Your Nose Knows

Small Things That Make a Big Difference in Selling your Home/ Scent

When you put your house on the market there are lots of little things you can do that will make a big impact on buyers.  Let’s talk about smells.  Our sense of smell can trigger emotion in a split second.  When selling a house, we want to avoid smells that alarm people and promote scents that evoke a sense of home and comfort.  It is not uncommon for a buyer to quit looking at a house if they find indoor odors offensive.  The first whiff of your home needs to be good!

Every house has its own smell and we don’t necessarily smell them since we live with them every day.  Some common odors that are obvious to people are:

·         Cigarette smoke

·         Pets/ fur/ litter boxes

·         Strong cooking odors

·         Damp, musky smell

·         Garbage

These top 5 smells are fairly easy to deal with.  Here’s how:

If you are a smoker, resolve to smoke outdoors while the house is on the market.  Open the windows and air out the place.  Clean the carpets and if possible wash items that hold smoke smell like sofa slip covers, drapes, and throw rugs.  If you are really industrious wash the walls if your paint allows it (don’t do this if you have flat paint).

When people do not have pets the scent of yours can be immediately obvious.  Make sure to wash the dog once a week.  If bathing is not an easy option there are wipes that you can buy that sanitize and freshen fur on all animals.  Clean pet blankets and bedding often.  If they sit on the sofa a lot, consider washing the slipcovers as well.   If you have a litter box, clean it every day and throw the waste away immediately outside.

Strong cooking odors can linger for days.  Make sure that you are using your ventilation system in your kitchen (most often the hood above your stove).  If possible, open the windows and get some fresh air in the house.  Try to avoid cooking things like curry, fish-y fish, lots of garlic/ onions if you know you will be having a showing in the next 24 hours.

Basements in Minnesota can get a little dank and musty smelling during the summer months.  You can keep your basement air smelling as fresh as possible by using a dehumidifier.  It pulls extra moisture out of the air and keeps things much drier and cleaner smelling.

Make sure to empty your house garbage cans several times during the week.  This includes kitchen, bathroom, kids’ rooms, and nursery’s.