How to Make Sure Your Home Smells Fresh for Showings
Homes tend to have distinct smells. While homeowners are usually accustomed to that smell, others are not. Funky-smelling or heavily fragrant homes can be off-putting for first-time visitors. When you sell your home, lots of new people will be walking through your front door, so be sure it is smelling as fresh as possible.
No one wants to consider that their home may be a little stinky, but it’s important to face the facts so that you can get rid of odors. Nice-smelling spaces will attract more buyers and likely sell faster. Here’s an overview of common home odors and how to get rid of them.
Rotten Food
Whether it’s coming from your refrigerator, garbage disposal, or trashcan, rotten food is one of the most off-putting smells. Take out your trash often and clean your refrigerator regularly, as well as your garbage disposal blades. Use distilled white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide cleanse, and, put lemon peels and salt down your garbage disposal.
Pet Odors
We all love our furry family members, but they aren’t always the best-smelling creatures and don’t always behave themselves when it comes to their bathroom habits. To get rid of pet odors in carpet, use a pet enzyme removal product. Also, sprinkle baking soda in litter boxes. Consistently vacuum pet hair and use a spot deodorizer. In extreme cases, you may have to remove the carpet or furniture to resolve the issue.
Mustiness
Water is usually the cause of musty smells in the home (and it can cause actual damage). Water can accumulate anywhere, but dampness tends to hide in attics, basements, and bathrooms. Repairing leaks and cleaning up attics and basements after rainfall can help with the stench. Fix areas that have poor drainage, and use a humidifier to dry out damp areas.
Staleness
Something that is common with long-time Floridians (the ones that lived down here before air conditioning was so common) is that they turn off their air conditioners for the winter. The problem is, this really hurts your home’s circulation and makes it stagnant, keeping dust and dander from getting filtered out. Keeping your a/c on consistently year-round will make a significant impact on your home’s air quality. And if you have wood floors, this is doubly important as your a/c keeps the humidity down and stops your floors from swelling.
Additionally, don’t forget to change your filter! Normally I recommend once a month, but shifting it to twice a month when your home is on the market is a little change that can make a big difference.
Potential buyers will be attracted to clean, fresh-smelling spaces. So, when you’re getting ready to show your home, do your best to keep odors at bay.
Drew Kern Real Estate knows exactly what buyers look for in Miami’s real estate market. We can help you prepare for your showing. Give us a call today at 305-329-7744 if you’re planning to list your home.
