Making Sense of Scents

I spoke with a realtor today about a showing she had over the weekend at a house with that "Smell" thing going on.  She said even the client couldn't wait to get out of the house.  It reminded me of this article I wrote for The News Enterprise.

          Making Sense of Scents

              Odor is usually not a word that conjures up positive thoughts.  The way something smells can be an extremely powerful motivator, so when selling your home, it is more important than ever to pay attention to odors.  One goal of Staging is to make the scent of your home as neutral as possible

               What do you mean "as neutral as possible"?  Shouldn't you bake cookies and apple pie and spray flowery air freshener in the closets?  There is a saying in the Staging business:  "You can't sell it, if you smell it."  So out go the theories of baking pies and a room freshener for every room.  Really you want to eliminate all odors so as to not offend potential buyers.              

             Animals can be big producers of odors in a home.  Now that doesn't mean you must get rid of your pets when your house is up for sale.  It does mean that you treat areas that have been stained or used by pets.  There are several odor eliminators on the market that kill the enzymes that produce the odors. If you do not use an enzyme-killing odor eliminator, then all you are doing is masking the smell for a limited period of time.  Something else to be mindful of is the container that you store pet food in.  Making sure it is in a closed container with a lid is the best way to keep control over that pet food smell.  Regularly cleaning waste products in the yard, litter box or cage will also go a long way in controlling odors.                               

                Food is another producer of strong odors, particularly if you enjoy cooking.  I can't tell you how many times I walk into a home and know what was prepared for dinner the   night before by the way the house smells.  On days prior to an Open house or showing, it is best to limit the strong scented dishes that you may typically make.  You don't want your house to be remembered as the "fishy" house.   Occasionally it can work to your advantage as in the apple pie scenario, but typically the best scent to have in your home is clean!   

       What does "clean" smell like?  For some it is ammonia or Lysol.  For others it is pine and for others, citrus.     Clean cotton and fresh laundry out of the dryer also give the illusion of a clean home.  The best way to make it smell clean is to clean it; however, if you feel you must "mask" odors, try to get something that smells like citrus or fresh air.  Stay away from strong scented anything - a hint of any scent is enough.                                          

                   Here are a few suggestions about eliminating odors when your house is up for sale. Make sure your refrigerator and freezer have a new box of baking soda.   Grind up a citrus fruit to clean your garbage disposal.  Do not leave dirty laundry lying out - put it in a closed hamper if you can't clean it.  If wet towels are left hanging to dry, too often they emit a musty odor.  Empty all trash cans and diaper pails daily.  Clean toilets and bathtubs regularly.  I also recommend having carpets professionally cleaned. 

                It might appear to be too much work, but most people already perform these tips on a regular basis.  Eliminating odors is essential because you never know which buyer will be the one. Hopefully by now it is obvious that keeping track of the "scents" in your home makes good "sense".