You have gotten your home ready to sell – you’ve painted, repaired, landscaped and staged. Everything looks fantastic! But…how does it, you know, smell?
When you list your home on the market, your home may not get the attention it deserves if it has an odor problem. Gorgeous photos online will bring the buyers in, but a pungent surprise on arrival may quickly chase them away. Luckily, this is something that we come across all of the time and can get your home smelling fresh and clean in no time!
Once we acknowledge the problem, the next step is to pinpoint exactly what is causing the odor. Follow your nose throughout your home to sniff out and identify the source. Ridding your home of the unwanted culprit is usually as simple as removing the offensive cause and thoroughly cleaning the area to treat it and prevent the odor from returning. Some may be a little more stubborn, but completely worth the effort. For example, a survey by the National Association of Realtors found that a pervasive odor of smoke in a house can reduce its selling price by up to 29%. That is nothing to sniff at! Here are some common household odors and how to remove them from your home.
Pet Odors
We all love our furry friends, but let’s face it, they can stink! Many homebuyers do not care for pets, and some are even allergic, so removing all pet odors is vital before listing your home. First, go through all pet bedding, toys and accessories and throw out any that are no longer in use or worn out. Next, wash everything! Pet beds, sweaters, towels and all soft goods should be laundered, and all dishes, toys and hard goods should be soaked and disinfected, as bacteria from pet saliva is partially to blame for the stink. Your pet also leaves its scent on the other surfaces of your home, so it is imperative to clean all floors, carpets and upholstery. There are many commercially available cleaning products that specialize in pet odor removal, but old-fashioned baking soda does a great job, as well. Finally, don’t forget about Fido, himself. Bathe and groom your pets and seriously consider sending them on vacation during the time your home is on the market.
Garbage Odors
This can be inside or outside of your home, Obviously, removing the trash is the place to start, but that is not always enough. Thoroughly wash out all trash receptacles with an antibacterial cleaner that will kill the odor causing germs and be sure to empty all trash cans in the home prior to showing appointments.
Food Odors
We all need to eat, but even the most delicious food can smell offensive. While your home is on the market, it is a good idea to keep the cooking bland. Avoid cooking and storing highly spiced foods, gaseous veggies and seafood. If you do eat an odiferous meal, remove the remnants and follow with a good cleaning.
Other Kitchen Odors
There are plenty of other possible odor offenders in the kitchen. Garbage disposals area big one and can be tamed by simply running through a couple of lemon peels and rinsing. Dishwasher traps should be cleaned out and then run the dishwasher on a cleaning cycle. Wiping out stovetop burner pans and running an oven self-cleaning cycled will take care of range odors. Microwaves can be cleaned easily by boiling a cup of water and then wiping down the interior, and leave a fresh, open box of baking soda in the refrigerator after cleaning to continue the keep things smelling fresh.
Mold and Mildew Odors
Musty, moldy odors can lurk in damp places in the home. Eradicate them by cleaning bathrooms with mold and mildew removing cleansers. Replace moldy shower curtain liners and launder fabric shower curtains and towels. Be sure to dry thoroughly or those musty smells will return immediately. Laundry rooms can also be home to lingering odors, so be sure to wash any clothes that have been hanging around and run a cleaning cycle in you washer when finished. If your basement is still a bit musty after a good washing, try running a dehumidifier to dry things up.
Body Odors (A,K.A. Teenage Boys!)
Yes, people can be the source of odor in the home. Wash all bedding, even in the rooms that are seldom used to remove lingering odors. Wash all clothing and don’t forget to wash or remove all sports bags and exercise clothing and sprinkle a bit of odor remover in your gym shoes. And be sure to air out those rooms! Open the window when cleaning and don’t leave the door shut during the day.
Smoke Odors
This odor is a whole different animal. Odors from smoking can seep into every crevice and are more of a challenge to remove. Consider bringing in the professionals for these odors. Every surface (including the ceiling) needs to be cleaned with a specialty cleaner, primed with an odor blocking primer (like Kilz) and painted (possibly multiple coats). Carpeting needs to be deep cleaned or even replaced completely to remove this pest. Once removal is complete, do not smoke in the house as you will immediately be back at square one and smoke, along with pet odors are two of the biggest sale killing odors out there.
Fabric Odors
When cleaning your home for selling, don’t forget to deep clean all soft surfaces such as upholstery, draperies and rugs. All of these porous surfaces act like sponges, absorbing and holding on to odors. For a quick refresh between showings, try a spritz of something that helps to eliminate, not just mask odor. Our favorite go-to for all odors listed here is Pure Ayre, and enzymatic odor eliminator that works wonders and does not leave any lingering odor of it’s own.
Dangerous Odors
There are a few odors that are warning signs of deeper issues and should be addressed. Be vigilant in sniffing out smells originating in the utility and bathroom areas of the home that could indicate major problems involving gas leaks, sewer or septic backups, water quality issues or even dead animals. For these problems, call a professional right away to find out what you are dealing with.
Good Odors Turned Bad
Finally, a word about artificial scents. It is much better to remove unpleasant scents than to try to cover them up. Buyers listed overpowering scents of candles, plug ins, potpourri and air fresheners as off putting as bad odors. Heavy scents instigated concern for what was being covered up and some buyers even suffered breathing issues and allergic reactions to strong perfumes.
Research shows that the scents most appealing to today’s buyers are light, fresh scents and the best way to achieve this is a top to bottom whole house deep cleaning followed by a complete airing out. So, get out that scrub brush, throw open a window and say goodbye to a stinky house and hello to happy buyers!