People are very aware of smells and they usually trigger a memory of emotion.  Researchers continue to explore the physiological and psychological responses we have to scents.  Great, but what does this have to do with real estate?

Have you ever walked into a house that smells less than pleasant?  Sellers remember to consider our sense of sight and keep the house neat and clean and for our listening pleasure they will turn on the surround sound and waterfall for a showing or open house.  But somehow many forget about the Buyers sense of smell.

When preparing to list a home you want to take that opportunity to eliminate any potential objections.  Smells attach themselves to the home’s fibers; carpets, rugs, window treatments, comforters, upholstery.  Be sure to have these items professionally cleaned or laundered.  Scrub down or replace the kitchen and bathroom garbage receptacles and empty them often.  Empty the entire fridge and freezer and clean thoroughly and then add a small carton of baking soda to each.  Shampoo the pooch and wash their bedding more often than usual.  Invest in a new kitty litter box and clean it religiously.

When the weather is mild open the windows to air out the house.  Even though I think Febreeze and other air odor eliminators are great, a little goes a long way.  Use them in closets and on upholstered furniture, but sparingly.  There are really attractive oil infusers available virtually everywhere nowadays.  Choose an inviting scent that is not too flowery.  Plug-ins and room sprays were popular in the past but they can be overpowering.  When a potential Buyer walks into a house that has an unpleasant or offensive odor they begin to wonder if there is a problem with the house or if it has not been properly cared for.  They will have that same thought if you use a very strong room deodorizer.  The reason?  They wonder what odors you are trying to cover up.

So start with a good spring cleaning round the entire house, open the windows when the days and evenings are pleasant to let in the fresh air and use discretion when adding other scents to your home.

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