Yesterday, we talked about how the five senses, specifically smell can affect a buyer’s perception of a home. My own home smelled of cinnamon and spice from the apple, pumpkin, and pecan pies baking in the oven the day we first viewed our current home. We barely noticed the faults in the house because the sweet perception those pies made on our senses was almost overpowering.
Every buyer should feel very comfortable when viewing your home. Invasive odors such as pet dander, old food, garbage, horse manure (if you are out in the country), strong perfumes, etc. can make a buyer feel uncomfortable in your home. So what do you do when a smell permeates the house? I have used a couple dozen solutions. Here are a few:
- Open windows and doors across the house so you get a cross breeze to help flush out smells. This is especially true for vacant homes that most likely have a musty smell. Even as few as 15 minutes before an open house can make a big difference.
- Use a spray that eliminates odors and leaves a very soft smell (i.e., Febreze). Make sure you check the product to see if it is an “air” spray or “fabric and carpet” spray so as not to damage any fabrics or carpets.
- If needed, paint with a low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) rating. Some paints now actually help eliminate other odors in the house.
- Buy scented flameless candles, which are a new trend now for safety sake. Do not use any overpowering scents that might offend a potential buyer.
- Bake a pie or cookies just before or during an open house. If that's not possible, Gold Canyon has a Sugar Cookie scent that smells like the real thing. Check it out here: (http://www8.mygc.com/Default.aspx?alias=www8.mygc.com/cbarretta26)
Staging is about creating a comfortable, warm, inviting perception for any home.
Simply Stunning Staging
simple changes – stunning results
www.simplystunningstaging.com
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