Psst!-What’s That Smell? Quick Fixes For The Dreaded House Odors!
April 23rd, 2008 Categories: Home Sellers
The Nose Knows, But House Odors Can Be a Forbidden Topic -
Sometimes we’re all tempted to let the topic of the dreaded house odors slide in the pre-listing process. You like us, we’re bonding, we like you and we don’t want to hurt your feelings. But, house odor is an important obstacle to the sale of your property that must not be ignored. Sellers often become aware that there could be an obstacle to their sale only when the feedback starts rolling in from the Buyer Agents. Too late. By then you could have lost a buyer or two or more. Strive for the fresh as a daisy air quality and don’t try to mask odors with heavy scents.
What causes house odors? Life, and our precious children and pets, cooking, dehumidifiers, cars in garages, trash, carpets, draperies and of course the worst, smoking! Or, there could be more serious problems to solve like mold and mildew. Here are 7 Quick Odor Fixes to help you sell faster for more money.
7 Quick Odor Fixes – Get Sold Faster For More Money!
-
- smoking - let’s start with the worst. Quit smoking! It’s bad for your health! Sorry….once a Mother always a Mother. Ok, if you’re not quitting, how about smoking outside prior to listing, during the listing and up to settlement? Still not convinced? I have seen buyers walk in and right out of a house that reeks of cigarette smoke. Still reading? Good. Leave small saucers of vinegar in the areas where you smoke. Loews, Home Depot and Hardware stores sell Activated Charcoal which you can leave in smoking areas. Burning candles can help. Keep all away from pets and children.
- humidifiers – Sometimes that faint musty smell raises a question mark about more serious water problems to be investigated. Usually there isn’t a serious problem but the humidifier or dehumidifier hasn’t been cleaned in a long time. Change filters frequently. Add a small teaspoon of bleach to the water. I know “a pound is a pound the world around”. The reason I say a “small teaspoon”, is that some of you reading this will think, if a teaspoon is good, a 1/4 of a cup is better. Not.
- pets – cats, dogs and feathered friends. Clean litter boxes daily. Clean up after dogs immediately. Freshen their beds and sleeping places. I should probably buy stock in the makers of Fabreze. It works great for pet areas, carpets and drapery.
- cooking odors – forgo cabbage and kielbasa, garlic and onions and your fav curried chicken until the house is sold. If you burn something just before a showing, dampen a bath towel with water and fabric softener and wave in the air to remove the burnt smell.
- garage odors – get the car serviced, then clean up the oil spills by sprinkling with kitty litter, paint the garage floor. A tray of kitty litter can help absorb odors. Make sure the trash is in plastic bags and the cans are covered.
- fireplace odors – an inviting fire in the fireplace creates a warm and cozy feeling, just dispose of the cold ashes quickly.
- for fun - simmer cinnamon, vanilla or apple pie spice on the back burner or in a simmer pot. The aroma is intoxicating to men and woman. Almost no one’s allergic to it. But, some people are allergic to floral sprays. If Buyers are sneezing their way through your property, they won’t buy it. A cheap air freshener can be made by filling a plant sprayer with about 2 cups of water and adding 2 tablespoons baking soda. Green and environmentally friendly, baking soda is good for lots of things. Open a small box and leave in the back of the fridge for food odors.
- Or None of The Above – Call me. You might need treatment by ozone generators or thermo fogging to deal with more resistant odor problems.
Remember, I just love to talk about real estate and I’m never too busy for your real estate questions or the referral of your family and friends. Call anytime to talk 610-889-5509. Your referrals are my highest compliment!
Related posts:
- Your Healthy House Diet – 5 Tips To Go From Skinny To Sold A Healthy House Is A House That Buyers Want To...
I see this is an old posting but… We have bought a place at 8th and Lombard and the smell from the garage or somewhere permeates the place, especially when I open a cupboard that is on the floor. I think I need a professional to assess the situation and help us fix the problem. Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks,
Lucy D
Lucy – It can be so frustrating to resolve issues of odor. Discovering the cause is the first step. Hopefully you had a Realtor (Prudential?) and a Home Inspection. Sellers Disclosure Forms can provide excellent information to help you get started with some history of the property condition. Moisture coming from hidden leaks that cause mold or mildew can be a factor. You might get a written evaluation/estimate from a company like Service Master or ServPro and of course consult your Realtor for suggestions. Report back on your results so we can learn from each other. Good luck!