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Ode to Odors

When I do Pre-Market Home Selling Consultations as a Calgary, Alberta Home Stager, I often see -- and smell -- a variety of scented products throughout the home. There's the plug-in variety, the spray variety, the stash-in-a-corner-and-please-absorb-the-smell-in-here variety.

Diffuser Sticks I often ask about their presence . . . is there an issue in this room? Are you worried about an odor problem? Most home owners shrug and say that they think it's just prudent. You know . . . just in case.

The problem is that these products designed to "add a pleasant scent", are themselves usually way too strong and generally unpleasant. I mean, I'm pretty sure "mountain breezes" don't usually smell like eau de toilet in real life! And I don't really want every cell in my olafactory glands hyper-stimulated with "Freesia Fantasy", thank you very much. (Plus, I have to wonder about the health implications of all these chemicals floating around in the air I breathe).

Worse yet, the presence of these products often alert a potential buyer that there may in fact be an odor causing issue that you are trying to hide. And besides, no product out there is going to hide wet dog. It'll just make for a hideous . . . and I believe, probably toxic . . . combination of scent molecules.

Okay, I exaggerate (slightly), but according to About.com, the number one turn off for a potential buyer is strong odors in the home. Um, so think pets, smoking, cooking, mold, mildew and anything basically musty, soggy, and otherwise stale or disgusting.

So instead of masking your home's odors, embrace them! Tell yourself -- as the home owner -- there is Cigarette in Ashtray no such thing as a bad smell. It is your friend, and very useful information, telling you to take action!

First of all, get an objective opinion about your home and it's inherent smell (that you are totally incapable of detecting . . . trust me). And please, don't kill the messenger or kick this gift-horse in the mouth! Thank them for their honesty, because it will allow you to make your home more marketable.

Secondly, find the source of the smell and deal with it. By "deal with it", I mean, obliterate it. Spraying Febreeze on the sofa isn't going to do it. If this means calling in the professionals, or replacing carpet, you just have to do it. The cost before you go on the market will be far less than the discount a buyer will demand to remedy your smelly problem--if they are even willing to take it on.

And lastly, go on the market with confidence. Once you've addressed this huge deal breaker, not only will buyers respond much more favorably to your home, maybe . . . just maybe . . . you'll enjoy living there a little bit more yourself.

Deena Cottingham

GreenApple Staging & Images
Serving Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta

©GreenApple Staging & Images, 2010
All information is copyrighted and may not be used, borrowed or copied without written permission.

Posted by Deena Cottingham, Home Stager & Photographer on 02/05/2010 06:02 PM

Comments (87)

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87 Comments on Ode to Odors

FEB

2010

Deena, I'm not sure I totally agree. Some people overdo it and assault the buyers senses. I always recommend a spray of a certain brand or home store and have the sellers use it 'sparingly'. Some odors no matter what you do can't be covered up, they just have to go. That might include the couch & carpet!

I can recall probably 5-6 homes which, over the years, I refused to even show to a buyer. If the agent can't get past the smell in the foyer, no need to go farther.

The worst, of course, is dog or cat urine that the seller will probably not be able to eliminate.

Cigarette smoke is the next worse.

No "scent" is going to mask that.

BTW, I believe that the scented candles are dangerous. They burn oils and spew them into the air. How good can that be for the human lungs???

Deena, I really don't like those artificial "odors" at all! I wonder what the homeowners are trying to hide. Those plug ins are supposed to be dangerous as well. They do sell things are are supposed to take odors out of the air without covering them up and in many instances, they work. Great article!

Good post, but I think that there is such a thing as a bad smell but most homeowners don't notice them because they are used to it. It's our job to bring it up tactfully because it can certainly be a deal breaker and sometimes it's an easy cure.

Tact is the key, not just for odors either. It's not any easier to tell the taxidermist that his trophies hanging on the wall will scare buyers away than to tell him not to fry fish on Saturday evening before an open house. And BTW, I'll take wet dog over Febreeze any day :)

Most people, MYSELF INCLUDED, are totally used the the smell of their own home. Sometimes it may hurt your feelings, but ask someone, find the cause, and eliminate. If you ARE a fan of scenting your home. People like me are highly allergic to whatever is in plugins, febreeze, yankee candles, & anything that comes from bed bath and beyond. I use essential oils in water bottles that I can quickly spray if I want my home to smell like cinnamon. Or i keep "spent" potpourri in the bathrooms and just throw a bunch of drops of orange and sage when I want it to smell nice in the bathrooms. I am a huge fan of yummy smelling homes of cinnamon and orange.

Sometimes you can get the wet dog combined with the pine cent for the ever so classy pine wet dog scent. It's like that Jerry Seinfeld skit about the Cabby's in NY and their BO. They have that cherry stuff on the dash so you get the cherry BO...so strong it's coming through the glass.

I went into this one house and it smelled like they had a fish hatchery in their basement.

CHEAP air freshners are the worst. They get in to your clothes and you can smell that nasty house for hours to come.

Not being a fan of odor masking scents, I've been in homes where my customers and I had sneeze attacks from the overuse of sweet smelling plug-ins. Why not just crack open a window in the house, for instance in the bathroom, and let some fresh air in?

Deena, A very well written post! You are absolutely right, some of the very heavy air freshners actually give me a headache! Nothing beats the smell of clean ;-) Kate

You know it's bad when the buyers do an immediate 180. I know you get use to the smell of your own house but there are certain ones that you have to know that your house stinks.

Deena, I'll discreetly wear my Mr. Crabs t-shirt invoking the following thought on it's back. Maybe you know this: "I smell the smelly smell of something that smells smelly". Thank you! Have a stink free weekend.

I like this post, thank you! I do think that a light pleasant fragrance can be good, but as you said many people over do it (cough, choke) or they are covering up something yucky.

Deena, yes, don't mask! I don't know about embracing the smell, but admitting and bringing in professionals, YES YES YES! Get the carpets, couch and DOG cleaned! (Hey, I have 3 dogs. I totally understand the odor, and so understand the need to GET IT OUT. I can only imagine if the perfect buyer for my house hated dogs...they wouldn't buy my house!)

Then there is the challenge to get the sellers to recognize there is a smell in the home.

Deena, I really like this post's direct approach to a very real problem for most sellers. It's great to say "get an objective opinion" and deal with it.

I think smell is not appreciated enough. I have found people react strongly to smell, whether it's strong and they fear something is being covered up, or else just the slightest whiff of unpleasantness, whatever it may be. I have had people turn around and walk out immediately because of smell. Great post!

I like to use scented sprays. Top of the line products. If there's a bad odor nothing will help. For me a plenty scent really works. What I don't like are the plug ins. There was home that my clients everntually bought that has one of those plug-ins. He was certain that there was a gas leak somewhere. After the gas company came to check for leaks, the smell persisted until we figured out that it was one of those plug-ins.

I like linen scent or sometimes paper white sprays.

Hi Deena,

Fresh air and clean are the way to go! Scented candles are unhealthy and plug-ins are known to be a fire hazard. Great article!

Rita

I burned some green beans pretty good yesterday, and couldn't smell a thing. Maybe it's a disability. The point is that it might be helpful (perhaps more helpful for men than women--sexism be darned) to get a second scent opinion.

Deena good advice, it is always a better idea to address the problem. Sellers also need to keep in mind that many of these scented items can be a turn off for a buyers since more consumers seem to be sensitive to these strong scents.

A challenge that needs to be tackle with the origin ---- and many times telling a seller that the dog smell impact the reaction a buyer has can be difficult, along with smoking, cooking odors---.

A small bit of water boiling with a little cinnamon in it... turn the stove off after it comes to a boil Or a drop or two of vanilla in that water.

Better yet, bake some fresh bread in the bread machine, or a batch of fresh cookies in that oven.

I have never had a buyer complain about any of those scents.

These are the things that I have recommended and will continue to do so because they work and just about 100% of the buyers will enjoy a fresh cookie from the cookie plate that the seller has set out for that purpose.

Ground coffee will absorb many musty odors including pet and smoke. How about an agent cooking a cabbage dish to be served at a broker open. Agents loved the dish but the stench, ooooowwweeee!

Deena~ You just can't sell a house that smells bad! I have sold homes that smelled so good, but none that have smelled so bad!

I like some nice natural smells.. like flowers... or cookies..... but I have allergies and all those other things just make me (and my clients) sneeze! As for mold and mildew.. those are big turnooff and no amount of spray will cover those types of things.

Hi Deena ~ Great post! Congratulations on the feature. I always tell sellers "Fresh air is free". Air it out!

Liz

I am really sensitive to scents and some really iritate me. I can always make out the smell of dog/cat underneath whatever they use to cover it up. I am also a fan of "Free Fresh Air!" LOL

My dad can't stand scented candles. Some like the fragrances out there. Some do not. I agree with above comments that pet urine and SMOKE will keep away the offers. It is SO worth it to replace the carpet and repaint if these odors are present.

