Staging + Smell

Smell.. the sense that is often overlooked in a home. We all become so immune to smells in our home whether it be the food we cook, pets, clothes or any other fragrances. We become used to the smell of our home. It may not be a bad smell but smell is one thing we need to keep in mind when putting your home on the market. 

When you put a home on the market, you want to make sure it presents the best it possible can. I always tell clients to keep in mind the smell. Your home will inevitable smell like you just by you living there. You want to impersonalize the home as much as possible so potential buyers can picture their family in the home. 

If you are planning on selling your home there are certain things you can do to neutralize the smell:

1. Avoid odorous food. When I had one of my homes on the market I made Brussels sprouts one night then had a showing the next day. The buyer actually made mention of the smell (36 hours after actually cooking). Foods that have a strong odor tend to stick around for quite some time. 
2. Shampoo carpets (especially if you have pets).
   
3. Get furniture professionally cleaned.
4. Deep clean all linens, duvets and wall treatments.
5. Keep the home as clean as possible when showing it (nothing smells better than the smell of a clean home).
6. If you (or even a past owner) smoked in the home, paint walls using a deodorizer primer and latex paint.
   
7. Get fresh air circulating by replacing any air filters, furnace filters and air conditioner filters.

Most people's first instinct is to disguise any smells in the home with potpourri, candles or air fresheners. While I do think these are great ways to make the house smell nice, I would be careful with the scent used. Some of those products can be overpowering and everyone has different reactions to smells. I, personally, stray away from floral scents and anything citrus. I would recommend a lavender scent, as it is usually not overpowering and can be calming.

In addition to writing for Daigle's Digs, Elizabeth works full-time as a Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Downtown, LLC. Elizabeth's expertise is in buying and selling a home, first time home buyers, short sales, and investment properties. Contact Elizabeth for any real estate needs. Cell 303-819.73.71. Work 720-314-8352.