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Get Rid of These Smells

In the Denver Metro area, homes are selling fast but if you are thinking of putting your home on the market make sure your house doesn't smell! Homebuyers browse the internet to find a home and once they find something that interests them, they are going to want to see it. One of the things that could potentially get a homebuyer running in another direction is THAT smell. 

A study conducted by researchers at the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute in the University of California Berkeley reveals that it takes less than a hundred milliseconds for someone walking into a new environment to decide if an odor is unpleasant or pleasant. Professional home stagers recommend finding and getting rid of the source of the bad smell as it can kill a buyer's interest within seconds!

Your home might have great curb appeal, be perfectly neat, clean and beautifully staged but these off-putting smells could potentially kill the deal:

 

Cooking Smells

Emma Stone Bad Smell

What is that awful smell? Fish? You might have just the best meal in the world but that smell is going to carry on to the next day. Any food that has a strong smell should be avoided. Some smells that are delicious to you may be off-putting to some buyers. Make sure to always be careful of what you are cooking if you are going to be opening and showing the home the next day. 

Open windows and set the hood fan on high while cooking. Close doors while cooking so clothes and linens do not absorb the smell. If odors still linger, set a bowl of vinegar or coffee grounds on the counter to absorb the smell overnight. 

Appliances

Got stinky refrigerator, washing machine, dryer or dishwasher? Refrigerators: The culprit is usually last month's leftover meal that's been left too long. Take everything out and give the refrigerator a thorough cleaning with baking soda/vinegar and water. Eliminate lingering odors by leaving out baking soda or activated charcoal on the shelves. Remember to label and date leftovers.

Appliances should be cleaned at least once a month, including washing machines, ovens, and dishwashers. Clean any lint on washing machines and dryers. Pop baking soda and add white vinegar on a smelly washing machine then running a cycle will combat that rank smell. If your dishwasher smells, check the unit for trapped food particles. Clean interior, spray arm, filter. Run a cycle with a cup of vinegar. Keep appliances dry.

Clothing

Don't let that laundry pile up when selling your home. Leave shoes outside to air. 

Pets

Not everyone loves dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, or your cute hamsters. You might no longer notice pet odor but the minute a potential homebuyer walks in, he will. Some people may even be allergic. Make sure to brush/bath pets regularly, vacuum often, clean out litter boxes and tanks or cages. To unstink pet pee soak the spot with an enzyme spray and let it seep into the carpet pads and floors. If that doesn't work steam clean or ditch the smelly carpets. Still smelly? You might want to replace a section of the flooring!

Infographic- Dog smell

When it comes to showing time, you definitely want to try to keep your pet's bedding laundered and clean. Keep the pets out of the home when possible. Hide the pet paraphernalia. That dog bowl you leave out? It might create an immediate negative impression- by getting the homebuyer to wonder about what the animal might have done in the house.

Smoke

Smoke is one of the worst smell and if your home smells of smoke you are going to lose buyers. It's a guarantee. Not everyone enjoys the smell of cigars or cigarettes as much as you, smoker. Get some fresh air moving in the house to banish smoke odors. Do smoke outside the house while your home is on the market. Smoke sticks to eveything: curtains, upholstery and even lightbulbs. Dirty lightbulbs in a smoker's house will bring back the smoke smell once the light is on and heats up. You will need to wash and clean all surfaces, completely repaint the room, wash curtains and clean upholstery to get rid of the odor as much as you possibly can. 

Smoke smelly house

Try leaving a bowl of vinegar out for 24 hours prior to a showing to remove the smell of cigarette smoke – though this won’t help heavy smokers. There are professional companies that specialize in removing this odor that your realtor might recommend.

Mold

 That moldy, musty smell can be a huge red flag to Denver homebuyers. Mold smells can come from drains, flush them with hot water on a regular basis. Use a dehumidifier. A little bit of bleach goes a long way to keep your bathrooms and household items germ and mold free. Exposure to mold can make everyone in sick in a snap. It's time to contact a professional if the mold smell is extremely overpowering. 

 

Marijuana

Home selling in Denver-No Pot

On January 1, 2014, legal recreational marijuana sales began in the state of Colorado. Colorado’s Amendment 64, which legalized marijuana for recreational use, also allows homeowners to grow up to six pot plants for personal use. Yes, marijuana is legal but please remove all smoking devices and all plants!

Done with all the cleaning and scrubbing? Get a friend or ask your trusted realtor to take a whiff for a honest evaluation of the odor in your house.  The better your home smells, the better chances you have of a buyer falling in love with the home. 

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Barry Kunselman is a top Denver seller's agent with an established track record of selling homes fast and for top dollar which means more money in less time for you. With 13 days ave days on market for the year 2019 and 98.8% on sold-to-list price, Barry ranks in the top 10% of Denver Metro realtors. 

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