Deena- another well written and informative post. Plug-ins,candles, etc are not only masking the odors but can also be dangerous to those around them. I agree with your solution: find out what's causing the odor and get to the bottom of it to get rid of it. We ALL have "blind" noses when it comes to our own home odors.

Hi Deena -- Well said. I have run into this numerous times and it has prevented many a buyer from purchasing a home with these issues.

I have these horrible items to hide the scent of the stinky old father-in-law that lives in my house. I would really rather not need them. They do help some. Meyer's Green Day seems to be the least un-chemical smelling of them. They have cleaners and oderizers that all match and smell clean.

I'm sure one day it won't be father-in-law but smelly kid smells and rancher husband smells to cover up. Sometimes it isn't the room but the people that use the room.

I'm a huge fan of the open window. Of course, I live in CA where it is possible virtually all year to freshen a home by opening it up. I still enjoy a light scent, especially good cooking aromas such as bread or cookies or cinnamon. There are a very few essential oils and other scented products that can be relied upon to LIGHTLY scent the air without offending people.

I have also found over-enthusiastic cleaning leaves a nasty mix of clorox, ammonia, and other strong smells, which also make you wonder what required such vigorous use of chemicals! :-)

Bad smells bring bad offers normally. Everyone thinks there is something wrong with the home even if it is not rotting away underneath that is what a buyer thinks.

Oh my goodness . . . it's like Christmas morning getting to read all your great comments! I was reading them to my Hubby on the way home from our movie, and we were both laughing so hard tears came to our eyes! Thank you for the great entertainment . . . and brutal honesty!

Lyn - I think we are saying the same thing! Yes, sometimes the offending surface just has to go!

Lenn - I totally agree about your "smell priority". We bought an investment property, and after the sale was firm, the owner decided to clean the carpets for us. Well, that just brought out all the dog urine smell. It was horrible. Luckily we were already prepared to rip out the carpets as there was hardwood underneath. Thankfully, that got rid of the smell.

Carole - yes there are some carbon air filters and I've read about ozone generators - albeit with mixed reviews about the health implications. Like you, I really don't like the artificial smells, though!

Margaret - of course there is such thing as a bad smell! I was being a little tongue in cheek about it should be "good" information for the home seller . . . so they can remedy it.

Cynthia - Yes, tact. As many Agents have said, it is very difficult to broach this subject (or the others you mentioned). That's what a Pre-Market Consultation by a Home Stager is good for! We can talk about these things without jeopardizing the listing relationship.

Deena, the way too strong ones overwhelm me as well. You have to be practical and not over do it.

Whew--for me it's the heavy flower scented plug-ins that are really the worst offenders. The next worst are the scented powders people sprinkle into their carpet to mask the smell instead of just getting them professionally cleaned. Those are soooo strong! People become immune to their "home fragrances" and then they overdo. The best smell is really no smell, isn't it?

Lori - Absolutely . . . we can't smell our own home (or our own skin). We need an objective opinion!

David - you totally cracked me up! And I'm a big Seinfeld fan, too. What do you think . . . I'm hard of smelling??

Ellie - ahhh, cheap air freshener . . . my fav.

Silvia - you just can't fake fresh and clean!

Kate - BIG headache.

Michael - I can see that you are a tell-it-like-it-is kind of guy! Just cut to the chase!

Kevin - that's a great idea! You can wear that as a conversation starter for "one of those homes".

BethAnn - yes many people overdo. Some products are also just overdone themselves!

Marney - Wow, 3 dogs. Glad you are aware of the issue, despite your love for the furry little guys.

Vickie - no point beating around the bush. The house just won't sell if we decide to be polite.

Joseph - totally. Smell is HUGE! Even a slight one can be a deal breaker.

Frank - that's classic! A plug-in that makes someone think there's a gas leak!

Rita - I used to like scented candles, and now I just find them totally annoying. Same with perfumes these days. Strong smells of any kind seem kind of passee.

Ray - that's great . . . a smelling disability! You know, I believe women are better smellers. (Notice I said SMELLERS not SMELLEES!). I've insisted I could smell a gas leak in our basement. My Hubby thought I was crazy. Anyway, the gas company came out and turns out I was right.

Jennifer - I agree. Any strong scent is a big turnoff these days.

Hi Deena-

Thank you. I'm amazed at the overpowering odors in some people's homes. Who says a home should smell like, well, anything?

Isn't it surprising that while we all understand that some people have perfume allergies, some Sellers accost Buyers with heavy scent?

