How to Get Rid of Odors in Your Home before Selling It

http://annettapowellblog.com - It is a common fact that if a home stinks, it will be hard to sell it.  It does not matter if the odor comes from cigarette smoke, moisture, dirt, pets, spices, or even from some of the good smells like plug-ins, air fresheners, or candles.  Whether the person has an allergy or not, nobody would want to live in a house that smells, period.

Many buyers will try to mask the odor by using air fresheners, candles, or plug-ins but for some buyers, that is just a red flag making them wonder just what type of smell the seller is trying to hide.  The best type of smell is no smell at all. Before you get ready to put your house on the market, have some friends or relatives come over and figure out if they smell anything funky in your home.  The reason to ask someone else to do this instead of relying on your nose is that you may just be used to the odor and do not notice it any longer.

Pet odors may be present in places where you put them.  Any type of cooking odors are going to be primarily in the kitchen while any mustiness, mold, or mildew smells are going to be anywhere moist and dark.  As far as smoke smell is concerned, it will probably be all throughout the house. Once you have identified where the odor is coming from, you need to start getting rid of it right away.

Start smoking outside, open the windows and let the house air out; check for any leaks or anything that might cause a moldy or musty smell; and make sure that your pets are placed outside if possible, and are cleaned and groomed regularly.  You should also consider washing the curtains, beddings, carpets, and rugs to remove cigarette smell and dry clean your couches and chairs.

Once these are all done, have someone come back to the house and check if there isn’t any bad smell anymore. Remember, first impressions last, so make sure you maintain a house that is not only physically appealing but is also pleasing to the nose. This way, you can be assured that your house won’t be underpriced.

For more information on selling a home, go to http://annettapowellblog.com/.   See you there!

Yours Sincerely,

Annetta Powell