Smell to Sell

Home Selling Advice to Make Your Home Smell Great



1. Take out the trash before showing. That simple.

2. Tell the children to keep stinky shoes in the garage.

3. Sprinkle baking powder on the carpet before vacuuming.

4. Vinegar - your new best friend. Use vinegar to clean floors, countertops, and bathrooms. (1/2 cup to one gallon of hot water.) A stronger vinegar mix dissolves hard-water scum on shower tile and glass enclosures.

5. Add essential oil drops to final rinse for floors.

6. Use essential oils in a diffuser instead of artificial sprays that some home shoppers may find offensive; they may think you're trying to mask a bigger problem like mildew, or even worse, they may be allergic to the artificial product and think your house makes them teary-eyed and sneezy.

7. Keep up with the laundry. Wash sneakers with a half-cup of added vinegar.

8. Wash all bed linens, even blankets, which hold odors. Use non-allergic scented fabric softener.

9. Check window coverings for musty smells.

10. Run a grapefruit or orange skin through your garbage disposal for a refreshing clean smell a few minutes before showing.

You don't want to attract low offers from real estate investors. Prepare your home for sale by ridding the house of offensive odors and then add fresh scents like gardenias to stage the perfect setting - one that feels like home to buyers.