Some of the most beautiful homes can sit on the market for extended periods of time. It’s not because they aren’t priced well, or other factors you might suspect. It’s simply because buyers are turned off by details that are often overlooked.
Yes, one of those details that carry a lot of weight is the way a home smells. Professional home stagers go to great lengths to turn ordinary homes into designer showcases. Their goal is to make a home appeal to all five senses, and when it comes to smells, they recommend attacking the problem at the source.
I thought I’d share some of their best tips with you and hope you’ll find it as helpful as I do.
Nothing smells better than clean!
The source of the most common problem odours: pets, smoking, cooking, and mould or mildew.
- A zippered pillowcase filled with cedar chips, placed under a pet’s pillow bed, will absorb most of the unpleasant odours.
- Boiling an apple, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a few drops of vanilla on the stove will remove burnt smells in the kitchen. Add orange peels to make a simmering potpourri.
- Sprinkle baking soda directly onto carpets, rugs, and sofas to eliminate odours-then let it sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming.
- A bowl of vinegar placed in a room for a day or two will help neutralize smoke odours.
- Small cotton balls with a few drops of your favourite perfume or cologne, tucked discreetly around the home, can freshen a room.
- Candles, plug-ins, and home fragrance sprays can work wonders when the scent is well chosen, and not overdone.