As you live in your home, you get nose-blind to odors that
can hit your buyers on the honker harder than a right cross. We're not talking
about forgetting to change the cat box. Some smells are so pervasive that they
could signal real trouble to a buyer. And that means no sale for you.
Here are five smells that could turn your home into a
stinker.
Stuffiness. To make our homes more energy-efficient, we've
caulked, blown insulation, weather-stripped and sealed our way to greener
utility bills. But for every action, there's a reaction. The result of making
your home airtight is that you lock all odors in.
Homes are more comfortable when they breathe. Open a window
and reintroduce yourself to the aromatic delights of fresh-mown grass and
flowers and the light undulating touch of natural breezes.
Dusty, musty odors linger in rooms that aren't used much or
aren't updated like old tile bathrooms. Sniff out culprits like guest
bedspreads, long curtains that are rarely opened, and old carpets that could
use a good cleaning.
Pets. Poop and pee are part of the deal when you have pets.
From goldfish to iguanas, you have to deal with feeding and cleaning up after
pets. When you're selling your home, you have to really keep on top of it.
And if you have pets with fur, you have to groom them. Dogs
need As you live in your home, you get nose-blind to odors that can hit your
buyers on the honker harder than a right cross. We're not talking about
forgetting to change the cat box. Some smells are so pervasive that they could
signal real trouble to a buyer. And that means no sale for you.
Here are five smells that could turn your home into a
stinker.
Stuffiness. To make our homes more energy-efficient, we've
caulked, blown insulation, weather-stripped and sealed our way to greener
utility bills. But for every action, there's a reaction. The result of making
your home airtight is that you lock all odors in.
Homes are more comfortable when they breathe. Open a window
and reintroduce yourself to the aromatic delights of fresh-mown grass and
flowers and the light undulating touch of natural breezes.
Dusty, musty odors linger in rooms that aren't used much or
aren't updated like old tile bathrooms. Sniff out culprits like guest
bedspreads, long curtains that are rarely opened, and old carpets that could
use a good cleaning.
Pets. Poop and pee are part of the deal when you have pets.
From goldfish to iguanas, you have to deal with feeding and cleaning up after
pets. When you're selling your home, you have to really keep on top of it.
And if you have pets with fur, you have to groom them. Dogs
need baths, and most need brushing. If you let them get on the furniture, they
slobber on their toys, scratch themselves, shed piles of fur, and so on.
Febreeze is one idea, but you might have to do a thorough steam cleaning of all
fabric surfaces in your home.
Food, smoke and grease odors. If you have a preference for
stinky foods like cabbage and fish, you may need to go on a different diet
while you're marketing your home. And if you cook a lot, it's a good idea to
clean your oven, burners, and any other equipment that may have burned on food
or spills. baths, and most need brushing. If you let them get on the furniture,
they slobber on their toys, scratch themselves, shed piles of fur, and so on.
Febreeze is one idea, but you might have to do a thorough steam cleaning of all
fabric surfaces in your home.
Food, smoke and grease odors. If you have a preference for
stinky foods like cabbage and fish, you may need to go on a different diet
while you're marketing your home. And if you cook a lot, it's a good idea to
clean your oven, burners, and any other equipment that may have burned on food
or spills.
