SELLING WITH ALL THE SENSES—LOVE AT FIRST SMELL?

When you think about getting your house ready for sale, hopefully you are thinking about how the house will look to buyers. You’re probably thinking about what colors to paint, what repairs to do and what items to keep or pack. While all this is well and good, so many homeowners forget that buying a house is an emotional experience that happens as soon as the potential buyers walk through the front door—their first impression is a strong and important one.  Those first ten seconds will determine whether they stay to really look at the house or mentally check out and move on. And first impressions are not all about sight. Even though we may not be completely aware of it, our first impressions are built from a collaboration of all our senses working together. The way a house looks, smells and feels (we will talk about taste and sound another time) will influence whether they choose to stick around to fall in love or start dreaming of house number 2, or 3, or 4…yikes! And believe it or not, scent plays a huge role in how that can happen.

So how I can I utilize my house’s scent to set it above the competition?

Do:

·         Take care of any pet or smoke odors by having your carpets professionally cleaned and renting a professional grade air purification system. (NOTE: As we all become accustomed to the ‘ahem’ scent of our homes, it may be necessary to ask a friend to tell you if your house smells ok. Or, if you value your friendships, consider having a professional stager give you the honest truth—it’s our specialtyJ)

·         Consider having the house professionally cleaned prior to an open house. Many companies provide one time cleanings for special events. I highly recommend Clean Day because not only do they use safe cleaners, they smell amazing (more on that below).

·         Have at least one fresh flower arrangement for an open house—flowers are appealing on so many levels.

·         Warning—this tip is only for people who have extra time on their hands, and if you are selling your house, that’s not you. If you like to bake, consider whipping up a fresh batch of cookies or a loaf of bread and letting the aroma linger for the open house. They’ll be dreaming of home cooked meals in no time.

Don’t:

·         Use harsh cleaners that have a strong scent. If buyers walk in and the first  thing they smell is pine-sol, they subconsciously think of cleaning—which is work—which is something we don’t want them to associate with your house.

·         Use strongly scented candles or air fresheners. Those fabricated smells make the buyer think that you’re trying to cover something up. Essential oils used in moderation are a great alternative and can be used for cleaning or air freshening. Make sure to do your research or go with a cleaning company that is educated in essential oil properties/uses. Check out Clean Day for innovative cleaning ideas.