Most homeowners live in their homes and the odor of the home is so familiar to them they couldn’t even tell you what their home smelled like. But bring in a person that has never smelled the home before and all types of smells can be tickling their nostrils. The question is, what smells is your house emanating?

Bad smells can turn off a buyer faster than anything and you don’t want a buyer hurrying through your home just to get outside for some fresh air. You want buyers to not only feel comfortable in your home but inhale deeply to offer a sense of calm and satisfaction. The right smells can do this. So how do you know what your home smells like?

The best way to do this is have a trusted friend or your listing agent be perfectly honest with you. Don’t take offense to anything they say because you need to know how buyers view your home as the ultimate goal is to sell, not be offended. If you have pets, this can be one of the worse smells if not handled properly. Most pets smell unless you have fish, and even then a poorly cared for tank can start to reek after a while. Cat liter boxes must be cleaned daily and any pet stains must be treated properly. Pet bedding should be washed frequently and cages must be sanitary. People that are no used to these smells can detect them right away.

Smoke can leave lasting smells in just about any surface. If the home has been smoked in heavily, a good dose of Kilz on the walls is about all you can do to eliminate the smell from walls. Carpets can be shampooed or replaced and furniture usually has to be heavily treated. Even solid and hard surfaces absorb smoke and replacing everything is just not practical. This is where masking the smell on items that will go with the seller is a must. Our associate in Alamogordo real estate has more excellent tips for odor smells in a home on the market.

Other odors that must be taken care of are mold and mildew smells. This is usually a sign of a more serious problem and buyers will know right away. If you don’t handle it before you list, the inspection will surely reveal some issues that will stop a buyer from proceeding.

Once you have the cause of odors under control, make sure the opposite happens. Pump up the good smells. Floral or heavy perfume scents can also turn off buyers but warm scents as baking bread or cookies can add a homey sense to the home and create a feeling of home for the buyers. When you have an open house or showing, back some cookies or bread right before. Or have candles burning with these scents. Candles also give off a warm feeling.

There are a lot of ways to add good scents to the home but nothing can mask a bad smell. Make sure to handle this first then fill the neutral air with warm scents.