Staging Mistakes Sellers Cannot Afford to Ignore
It can be hard to think about what buyers will want to see in a home while staging. Which is why sellers often spend countless hours perfecting their home so buyers will fall in love the second they walk through the door.
But one aspect of the home that few people think about is the smell. And it is imperative for sellers to avoid bad smells in their home. But having a home that smells great can help a homeowner sell their house faster.
Smelly Home
Homeowners should not assume that they do not have any bad odors in their home simply because they do not notice them. It is easy to get used to a certain smell once a person spends enough time around it.
For this reason, have a friend come over who does not often visit the home. Ask them for their opinion. Any odd smells noticed should be found and taken care of.
If sellers want to invest a little money in keeping the air in their home clean and free of smells they can buy an air purifier. These can cost a lot. However, they are worth it to help minimize any bad smells.
The Dirtiest Area in the House
Bathrooms can be seen as one of the dirtiest areas that home buyers have to walk through. People routinely clean other areas of their home but the bathroom can sometimes fall short. Sellers do not want to make this mistake.
Scrub down every surface. The toilet should shine, the shower wall should be streak-free, clear out the drains, and use light scents like lavender while cleaning.
A Naturally Messy Area
A room in the house that will always get messy is the kitchen. This is because cooking is not a clean process.
Look for any splatters or spills that may be hiding. Clear out the cabinets and cupboards of any old food or items that may have a lingering scent. Be sure to clean the fridge out of any old food. Scrub down the shelving and even add a new box of baking soda to help absorb any previous smells.
For those that are good at baking, this is an amazing opportunity to get good smells into the home. Bake cookies, cake, cupcakes, or even a sweet bread before allowing buyers to come into the home. Preparing a fresh pot of coffee and offering home buyers a treat while walking through will give them a pleasant memory.
A cheat for that fresh-baked smell is using vanilla. Adding a little vanilla to water and heating it on the stove will fill the room with the scent of freshly baked goods. Or use cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, or even orange peels for a more diverse scent.
Just Before a Walk Through
While walking out the door to let the agent show buyers around grab the garbage and add a fresh bag. Even if this garbage is not full any garbage can be off-putting to a home buyer. Some plastic cans can hold the smell of garbage so be sure to clean the can out, as well.
Soft Surfaces
Some items in the house are cozy and welcoming. Until they give off a bad smell.
Blankets, carpets, and rugs can hold in bad smells. Wash all linens in the home with a fresh clean scent. Before listing the home get the carpets professionally shampooed to ensure they are at their cleanest.
Bar Soap
A very simple way to add a clean scent to the home is to use bar soap. Whether taking a store-bought bar soap, gifted bar soaps, or homemade soaps simply putting them into a decorative container in the bathroom will fill the area with their smell.
Candles
Avoid any potent and unpleasant smells. Candles with a light scent are a good way to add in good smells without overwhelming the senses. Lighting candles around fifteen minutes before buyers will arrive will allow the smell to fill the area.
Some people want to avoid the flame of a candle and opt to use essential oils instead. Some diffusers can be used to get scents into the air. Otherwise, there are ways to use essential oils on items around the house so the smells linger while people walkthrough.
Dryer Sheets
Some areas just do not get the attention needed. Storage areas tend to have an old home smell. Use new dryer sheets to give them a better smell without needing to completely wash everything in the area. Simply put dryer sheets under items within the storage bins. They are great for the insides of a dresser too.