Most real estate agents spend adequate time with home sellers going through a laundry list of must do tasks prior to selling a home. In some cases, as with my team, we provide staging services by an individual with formal education or experience in interior design. Our goal, as with that of many agents, is to make sure the house shows well, reducing the length of time on the market while maximizing profits for the seller.
In previous articles, I provided tips on preparing a home for sale, including attention to exterior details that can enhance the “arrival experience” for the buyer, establishing expectations before they ever walk through the door. But real estate professionals rarely talk about another potential offensive concern. A concern that drives many buyers away: Household odors.
A recent article written by Melissa Tracey in a trade journal published by the National Association of REALTORS sheds light on this subject. One would think that recognizing and dealing with odors is obvious. Not so. To begin with, homeowners generally can’t detect potential offending odors because they are “immune” to them and don’t realize the impact odors may have on the sale of a home. And generally, most agents aren’t focused on odors, unless they permeate the house.
Odors are caused by bacteria that attaches to ceilings, wall, air vents, carpets, furnishings, draperies and clothing. The most common offenders include aroma from years of heavy or specialized cooking, laundry, mold, smoking residue and pets, especially cat litter box odors.
Although it may be hard to change a seller’s cooking habits, it’s important to discuss options, eating lighter with fresh foods, eating out more often and to avoid any heaving cooking several days prior to a scheduled showing or open house. Deep-fried food, foods prepared with curry and some ingredients used in Mexican foods are major culprits.
Beyond food, odors caused by smoking are a serious offense to many buyers. A recent study conducted in Canada found that smoking in a home with its related odors could reduce the value of a home up to 29 percent. Wow!
It should be the fiduciary responsibility of a real estate agent to discuss the potential impact odors can have on the sale of a home. And studies indicate most sellers will be open to suggestions.
However, when dealing with odors, I have to underscore that it is very important that you TREAT, not MASK, these odors.
A remedy to odor problems is likely a professional deep cleaning or a do-it-yourself non-toxic fogger like DynoFresh. Air fresheners, plug-ins or air sprays are nice and should be used, but they are only a temporary solution. With these products, odors will resurface. If using air fresheners, use them in moderation. They can become a red flag that you are trying to “mask” something. It’s better to introduce subtle, simple scents, including laying fabric softeners sheets between clothes stacked on shelving, lemon peels in the garbage disposal and plug-ins near bathrooms.
Here are some tips from professional stager Tori Toth, owner of Stylish Stagers, Inc. in New York, on mitigating potentially offensive odors:
Take out trash after each meal.
Clean out refrigerator often.
Change air filers regularly.
Do laundry often to avoid dirty clothing pileups.
Use the fan over stove when cooking.
Avoid cooking strong-smelling foods like fish, broccoli and garlic before showings or open house.
Bathe pets often and clean bedding, toys and, especially, the litter box.
If you are a smoker, consider smoking outside.
I hope this information if helpful. If you have a question for me, call me at 928-830-5709 or email your question to luxurycollectionarizona@gmail.com. You can also visit my website, www.LuxuryHomesInPrescott.com. I look forward to helping you. QCBN
Jim Kleczewski is a REALTORÒ at HomeSmart Fine Homes & Land and the founder of The Luxury CollectionÔ. Jim and his teams have sold over $72 million is luxury real estate. Jim represents buyers and sellers with homes ranging from $450,000 to $2,000,000. HomeSmart Fine Homes & Land’s designated broker is Michael Dougherty. Each office is independently owned and operated.
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