Sara

Lorraine & Loretta - I know, pet lovers sometimes don't understand that not everybody feels the same way about Fido.

Judi - thanks for the great "recipe"!

Ross - of course, ground coffee! Isn't that what drug smugglers use?? Are you serious??! Cabbage, for an open house! That's way too funny!

Vickie - A bad odor is worse than a "fixer upper" that doesn't assault the nose!

Joan - so many people have allergies these days. And serious ones at that.

Liz - you said it . . . fresh air is free! Of course, not so much when it's freezing cold outside.

Sandy - I'm like you . . . I can't be "fooled". I can always detect what's underneath it, too.

Sonja - yep. It is SO worth it to just do what's necessary to get rid of the source of the smell. No one will overlook it without wanting a huge discount.

Kathy - I love that . . . blind noses! Yes, we can't smell ourselves. Maybe for some of us, that's a good thing, as that center of the brain would be on constant overload!

Chris - for sure. It's something hardwired into us to avoid unpleasant smells! No one will want a home that has one.

Amy - Oh my goodness! I laughed so hard. I hope you were meaning to be funny! It's like "eau de teenaged boy"! There's the smelly socks mixed with rotting food somewhere in the pile and AXE body spray to top it off.

Sonsie - lucky you. We can't open our windows year round (without running the risk of them freezing open!). But you're right about too many cleaning products, too. Good ol' vinegar works, is cheap, and the smell dissipates fairly quickly.

Clark - I love it. Bad smells bring bad offers. Classic.

Gary - I know. They overwhelm me too.

Sharon - I totally agree! The best smell is NO SMELL.

I've run into some doozies, and yes it's a huge turnoff for a buyer.

FEB

2010

There have been vacant homes that I've toured and you can smell the smoke from cigarettes. It's in the carpet, because there's nothing else in the house! That's BAD!!

Had one just this week....it's raining for days here so the "odor" of dog urine hits me in the face as I enter a home going on the market in a couple of weeks for $2.5million. About 20 minutes into the consult....when I determined she wouldn't shoot this messenger....I did address the "smell". BAD odors will drive buyers out the door if not corrected! GREAT post!

It just seems so hard to get a "clean" smell. I also find it is very, very personal with current owners. They seem to adjust and accept the ordors

I think the worst and most costly animal odor is that of a male cat. A few years ago I saw a place ruined by one determined male cat. The carpet had to be removed. Parts of the sub-flooring had to be removed. Parts of the cement slab had to be bleached. Then even after all that cleaning and new carpet, after a few weeks the odor though mostly mitigated returned. That cat will always own that territory...... I've heard that early neutering of a male cat prevents that problem.

Must be Pet smell blogging time, second excellent blog I read the last few minutes. Thanks!

Deena, great post. How true is that. I have shown houses where my client and I remembered the house due to their smell after the enitre of house hunting. How sad is that? I think it is ok to have some fragrant in the house is ok as long as it is in moderation.

Deena:

I find a strong fragrant scent in a home to be a red flag that something else is going on. It is much more effective to air out the home or even to use an air filter for awhile. Potpourri is lovely but too much is usually hiding something.

Often you go into the home and they have scented candles burning too, buyers do not like that. Besides being a safety hazard, a fragrance to one may not be fragrant to another.

The best odor is no odor. Anything else is either unpleasant or a masking agent for something unpleasant.

Deena,

I always makes one wonder what exactly is trying to be hidden with the overwhelming scents that have been applied with a garden sprayer through out the home.

Deena,

Even in homes NOT for sale, overpowering air fresheners overwhelm me!

When you get a headache from the cigarette smoke in less than five minutes it a no sale. Pet odors are next, especially in some cases where it is required to not only remove the carpet and pad, but also to use an industrial paint for the slab. This happens more in rental property where the tenants don't care for the home like an owner who lives there.

Odors just stink! Really a neutral smelling home is best. Buyers can't wait to get out of a house that smells bad or is overly scented with perfumes, candles, air freshner.

If you want a scent, buy fresh flowers - everyone loves them and they don't overwhelm.

I had a listing that a slight dog smell, not terrible but it was what it was. The property owner and I talked about it. Her solution was great. When I called with a showing, she took out a frozen apple pie and put it in the oven. She turned it on bake and left the house 10 minutes before I arrived. When I arrived, I turned the pie off and put it back in the freezer. By the time the house sold we'd cooked that pie so many times I couldn't imagine eating it!

