I'll admit it, I have a keen sense of smell. It doesn't take that to notice when a property is overly aromatic.
I love pets and realize that they are at the mercy of their owners to keep them clean and also clean up after them if there are accidents. I've staged homes where the "evidence" is there as clear as if it needed to be roped off like a crime scene. What's wrong with this picture?
I realize that as a stager, I am sometimes the one to explain to the homeowner, as gently as I can, that there is a problem, and that it needs to be handled immediately, before the house goes on the market. I am often amazed that this is met with denials.
What odor? Which room? What stain? Oh, it's not that big, we'll just put something over it. (What???????)
What's even worse is when the Realtor doesn't back me up for fear of insulting the seller.
It's not just pets, either. Cooking odors like fried foods, cabbage, fish, and garlic can take up residence like the ghosts of dinners past. Kid's rooms that have that distinct sneaker smell. Basements reminescent of the Black Lagoon. Bathrooms that remind you of a reverse of the shower scene in Psycho where you scream when you pull the shower curtain back to look into the shower.
Then there is the flip side when you feel as if you have walked into a florist shop. Or an orange juice processing plant. Being overwhelmed by carpet fresheners isn't a good thing, either.
Ok, so we know what we're up against. How do we combat it? What products do you recommend to the seller, what companies do you refer to when it's more than they can do themselves? How do you convince the seller that there is a problem when they are in total denial?
How do you tell them that their home smells too good?
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