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In another thread, Febrze was mentioned.

What about the fragrance of bread baking? coffee brewing? cookies just baked? dinner cooking in crockpot?

Thoughts???????

Our house still has the new house (log house) smell and I love that, personally. But???

The best scent is the fragrance of "clean". No food odors, no plug-ins, no sprays. Just clean.

Jewell, I have to agree with you. Although I find the scent of cookies or bread baking, or some candles or potpourri appealing, some people don't. Plug in's can become overpowering and really turn off a prospective buyer. THen there are the allergies - people can be allergic to the darndest things and you sure don't want a qualified, interested buyer having to look thru the house while they're sneezing their head off or wiping streaming eyes - or having to turn around and leave the home before they're past the foyer. You just never know, so I'd err on the side of caution and present a spotlessly clean and fresh home - no fragrances, no fresheners, no animals - just clean.

Suzanne
www.PersonalStyleInteriors.com

I agree with clean, but sometimes a "scent" makes it seem extra nice. After I sold,I read if you boil a small pan of water and drop a COUPLE of drops of either vanilla extract or almond extract, it makes your house smell warm and inviting, not overwhelming with smells at all. Especially if you've been cooking real food. Even the next day smells from onions etc hang in there.

Just a thought. One time when I had a showing, I had sink filled with Lysol because I was going to unplug the sink and mop my way out the door. They must have been able to smell the Lysol, because they commented on how clean and fresh my house smelled.....go figure!

j

When I first viewed a house that I eventually bought, it smelled of apples and cinnamon. I loved it! It was in the middle of January, and was just right for winter.

However, scents can be a turnoff. I once looked at a house in the middle of July, and they had many scented candles burning throughout. Wrong season and time of day for candles. It was over-powering, and I couldn't wait to leave!

When I sold my house, I used a plug-in that smelled like starchy linen.

A plain ol' clean smell would be best, but if you want to make it smell like something, make sure it's something natural -- baking bread or cookies -- rather than a chemical scent (air freshener, etc.) as many people are sensitive to those. Plus, as a buyer, I'd be sort of suspicious of a place that had a strong artificial fragrance -- I'd wonder if it was masking an underlying odor.

Just a clean smell. Nothing artificial. Lots of people are allegic to scents.

We were selling our home in the snowy season and snow it did, all winter. I had bread baking in the oven with the first visitors and that was all they talked about. When we sold our home that was the same couple who talked about the bread smell and they talked about it again at the final walk through as the new buyers.

The best aroma for me after clean smell, has to be pricing.

Personally, I think anyone looking to buy a log home, should be just fine (read thrilled) with the natural "log/wood scent".

I was going to start a post about funny stories that happened in the quest to get buyers but when I saw this post, I thought I would share the story here instead.

Sometime last year, there was a post that said freshly-baked Townhouse oatmeal raisin cookies was the best scent to have when selling a house. We had just put our house on the market then so I went out and bought some. We got a call that someone was coming to see the house in a little while so we put in 1/2 the package of cookie dough and turned on the toaster oven. In the haste to get my young son ready so we could get out before the prospective buyer and agent showed up, DH thought I was watching the toaster, I thought he was. Needless to say, the cookies burnt. Good thing we had a house fan to get rid of the smell of the burnt cookies. Next time there was a showing, I specifically told DH when to take out the cookies. Instead of listening to me and actually take the cookies out of the toaster oven. He turned off the toaster oven. The cookies of course continued to bake in the hot oven - and of course burnt again. Luckily we could laugh at ourselves. It is funny now but not funny then trying to get the smell of burnt cookies out of a house and you know potential buyers are on the way. Thank God for the house fan. So, I saw forget them there cookies!! Febreeze airfresher, a small amount, works like a charm (I like the blue container than the peach). I like just enough to spell clean but not seem like, oh they just sprayed airfreshener. We always made sure the house was well aired out. The fresh air is great at getting rid of odors.

I have told this recently but I will repeat how the best laid plans go astray. Our house is for sale and showings are few and far between. I knew over the week-end that my house would be shown on Monday morning. I cleaned and cleaned: it sparkled and smelled clean. I ran out to go to work leaving DH to do the last thing or two and load the dogs to take them away. It was misting outside (we hadn't had measureable rain since early January) and my dogs were outside. I went out the door to work, the dogs ran in (through their dog door) and shook. Two days of cleaning gone. The house smelled of dog and had doggie prints on the hardwood. Needless to say we didn't get that sale and we still did not get measureable rain. (I think the use of Febreeze would have been in order for thisinstance.)

Josie's comment about a sink full of lysol reminded me of a friend who would always fill her sink with lysol before her MIL would come over so her MIL would think she had been cleaning.