Let me me start off by saying that I am an animal lover to the core. Got 2 doggies at home. Dress them in clothes, photograph them constantly, LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM.

When I list a home, you gotta do something with your pets. Dogs, cats, ferrets, snakes, fish. All pets must be eradicated from a home that is for sale. I'm sorry. They smell.

And even animal lovers like me do not want to be pounced on by the playful kitty lurking under the edge of the bed that makes me SHRIEK like a crazy person in front of my clients.

Plug ins in every room are not a good idea. They make people pass out and I hate calling 911 for clients.

I prefer just the faint scent of bleach in the bathrooms and an overall cinnamon or vanilla aroma that I have to really focus on to detect.

Deena,

People often get used to the smell of their own house.

Opening up the doors and windows 30 minutes before an open house doesn't get rid of the smoking smell.

Some sensitive buyers get an immediate headache. And, perhaps one of the couple visiting will turn around and sit in the car. You know that they won't buy. And, when you drop your price by $10,000 to $20,000, they still won't be back. Sometimes, only the renovators are interested. They love bad smells, because they can "smell a bargain".

Brian

Great post. Every seller should read this! Clean, clean and then clean some more is my recommendation to all sellers, even if the house is spotless to begin with, I always tell them they need to do it again, and especially if they smoke (paint ceilings, wash walls, launder drapes, steam clean carpets and furniture. Pet urine? carpet has to go! If they must use artificial perfumes, then I suggest completely opening up doors and windows for a few minutes after spraying to air out house, Usually a fait odor is left behind and is usually pleasant. If they insist on making the house smell different, then bake something or put on a pot of spaghetti sauce. Always makes the home inviting!

Excellent post. Some potential buyers have allergies and can get irritated by perfumes. A light mist of Febreeze should be enough!

Xposure Real Estate Photography -- www.PropertyXposure.com

When looking to buy rentals I've entered homes smelling like cat urine. I hear what you're saying but for me...mask it please! I'll deal with the smell issue later if I like the home enough!

Thanks again for stopping by and commenting!

Kathy - Wow, $2.5 million for dog urine!

Bob - Yikes! Total disaster. No kidding that cat will own that place forever.

Mike - It's never a good thing when the houses you have viewed are remembered with a "nick-name"!

Claudette - I agree!

Mary - exactly. No smell is the best smell. Or something very, very faint. (In a good way), as Philip has said.

Walter - too funny! Applied with a garden sprayer . . . that's good.

Joe - Yes, it does happen a lot more often in tenant occupied properties . . . unfortunately.

Yvette - lemons are good in that way, too. They kind of absorb a little bit of odor, and have a faintly clean smell that no one objects to.

John - let them eat pie!

Jenna - you're hilarious. I love . . . they make people pass out and I hate calling 911 for clients.

Brian - you hit the nail on the head. Investors/renovators certainly can SMELL a bargain!

Diana - I like your advice. Clean, clean, clean and then clean some more. That's what I say, too!

I was showing homes today, and one had a crock pot full of food cooking, and another the owner was definitely a smoker!

Nevin - yes, but wouldn't it be better to remove the source of the smell altogether?

Sharon - I just don't understand putting your home on the market, and then not doing absolutely everything possible to get it sold! Isn't that easier that having it sit and sit?

Funny and very true post, Deena. I've seen firsthand the concern buyers have when they are overcome with the strong artificial fragrances. Thanks for sharing the valuable tips.

I once walked into a showing -- the sellers were having dinner and refused to leave for our showing. The wife was frying FISH in the kitchen, and had just put a big bowl of wet catfood in the middle of the floor in the hallway to greet us.

I do reommend an plug in if the house is vacant or I notice a stale smell. I think buyers would rather smell anything over musty.

Deena,

Such great advice...nothing worse than all of those scented gadgets...they give me a headache due to allergies and I'm sure they bother a lot of other people too. Banana bread is still the best scent to sell by...

But I'll take a scented gadget any day over frying fish and freshly opened can of catfood!

I too am a fan of essential oils. They are very yummy to smell and it's aafe as well. Thanks for the post today I enjoyed the read.

Patricia/Seacoast NH

Deena - The sense of smell is a powerful emotional "trigger" and can turn off buyers who fail to realize why. It's best to avoid the artificial smells and go for clean and natural.

Deena, A very good article. I agree with Lenn on the cat odor. Cat urine is tough to hide.

Deena, a good article for sellers and I will pass this on to my coworkers.

I agree that masking odors doesn't work. I like scented candles though I don't if they present any dangers other than fire.

