Odors are nothing to turn up your nose about, especially when you have potential buyers walking through your home. When staging the perfect home, it is a priority to address smells. Today’s blog topic will address the good, the bad, and the ugly smells. The good smells bring back memories of bread baking in the oven, fresh sun-kissed bed linens hanging on the clothesline, and freshly sliced lemons in a pitcher of lemonade. The bad smells make you want to turn around and run out as fast and as far as possible. Potential buyers will label those homes in a very derogatory way. Smells like stale cigarette smoke, pet urine, lingering fish or curry from the dinner before. Ick! No one wants those. To remediate this I have included a Room Freshener Recipe and some other tips that have been found to be effective in absorbing odors, not just masking them. Remember, buyers are looking for their perfect home and don’t want to deal with issues like odors. If they see evidence that they are in one of the *249 million American homes that use air freshener sprays and room deodorizers, they will start asking questions. Questions like, “What are they trying to cover up? Is this a forever smell or will it go away? Is there something or someone hiding in the attic?” Put the sprays and plug-ins away during showings. It’s also important to keep in mind buyers who might have health issues with chemical smells. The ugly smells might mean there is a serious problem in or around the home.
Definitely seek expert advice to address long-standing odors that smell like rotten eggs, fish, mold or decomposing materials. These smells could be indicative of possible gas or sewer leaks, growing molds or a rodent or pest invasion. Following are some of the promised and proven tips and solutions for “clearing the air” so to speak:

• Use baking or bicarbonate soda. It is a good and safe way to absorb odors. Place opened boxes around the home and sprinkle it loosely on areas like mattresses, floors, sneakers and furniture upholstery. Replace the boxes every 30 days and vacuum up the loose sprinkles after 30-60 minutes. Of course you want boxes and residue put away before showings.
• Display fresh lemons in kitchen and bath areas for a pleasing visual and for the satisfaction of the olfactory system. That’s fancy for “it smells good here.” Before showings, cut a fresh lemon in half and use the fruit to wipe down your sinks. Once you’ve done that, toss the rest into the garbage disposal and turn it on. The smell will freshen up the room instantly. Adding faux lemons alongside the fresh ones creates a fresh look and they don’t need to be replaced.
• Place live plants in rooms to keep the air free of chemicals
• Open windows
• Vacuum vents
• Shampoo carpets and upholstery
• Wash window treatments and light fixtures
• Clean countertops and appliances with a vinegar based spray
• Use the Room Freshening Spray from Staging Studio’s Recipe:
  • 1 ½ cups filtered water
  • ½ cup cheap Vodka
  • 10-20 drops of essential oil (citrus, eucalyptus, lavender, etc…)
  • Mix and store in a spray bottle.

Say goodbye to the bad and the ugly smells and say hello to the good and fresh. Your home will show and smell perfectly and is sure to sell quickly and for the best price.

*2020 U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey