There are so many things to think about when selling a home.
First, you have to think about what your house looks like from the outside. A home seller must make sure everything looks perfect from the exterior, especially in today’s ultra-competitive market.
Then, it’s on to the inside, which can be a huge task in itself, especially if your house is large or if you are a big fan of clutter and random collectibles.
When people go to sell a house, they normally clean everything out and try to make it look as appealing to the most amount of people as possible.
But one thing most people do not think about is the smell of their home. Everyone knows that every person’s home has its own distinctive scent. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but homes definitely have distinct odors.
No matter how much you may love the smell of your home, a potential buyer may not; especially if you smoke or have pets.
So that is why it is important to get rid of any unpleasant odors, and create a neutral, pleasant scent in your home before you put it on the market.
A recent article by Neoli Marcos of re-articles.com, “House for smell: The powers of odors in the real estate market,” discusses how smelling should actually be a powerful tool in real estate.
“Have you smelled your house lately? If it’s a perfume you’re buying, then there’s certainly good sense in smelling it first. But if it’s a house, what then?”
“Obviously, people usually buy houses because they look great, seem comfortable, is fully-furnished and well-taken care of, lies in a good safe neighborhood, is close to the workplace, has a good seaside view, etcetera, etcetera, among many other factors. But, curiously enough, smell is not one of them.”
Humans do not use scent to make everyday decisions, and most of the time, we really only pay attention to scent if an odor is either offensive or very lovely.
The interesting thing with scents too, is that after a certain amount of time, our noses become accustomed to certain odors, and we do not even notice them anymore. And this is one thing that home owners must be very careful about when selling a home. Because you actually may not even notice a smelly odor in your house anymore, but it could definitely scare off potential buyers.
“If you really want to make a good impression; a subtle but effective one, then aim at your prospective buyers’ noses.”
“Get rid of those little smelly details of your house that you might not be aware of anymore, but would definitely be an assault to visitors. Pet odors and cigarette smoke are the immediate culprits. But don’t just rest your faith on a handy deodorizing spray can, because they just mask odors and don’t address the problem. Needless to say, you’d have to keep the dog out for the meantime that your house is up for sale, and well, as for you, you’ll have to transfer your ashtray outside as well. Smell, Smell, Go Away.”
To really get rid of any odors that still may be lingering, hire a professional carpet cleaner or rent a power washer. Clean all of your windows, drapes and curtains too, since odors tend to linger on fabrics.
Also, lighting lightly scented candles (nothing too strong) and displaying flower arrangements as decorative pieces will help your home to stand out amongst all of the rest.
After all, a home that smells well, sells well.