If for some reason you do have to use sprays or candles, I think the "linen" and "breeze" type scents are better than floral or citrus scents.

A bit of an aside...my cats' litter boxes are down in the basement (which is finished on one side). I've been experimenting with different ways to reduce the smells (like trying different litter, air purifiers)...About two weeks ago, I stained the stair railing and that scent totally overpowered the bad kitty smells for over a week. Now I'm thinking maybe I should stain the railing every week or so - or least get a rag and dip it in the stain and leave it in the trash can down there while the house is on the market. LOL. Not really - but it is a thought.

The last couple of houses we sold, I made Chocolate-Chip Cookies (30 minutes before the buyers came to view the house), and left them on the counter with a note that read: "Help Yourself"

While I had to clean up the cookie crumbs on the floor, we got full-price offers both times!

Nothing says "Welcome Home" like warm, fresh cookies.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lavern2,

quote:

Originally posted by maurenemm:
Josie's comment about a sink full of lysol reminded me of a friend who would always fill her sink with lysol before her MIL would come over so her MIL would think she had been cleaning.

If for some reason you do have to use sprays or candles, I think the "linen" and "breeze" type scents are better than floral or citrus scents.

A bit of an aside...my cats' litter boxes are down in the basement (which is finished on one side). I've been experimenting with different ways to reduce the smells (like trying different litter, air purifiers)...About two weeks ago, I stained the stair railing and that scent totally overpowered the bad kitty smells for over a week. Now I'm thinking maybe I should stain the railing every week or so - or least get a rag and dip it in the stain and leave it in the trash can down there while the house is on the market. LOL. Not really - but it is a thought.

Good story - but seriously, Arm & Hammer litter deodorant works well and has a nice scent - at least until a kitty who won't bury goes in there and makes a "deposit." :-)

A clean house will definitely give your house an beautiful look but the aroma must be blissful and refreshing. You may try an incense, it will give you an aromatic and refreshing fragrance which can enhance the visitor's mood.

Because most commercial products contain chemicals- including Fabreeze, "air freshners", scented candles - remember many folk are allergic to chemicals. It's "safer" to place a small bowl of baking soda in each room (baking soda is cheap and it aborbs odors); another option is to place a bowl of not overly sweet flower petals in guest room. Cinnammon, cloves, a vanilla bean, freshly brewed fragrant tea or coffee evoke "welcome". in common rooms put a drop of essential oil on light bulbs before turning on the lamps.

IMO savvy buyers question ANY scent (odor) that permeates a house

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tessa89,

briankkatz, Incense is incense and available nearly everywhere in lots of scents (and there are many who think it stinks).
Posting on old threads does not negate you from the "advertising" ban on these boards. You !

Best aroma? Hands down, no aroma/smell at all!

Forget all the cutesy things like baking bread, cookies, lighting candles or whatever.

Present a house that is clean from the floor boards up, down and all around; uncluttered, windows shining; appliances spotless (even if you plan to take them with you); beds neatly made, closets nice; bathrooms immaculate - THAT is what is going to make someone BUY YOUR HOME!

Often times, I work with buyers who are on a weekend buying trip. They are focused on buying a home before they leave Tampa Bay for the airport for the long trip home. The itinerary is pre-planned and they how exactly what they are going to see per the listings chosen, so we cram houses into the schedule.

Buyers have their own copies of the listings and often times, I have chuckled to myself when they are making notes to remember which house is which. House that smelled like bleach, like dog, like cookie dough are some of their descriptions..right there in the list they are making of amenities. In our conversations, same reference. I found it interesting that smell gave association to the property.

So, the point being, smell sells - sometimes and maybe better than "no smell"!

I have to go with fresh baked bread!

If I walked into a house and smelled these "perfumes," my instant thought would be: "What are they hiding?" I would begin to wonder about pet smells, mold, rot or other issues that might be being disguised.

Even if there were no such negative issues, not everyone finds these "perfumes" pleasant. For example, the smell of cinnamon and cloves make me gag, though some people may love them. Fake vanilla (such as found in vanilla "flavored" coffee) gives me an instant headache.

Bottom line: do you want to run the risk of turning off a potential buyer--especially in a bad market? IMO--I agree with what some others have said: no fake smells--just clean and fresh. No one will ever be turned off by that.

Just my $0.02.

quote:

Originally posted by real estate lady:
Often times, I work with buyers who are on a weekend buying trip. They are focused on buying a home before they leave Tampa Bay for the airport for the long trip home. The itinerary is pre-planned and they how exactly what they are going to see per the listings chosen, so we cram houses into the schedule.

