Let’s face it, odors can be very offensive to potential buyers. I’ve entered homes with buyers and they start making strange faces and become so focused on “what is that smell?” that they stop looking at the home! Sometimes the offensive odor isn’t supposed to be offensive. Some of the worst offenders are those plug in type air fresheners. Unless you have it in a very large room, those air fresheners can be very overpowering to someone with a sensitive nose and some people are actually allergic to them. I have found that those new reed diffusers work much better and are also a safer alternative to burning candles.
Of course the most common offensive odor is the kitty litter box. If you happen to share your home with a cat please be sure to clean the litter box daily and definitely right before any showings. There is no reason for a home to reek of litter box! I’ve been in many homes that have cats and you would never know it. Again, use a good litter and scoop daily!
Got a musty smelling basement? One word for you – dehumidifier! Make sure you get a large enough model to handle the square footage you have and of course run it. I’ve been in so many homes that have one sitting in the basement and it’s not even plugged in!
Food odors can also turn off a buyer. I know that may sound strange, but it really depends on what type of food odor is lingering. If it’s some type of baked goods, like cookies, pie, etc. no problem; something like onions, peppers, fish, etc. – not so good! Simple solution – try not to cook strong smelling foods right before a showing.
