A Smelly House Just Won’t Sell For Top Dollar!

If you are about to put your home on the market, it’s a good idea to make sure it doesn’t have any funny or funky smells that might dissuade a buyer.
My top three smells that you must get rid of before you list your home are:
1)      Pet urine, especially cat urine.  Pet urine can seep into carpet fibers and padding. While cleaning the carpet will help, sometimes it might not be enough and you may have to remove the carpet and pad, seal the floor and then replace the carpet and pad.  Most home buyers have a hard time getting past this distinct smell so it’s best to do what you can to remediate.
2)      Smoke – cigarette, cigar or pipe. Smoke, especially cigarette smoke, can cling to window coverings, furnishings and even the walls. A good airing out of the house is always a good start. You may then need to apply topical solutions or maybe even invest in an ozone generator or air scrubber.  Ultimately, it may take Kilz primer & good coat of paint to make sure remove the smoke smell.
3)      Overpowering candles or plug-ins. To be truthful, this is my pet peeve. When a house smells overly “scented,” I worry that the sellers are trying to hide a something.  Also, many people have allergies to different scents and this can cause a reaction while they are viewing the home.
For me, the best advice is to just keep a clean house! I don’t know anyone who is offended by the smell of “clean”.