Buyers have their own copies of the listings and often times, I have chuckled to myself when they are making notes to remember which house is which. House that smelled like bleach, like dog, like cookie dough are some of their descriptions..right there in the list they are making of amenities. In our conversations, same reference. I found it interesting that smell gave association to the property.

So, the point being, smell sells - sometimes and maybe better than "no smell"!

That reminded me of when I bought my house here in Austin - I'd flown in, was staying with my realtor and we had about 30 houses on "the list". Five years later we still laugh about the "stinky house" that we walked into, looked at each other and turned around and walked right back out.

A salesperson at a kitchen supply store in the mall told me that when they want to draw a crowd they saute onions.

It's more important what you don't smell

- cigarette smoke
- animals
- dust
- mildew
- stinky fragrances
- heavy cooking odors

Best to smell fresh air ...or maybe some bread baking.

quote:

Originally posted by sms29s66:
A salesperson at a kitchen supply store in the mall told me that when they want to draw a crowd they saute onions.

Draws me into Williams-Sonoma every time!

quote:

Originally posted by Jewel:

quote:

Originally posted by sms29s66:
A salesperson at a kitchen supply store in the mall told me that when they want to draw a crowd they saute onions.

Draws me into Williams-Sonoma every time!

That's really interesting about the onions...I was looking at some Bed & Breakfast reviews and the only negative was "onion smells every morning!!!"

Another note about onions is that when I was getting a beauty treatment recently, some of the staff were eating (smelled like onion-y Taco Bell) and that was nauseating because I like to smell 'pretty/girly' aromas when I'm getting beautified.

I dislike incense, it makes me sneeze. Also onions are a turn off for many people. Keep it clean and neat. Only time I used a candle was in the winter and I couldn't air out the house (which was vacant). So many people have allergies and dislike certain smells.

When my son & wife found themselves in a very small house with 3 kids under 18 months; they listed and planned for an open-house. This trick seemed to work for them. They had a large travel trailor parked next to their house and took the kids to grandma then filled the trailor with car seats, baby swings toys, etc. etc.; literally, 3 of everything! They cleaned house top to bottom, opened windows. removed all magazines, clutter, everything from countertops etc.to the trailor everything sparkled...a vase of fresh flowers on the kitchen table. The first people through made a full offer, no conditions. They moved the baby paraphenalis back in until they moved out. No pets and well-kept shrubs and flower beds helped too. Not looking to sell now; I KNOW, I would have to probably pack up 80% of my collectibles, art etc. and maybe rent short-term a facility to store stuff....because no matter how great one's interior decor...it is NOT what others might like...also, I'd paint everything builder beige and rip out all my carpeting. Most can't forsee what a few cosmetic changes will make to a house...so give them a blank slate.

I am very sensitive to scents. I hate going into candle stores or places with strong smells.

Add my vote for clean. One of my listings is a second home. To prep it for showings I will stop in open all the windows and take a Clorox wipe to the counters, bathroom sinks, etc and then take some furniture polish and run a cloth over the tables. It give sa fresh clean scent without being perfumy or seem like it is covering anything.

If you're getting frequent showings use a diffuser with a light scent or a basket of potpourri. Not over powering, but fresh.

REL - My out of town clients are the same - we have the house with the ugly sofa, the house with the orange kitchen, the house with the wall paper, the smelly house, etc.

Might be repeating myself, but I am a big fan of "no smell" also known as simply "clean." Personally, I don't care for floral/perfume scents/artificial disfusers of whatever scent and think the "old cookie/bread" scent reeks of desperation so what would sell me? CLEAN-NO SMELL! Just my 2 cents worth....

Open all the doors and windows for a while and then the house will be odor free, oh and put your pets outside along with any of their bedding etc.

I vote for the clean smell. I don't have much of a sense of smell left, but usually, when someone has alot of candles burning, it has turned out that they were trying to hide a mildewy odor. Now, in my brain, when I go to look at houses, I'm assuming they are trying to hide something and it turns me off. Also, my husband is overly sensitive to candles, so he starts sneezing the minute we go into a place that has them going. As for baking, I'd be the same as previous poster - I know I'd burn it.... . Clean always trumps I think.. I use Febreze, but I use it and then vacuum. For personal use - I used to love candles, so I'm going to try some soy ones and see if my husband can tolerate them better. For open houses - no way....

Aroma? maybe a hint of freshly laundered sundried cotton linens. maybe maybe choc chip cookies.
Never commercially produced scents! Too many folk are allergic to anything chemical. Many scented candles are cloyingly sweet & IMO fake pine stinks! Although I like eucaliptus, it sends DD running for the exit.
If you must use something to mask odors, use a natural product....freshly grated lemon peel, or a crushed herb: maybe lavender, or mint, or basil