Here is some very valuable advice for my local New Hampshire sellers currently preparing their home for sale. It comes from fellow Home Stager, Deena Cottingham.
When I do Pre-Market Consultations as a Home Stager, I often see -- and smell -- a variety of scented products throughout the home. There's the plug-in variety, the spray variety, the stash-in-a-corner-and-please-absorb-the-smell-in-here variety.
I often ask about their presence . . . is there an issue in this room? Are you worried about an odor problem? Most home owners shrug and say that they think it's just prudent. You know . . . just in case.
The problem is that these products designed to "add a pleasant scent", are themselves usually way too strong and generally unpleasant. I mean, I'm pretty sure "mountain breezes" don't usually smell like eau de toilet in real life! And I don't really want every cell in my olafactory glands hyper-stimulated with "Freesia Fantasy", thank you very much. (Plus, I have to wonder about the health implications of all these chemicals floating around in the air I breathe).
Worse yet, the presence of these products often alert a potential buyer that there may in fact be an odor causing issue that you are trying to hide. And besides, no product out there is going to hide wet dog. It'll just make for a hideous . . . and I believe, probably toxic . . . combination of scent molecules.
Okay, I exaggerate (slightly), but according to About.com, the number one turn off for a potential buyer is strong odors in the home. Um, so think pets, smoking, cooking, mold, mildew and anything basically musty, soggy, and otherwise stale or disgusting.
So instead of masking your home's odors, embrace them! Tell yourself -- as the home owner -- there is
no such thing as a bad smell. It is your friend, and very useful information, telling you to take action!
First of all, get an objective opinion about your home and it's inherent smell (that you are totally incapable of detecting . . . trust me). And please, don't kill the messenger or kick this gift-horse in the mouth! Thank them for their honesty, because it will allow you to make your home more marketable.
Secondly, find the source of the smell and deal with it. By "deal with it", I mean, obliterate it. Spraying Febreeze on the sofa isn't going to do it. If this means calling in the professionals, or replacing carpet, you just have to do it. The cost before you go on the market will be far less than the discount a buyer will demand to remedy your smelly problem--if they are even willing to take it on.
And lastly, go on the market with confidence. Once you've addressed this huge deal breaker, not only will buyers respond much more favorably to your home, maybe . . . just maybe . . . you'll enjoy living there a little bit more yourself.
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images
Serving Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta©GreenApple Staging & Images, 2010
All information is copyrighted and may not be used, borrowed or copied without written permission.
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Sharon, You have called attention to an often overlooked but very important problem!
Strong odors, resulting from a problem or covering one up, is a huge distraction for the potential buyers. We want them to remember the great house and it's features not the strong smell, what it is hiding or the headache it caused.
Thanks for sharing your great post!
, Leslie
I have a listing that stunk of ciggs, really bad, the owner didn't think it would be a problem, we were getting showings and no offers so I finally talked them into letting me go in and scrub the walls clean the carpets etc, the smoke smell is gone and we have an offer, you are sooo right
Leslie: Thanks so much...but I've only reblogged. Deena is the one drawing attention to the problem.
Gerry: You sure wouldn't have to twist my arm to get me to "let you" scrub my house! Congrats on the offer and good for you for doing what it took to get it.
Great reblog about a stinky subject!
Sharon: Just curious how you go about telling your customers that their house smells. Seriously, do they often get angry? Won't acknowledge that there's a problem? I recently read a couple of posts on AR about stinky houses and wonder how others deal with it. Just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder...scent choice must be too.
Thanks,
Jan
Cathy: Thanks, I thought so!
Jan: I explain right from the beginning that what I have to say is not about them or their taste...it's about marketing their house as a product and making it as appealing as possible to as many potential buyers as possible. I am up front and honest and tell it like it is. If the house smells, I tell them the house smells and we need to locate the cause and eliminate it. Attempting to cover it up never works. If the sellers have over scented with candles or sprays its just as offensive as the bad odors and I address that the same way.
I have not had clients offended when I've pointed this out. When you explain it from a buyers perspective, they usually do understand.
Sharon: Thanks for explaining how you do it. Too often some of us are afraid of offending and losing the listing or business.
Jan
Jan: You are welcome! I understand not telling them may protect their feelings, but it hurts their chances of selling. I went to an open house once and the realtor was sitting out in her car because the house smelled. The issue had not been addressed with the home owner. That realtor was not serving her client's best interest.