Cookie or Pine-Sol?

Should your Open House smell like Cookies or Pine-Sol? This weekend I toured a few homes with my clients. At our Open House Briefing dinner an interesting conversation occurred regarding the "smell" of the homes. My client said, "House #2 didn't smell clean." I thought, 'what does smell have to do with anything?' Well, in-fact, it has plenty to do with selling a home. We think of communication as verbal and non-verbal. Some say non-verbal communication is 10x more powerful; however, we over look one of the most important non-verbal queues: smell. Think about the last time you walked into a house that smelled bad. It's almost like you can actually smell it again, right? Smells can burn a lasting impression in your, or your clients', mind about a property. Make sure to prepare and educate your client about smells. Either bake some cookies or hit the hardwood with Pine-Sol. Having a clean or inviting smell to a home can really make an impact; especially before an Open House!