Aug 27 2008
Using Scent to Sell Your Home
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Many home-owners forget the importance of smells when selling their property.
This is a pity because scents can make the difference between thousands of dollars on a sale. Good smells enhance the value of the home and project a welcoming feeling but bad aromas will drive potential buyers away! |
Attractive Scents
Real estate agents disagree about the smells most likely to attract buyers. Research from the UK has shown, however, that the most appealing scents to buyers are those of fresh flowers. Vases of fresh and pretty flowers enhance the look of the house as well. They give the impression that the owner takes care of the home. It’s best to have flowers from the garden, if possible.
Be careful not to choose flowers with overwhelming fragrances, or those which could remind people of death, such as lilies or chrysanthemums. In Europe these flowers are often associated with death so they may deter European buyers.
Nostalgic and ‘homely’ aromas include smells of baking and cooking. Baking bread, cookies, or cake in the oven might be a good idea on open days. Another lovely and very American smell is that of apple pie. The aroma of a Sunday roast cooking also pervades the house and exudes warmth.
The smells of coffee brewing or apples being baked with cinnamon are some other ideas when the house is open to buyers.
Some real estate agents think that smells of baking and cooking are not a good idea when selling the house, surprisingly. These nostalgic scents bring back memories – for some buyers these may be unpleasant.
Aromatherapy smells may be useful, but scented candles are a big no-no, apparently. According to an article in the Irish Times, a mixture of bergamot, geranium and sandalwood will lift buyer’s spirits. Burning vanilla essence is also a lovely scent to use.
If you want to be very careful not to deter any buyers, it’s best to stick to new and natural smells in the home. Aromas which give the impression that the house is new, for example, polyurethine on hardwood floors, are attractive to buyers according to one study.
Bad Smells
An article in the Washington Post stated that an anonymous real estate agent said that: “Bad smells can take $100,000 off your price.” These include pet smells, cigarette smells and the scent of alcohol. Industrial smells also present a big problem and usually lessen the value of a home.
Pet smells affect the whole house or property. They’re absorbed into carpets and curtains and are usually extremely difficult to remove. Remove pet-stained carpets or get them professionally cleaned before selling.
The strong smells of tobacco and alcohol also deter many health-conscious buyers today, so it’s important to remove them, if possible.
Avoid anything that’s known to smell bad being in the house, such as fish, onions or stale food, on open days.
Bathroom odors will deter many buyers. The worst smells are mildew or mould. Bathrooms or kitchens which have problems with mildew or mould also horrify many buyers because of the associated health problems.
2 responses so far
I disagree, scented candles can be used to make a home feel more homely and if the potential buyer likes the smell of chocolate it may tempt them to put in an offer!
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