Real Estate Blog - Could Scents Cost you a Buyer?

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Could Scents Cost you a Buyer?

SCENTED CANDLE

This time I am not talking about mold or a smelly house because of poor housekeeping. This is about those home owners who take pride in the property and want everything to be just so.

A showing is scheduled, everything is in place and just before leaving Mrs. Seller lights some scented candles or plugs in the scented air freshener. Wow everything smells great!!

But, Mrs Seller, that little act could cut short the showing. Yes, this is happening more and more. Have you noticed that more people are becoming sensitive to scents? This must be an indication of some negative environmental effect.

I have had clients who would not go into a house because of these artificial smells. Some of us might say the client is being difficult. The fact of the matter is, this is very real and I can so empathize because I know what this chemical sensitivity feels like.

So, what can we do to give the house that special smell without the use of artificial scents?. I would suggest: bake an apple pie. But who has the time? I have heard of baking orange peels, and my husband suggested brewing a pot of strong regular coffee. What would you suggest?

Jennifer Fivelsdal 845-7586842 Your Hudson Valley NY Realtor

Posted by Jennifer Fivelsdal, Fishkill NY on 05/07/2007 09:39 PM

Comments (18)

scented candles, air freshner, chemical sensitivity, hudson valley, ny realtor, showings

Originally posted at: Rhinebeck Living: Could Scents Cost you a Buyer?

This post has been included in New York Information Dutchess County, NY Information

18 Comments on Could Scents Cost you a Buyer?

MAY

2007

How about a candle that smells like baking?

If the seller has time, I love to boil some cloves and cinnamon sticks. It will smell a lot like that apple pie without fussing with the pie. Sometimes I've put apple peelings or orange rind in the water too. It makes an icky looking mess, but it smells wonderful. If time allows, buy some refrigerator chocolate chip cookies and put them on the baking sheet and bake. This "shortcut method" of baking cookies smells just as good as Grandma's homemade. Sometimes a little vanilla poured in a baking dish and then warmed in the oven will make the house smell good. I agree that the more natural the smell, the better. Sometimes people are allergic to those artificial smells--and sometimes they just wonder what the seller's trying to cover.

Jennifer,

I agree that you must be careful about choosing scents. One of the suggestions - vanilla - is a scent that I do not find pleasing. I usually go for an odor neutralizer of something like "clean linen" if I find I need to use air fresheners.

Rita

Jennifer - I just showed a home to a client last week where the sellers had a few of those hideous scented candles burning. It seems like whatever they're supposed to smell like x 1000. We almost gagged in the kitchen, it had one of those cinnamom scented ones blazing and the scent was downright overpowering, almost to the point of being sickening. The basement had a honey scented candle that was equally as oppressive. Nasty stuff all around.

I understand people wanting to make their home more appealing but this seems almost counterproductive. Are we going so far as to stage the actual air in homes now too? Where will the madness end? :)

Jerry

MAY

2007

Jennifer- The candle is like a grand entrance to your post-very effective. Your post is so timely and relevant. Last week I listed a vacant house and the first thing I did was to go through and toss all the plugins etc. left in the house. When I entered, I felt as if I was going to suffocate. I am still wondering if there is an attempt to cover up something else.

On the other hand, I am in favor of healthy natural, cinnamon, cloves, orange, ginger, fresh-baked cookies, and fresh-baked bread aromas. Cookie dough can be bought frozen, bread dough also. Just unwrap and put oven. You don't have to eat it afterward, either.

I love your post.

Jennifer, while I have no problem with the candles or sprays (I LOVE the Clean Linen one) I do agree that sensitivity to these is a real concern and we should inform our sellers of same. You've gotten some great suggestions on how to quickly and effectively get some natural smells going on. It doesn't take a lot of time and it could save the showing. Definitely worth it.

Jennifer,

I've used scented candles at Open Houses. The kind that come in a little can called ROOT. They have a subtle smell. I've never heard a complaint. I usually hear "It smells really nice in here". I never thought it could be turn off.

I had a listing where the owner smoked a cigar. For every showing I would get there 15 minutes early and spray the whole apartment with Fabreeze.

I went to another brokers Open House a few weeks ago and she had Cinnamon sticks in the oven. It did smell very Homey.

Coffee also smells good to me, but I'm afraid The buyers will want a cup.

Denise - I guess that could work, but I would prefer non chemical scents.

Leo - The clove an cinnamon and quick bake cookies sound like a terrific idea.

Rita - I agree that the neutralizer would be preferable.

Gerald - I know what you mean, and putting a different scent in each room makes it even worst.

Eloise - Your addition to the list of natural things to use is appreciated.

Maggie - I think it is a topic we will be taking more serious in the near future, the sensitivity issue seem to be growing.

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. I hope we will make these recommendations to our sellers.

Mitchell - I am not familiar with ROOT but if you get good feedback it must be working. The sensitivity issue is growing, more people are now suffering from allergies and some of these scents are extremely strong. I agree that Fabreeze works well as a non natural product.

As for the coffee, people would be expecting a cup of coffee if the house had that aroma, so unless you intend to deliver maybe this should be a last resort.

I learned a valuable lesson about the use of scents during the showing of a vacant home. When I arrived prior to the showing to set up the home, there was a peculiar odor in the basement. Fortunately, my assistant had brought a can of a "citrus spray" that was supposed to knock out any odor. We commenced to spray the basement liberally. When the client arrived later, all of our eyes were watering & we had to leave the house. This taught some valuable lessons...less goes a long way with scents & never use scent to cover up things...

When I take a buyer into a home that has a heavy scent, first I start sneezing. Second the buyer starts sneezing unless the buyer has asthma, in which case, they start wheezing. Third, I caution them that if the home needs the heavy scent the seller/agent must be hiding something. Just old odors? Smoking? Sickness? Dirt?

Lola - I can relate to your experience, I've been to houses where the scent was so strong I could not breathe. I am sure you never over used citrus spray after your experience.

Jim - the reaction to the scents can be such a distract.

MAY

2007

Popcorn - now that would draw me in off the street. Scents are powerful one way or the other!

JUN

2007

Jennifer, I had a seller throw out my hanging scenter in my car. Said it really bothered her. So this was a great informative post.

JUL

2007

I wonder if some of these are sellers are just trying to be "homey" while others are clearly trying to "cover up" a nastier smell... I have found that covering up one scent with another can be like mixing oil and water - the resulting "new" scent is the worst yet!

I market an air purifier called "fresh Air" and it does not add a scent - it scientifically reproduces "fresh air". We have seen dozens of smelly houses get "cleaned up". Every aggressive agent should have one of these units to place in a listing that has an odor problem!

MAR

2008

Jennifer, baking cookies has been a traditional aroma for creating a homey atmosphere. I personally have allergies and dislike flowery perfumes. I can empathize with folks who don't like strong smells.

On the other hand, there are sellers who put there homes on the market with pet smells or smoking smells in the house. I don't think most of them realize how offensive it is, because they've become immune to it.

Jennifer, I heard a buyer comment that one of her favorite scents was fresh linen I think was the name. Maybe someone else would be allergic to that so I see your point.

APR

2008

There is always something that will turn a buyer off. I can actually get sick to my stomach from certain scents, they can be too strong for me...yup, that would turn me off..

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