Are you wondering if people think your house smells? Do you think that your home might not be selling because of the odor that is lingering in your hallways? Smells matter when selling a house. If a potential buyer’s nose is offended, say goodbye to a potential sell. The question is what are those smells and what do I do about it? Here are some common smells that stink up a house and what to do about it.

One common mistake some homeowners make is believing that their pet never has an accident, so people think that the culprit in a stinky house couldn’t be their pets. There are two problems with this false theory. The first is that your pet does have accidents, even if it is very infrequent. One accident a year over time can lead to a faint pet store smell. The second problem is pet dander has an odor as well. You may be used to the way your pets smell but others will smell that odor, even if it’s faint. So, vacuum and shampoo carpets and upholstery to ensure all odors are removed. Anywhere that pets could leave a trail, remember to deep clean.

A great way to neutralize odors in any area is to leave baking soda boxes out to trap the odors. Baking soda absorbs odors wherever you put it. Those boxes are not just for refrigerators! Leave them in the bathroom, closets, or wherever is needed to neutralize odiferous areas.

I’m afraid that if you’re a smoker, you may be in for some trouble selling your residence. I don’t have to belabor the point that cigarette smoke stinks to high heaven to the non-smoker. Step one would be to stop smoking anywhere in the home. Step two is more difficult. Repaint your entire house. That’s right, your entire house. Scrubbing walls won’t get you far enough when it comes to cigarette smoke odors. Although that’s a pain, the good news is that a fresh coat of paint will help your resale value anyways, so it’s killing two birds with one stone.

Spicy cooking can taste great. Some of your favorite ingredients may be cayenne pepper, garlic, cumin or peppercorns, but others may not find these smells so appealing. People will try to associate the smells of you home with living there with their families. If spicy cooking isn’t their thing, this may tell potential buyers that this isn’t their house. This doesn’t mean you should stop cooking your favorite foods, though. Keep your kitchen’s exhaust fan on and keep the windows open to let the air circulate. Also, boiling lemon or orange peels will help neutralize the odors.

A few commonly overlooked odors are the following: bed linens, bath mats, shoes, and even forgetting to take out the trash before a showing. So wash the linens and mats. Linens, even the blankets, trap odors. The mats and hard to dry linens you should let air dry in the sunshine. Fungi do like the warm weather, but can’t live with the bright shining light of the sun. Also, a little vinegar in the wash can do wonders when it comes to killing fungi. The vinegar is acidic enough that just a few tablespoons can make a difference. Shoes, especially tennis shoes, could be stowed away somewhere that will be less offensive to the nose. In the corner of the garage, perhaps?

The less a house smells the more likely your potential buyers will picture themselves in the home. Recognizing the odors of your home and then neutralizing them will definantly help you in your quest to sell your home fast!

Author Bio: Ben Elder is someone who likes things to smell good. To that end, he and his wife sell Scentsy candles. Scentsy is one way to make your home smell great!

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: home odor,scentsy,home smell,pet odor,pet smell,