Smells for Selling Your House
Selling a home can be a daunting task. You want to make it as appealing as possible and sometimes utilizing simple but powerful techniques can make a huge difference. Of our five senses, experts say that scent is the most motivating- so why not use scent to help your home sell?
Many of us have become “nose blind” to how our homes smell to outsiders. Pets, smoking, food and cleanliness all effect the ‘scent’ of a home. Also, scent is an incredibly personal experience. What smells nice to some can choke others. It’s best to keep things fresh and clean when trying to sell your home.
Here are some easy pointers
Let the fresh air in - when you’re getting your home ready for viewings open up the windows to fill your home with fresh air.
Make sure your home is clean, uncluttered and that the trash has been recently taken out.
Avoid spreading commercial scents around your home - this includes plug-in air fresheners, scented sprayers or strong smelling candles. Some home buyers may find them off-putting or think you are covering an odor. Remember, scents are personal.
Add plants to your space. - plants make spaces look inviting and many of them have the added benefit of air purification or their own pleasant odor.
Clean with neutral scents - ever wonder why baking soda is kept in the fridge? Because it absorbs smells. Mixing baking soda in water in a spray bottle and spritzing around your home with freshen things up. You can clean with it and even discreetly place it in ramekins around the house to help control odors.
Scents that are universally appreciated
Certain scents are universally appreciated like baking bread or cookies, citrus and lavender. Below are some tasteful ways to make your home smell inviting and wonderful.
Citrus or pine essential oils - a great addition when cleaning floors, surfaces, kitchens and bathrooms
Baked bread or cookies - freshly baked goods are a way to entice your guest into spending a few moments in your home while also solidifying the scent of a happy home.
Lavender - dried or in essential oil form (used in a diffuser) is a nice addition to bedroom areas which creates a calm environment
Freshly brewed coffee - this is a scent that most people love even to those who don’t drink it. Brewing a pot just before a viewing will infuse your space with happy smells.
And no, despite bacon being the best of all smells, we don’t recommend it being used in this particular situation.
Offensive odors TO AIR OUT PRIOR TO VIEWINGS
Pets - Just because you love your dog, doesn’t mean your potential home buyer will love his smell.
Smoking.
Bad plumbing - yes, you can smell it.
Unemptied rubbish bins - obviously.
Kitchen odors like cooked meat or fish.
So, there you have it. Our top tips for keeping your house smelling great while it’s on the market. Clean and fresh is the key!
ABOUT FRANCISCO SALGADO
An expert at finding solutions in the home buying and selling process, Portland real estate broker Francisco Salgado is known to bake cookies at open houses because who doesn’t like the smell of fresh baked goodness? Contact Francisco so he can help you dig where you live, 503-951-8548.