I showed a home recently where the seller was in the midst of cooking goat. It definitely had a unique sale. Needless to say my buyers passed on this particular home.

Try telling sellers not to cook their favorite foods, that's almost like pulling teeth. We come in such a diversed culture. It's almost impossible.

I recently found an ozone service for the home that completely eliminates odor from the home. It's smells fresh. Then, don't go around lighting candles after the fact. That in itself has turn off lots of buyers too.

FEB

2010

Hi Deena. As a home inspector, I see air fresheners as a big red flag.

Several years ago, I counted over twenty air fresheners in a home. Sure enough, the crawl space was found to be flooded with a major mold problem present.

Just last Thursday, the home I inspected had several air fresheners in place. The listing agent stated that the cleaning lady had placed the air fresheners. Sure enough, the wood stove contained a dead animal.

Hi Deena,

I just wrote a blog about the commercial with the real estate agent stating that she uses Febreze in all her listings to freshen up the homes before open houses. I called it: I Truly HATE That Commercial.

Have you seen that commercial? This woman actually tells the free world that she's a real estate agent and she sprays her client's homes with that stuff! OMG!!!!

You are absolutely right. Get to the root of the problem and fix it.

Pam.

Good advice - we as agents need to deal with the all the potential issues of a home including offensive odors.

I'll be linking to your post in one of my posts, it was just so perfect.

Multiple people have recommended baking chocolate cookie smell to give the home a warm and fuzzy feeling. What do you think?

Deena - your recommendations make perfect sense. People should identify what's causing the odor first, then eliminate...not mask...

Although I have heard that heating cinnamon can eliminate some odors...I wonder...

Thanks again for all your comments!

Erica - no way . . . frying fish?? Do people not understand that if you want your house to sell, you might have to make some choices and sacrifices for awhile?

Amy - yes, I agree with you that I'd rather smell a scented gadget over musty -- if those are my only choices. But I'd rather buy a house that doesn't have smell issues in the first place.

Jo - I loooove banana bread! That's a smell worth buying for!

Patricia - I am with you on the essential oils. Put a little in some vinegar water for cleaning, and you've got an effective environmentally friendly product, too!

Thanks John, Ted & Rebecca!

Christine - there are some soy based candles that are considered safe.

Sharyn & Victoria - a goat?? Yes, that'd be something to talk about afterwards!

Loreena - excellent point about ozone cleaners. I hear that they absolutely do work, there is just some controversy over the health implications. Definitely not recommended for people with respiratory issues.

Glen - so glad you weighed in and shared your stories! Sure enough, truth proves to be stranger than fiction!

Pam - no I haven't seen that commerical. I think I'd feel the same as you about it, though!

Thanks Marc and Joetta for your visit. And thanks for the link!

Aaron - great question. Well, I'd take baking smells over just about any artificial smell, that's for sure. I know this tactic works for a lot of people and they swear by it. As for me, I don't know . . . does it seem like you're trying too hard? I personally haven't done this when selling a property . . . I try to go for the truly fresh and clean. However, in some situations, maybe this would help a lingering odor even if the problem has been dealt with.

William - there are a few comments that would indicate so. I'd have to try it myself to see if it would eliminate an odor. I suppose if the source is gone (frying fish, or something), then perhaps it would certainly help clear the air!

FEB

2010

Deena...you bring up a good point about buyers questioning whether or not you are hiding something. I used to use the plug ins but have laid off and tend to agree that it should not be necessay if the "bad" odors are eliminated!

Hi Deena. Personally, I can't stay in "scented", since I am allergic to most of the scents.

Three weeks ago, an agent called me to checkout one of his listings, that was not selling after being on the market for six months.

The home was a modern one with beautiful views of the Puget Sound. First of all, the house was not staged and in addition, he had three plugins in the living room. I could only stay for couple of minutes inside of the house. He got the message!

Thanks for the blog - a very important topic.

FEB

2010

Great title - ode to odors is oh so important! When there are floral odors, they are probably hiding something. My guess is animal something!

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Deena Cottingham, Home Stager & Photographer

Calgary, AB

More about me…

GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography

Address: Call for Consultation, Calgary, AB, T2Y 5G6

Office Phone: (403) 589-0225

Cell Phone: (403) 589-0225

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I like creating discussion among other professionals in the real estate industry on various staging, photography and off-beat topics. I value the insight of others and the synergy we all benefit from when we collaborate--iron sharpens iron! I also have a love for fitness, personal growth and my family.

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