured Posts

An odor we sometimes don't think about is the one from moth balls!  Thankfully, it is easily remedied!

5:15am • #5
Localism Sponsor

Great post.  I agree, the sense of smell is too often overlooked and is an important part of the experience.  I'm particularly atuned to smells of dampness, which can obviously lead to more serious problems with the home.

6:07am • #6

Cindy,

 Sooo very true, I run a home tour and there are some that I just do not go into

PG

7:10am • #7
160,286 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Isn't it funny how you really can't smell your own smells after a time?  The nose certainly knows. My husband tells me I have a hyper sensitive nose too and I can smell things that many people can't - serves me well for staging. 

7:54am • #8

You're right.  It's the SMELL that will kill a showing faster than anything else.  I've heard that many agents use products from www.Lampegerger.ca to help eliminate odors effectively.

8:36am • #9
1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor

HI Cindy!

 

I use the ozone machine when it comes to odours of any kind. It seems to work very well for musty smells, pet odour, curry...basically bacteria that causes odour is destroyed by the ozone.

 

8:41am • #10
1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Great Post Cindy,

If you want to get an idea what your house may smell like to others...go away for a few days, lock the place up over a weekend and boy when you get back do you notice it.  I've been in some bank owned like that too. 

Sometimes sellers get offended when you try to explain this to them, have had it happen during consultations.  Smell is so unique to all of us bringing good and bad memories, it's just another thing you have to explain to sellers that they need to be neutral on.  That includes the baked cookie and apple pie smells during open houses to make a home homier, my biggest pet peeve.   I tell people not to do it.

10:18am • #11
NOV
10

I love animals but ... Our agent took us to view a house that had several pets and the smell was unbelievable. Not only that, but they had a sign inside the front door saying 'My pets live here, You don't'. That was 5 years ago and the negative feeling is still with me when I think of it. We ended up buying a staged house free of all odours.

8:45am • #12
143,297 Points Outside Blog

I love my ozone machine-best investment ever. Great post-nose knows!!

10:47pm • #13
320,451 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

I agree with Cathy Lee . I am on my third one and simply love it! 

11:11pm • #14
NOV
12
370,698 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

John-Your'e welcome!

Michelle-There are companies out there, but in this case there's really nothing to clean.

Kim-True, I hate to open up a closet and moth ball scents hit me in the face.

Craig-We get that alot living on the coast, especially when a house is closed up.

Paul-I'm sensitive, I wouldn't like that either.

Karen-I've been told that too.  I swear I can smell things that other people can't they just look at me like I'm crazy.

Monica-I use about 4 of those,

Thanks Tom, haven't heard of it, but will check it out.

Monica-I have ionic breezes by sharper image, but I don't think they would work.  Haven't checked out an ozone machine.  Hotels use them.

Ana-I've never agreed with baking anything at an open house, it's hokey!  And it messes up the kitchen, which I would not like if it were my kitchen, and crumbs would get everywhere.  I agree.

Cheryl-I know I had a few like that when I was looking, yuk, I just told the agent "no way", and would leave.  Not taking the chance of the odor not ever coming out.

Cathy Lee-Which one do you use?

Trey-Which ones are you using?

 

 

 

12:16am • #15
NOV
13

Nice comment!

8:23am • #16
1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Oh boy there's nothing worse than a cat urine smell. Buyers will spend myabe 10 seconds in s house with that problem before they're outta there. I have a cat house listed right now. I'll have to check out what an ozone machine is.

11:08am • #17
1 Featured Post

I've heard wonders about those Ozone machines. Odors are a HUGE buyer turnoff and so often the seller doesn't even notice the problem.

4:31pm • #18

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Cindy Bryant~Houston's Home Staging & Professional Home Stagers~RVP RESA~ASHSR

Houston, TX

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Redesign Etc.~Specialist in Staging Vacant Properties.

Address: Regional V.P. RESA (Real Estate Staging Association), ASHSR., Areas Served: Greater Houston Area, River Oaks, Inner Loop, League City,Woodlands, Katy, Spring/Cypress, to Galveston., Houston, TX, 77057

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