Do you have a favorite smell?

When I was a kid, we had lilac trees that grew just below my bedroom.  In spring, I would open my window and soak in the odor.  To this day, I’ll go out of my way to wander near lilac blossoms whenever I see them, just so I can experience that fragrance again.

Lately my favorite smell is viburnum. I planted one by my front door. Sometimes when I go out to get my mail, I’ll linger by the front door to catch the whiffs of that delicious spice-like smell.

Olfaction – there is actually word for it. Not only is there a word for the sense of smell, there are words for abnormalities with the sense of smell. Like anosmia: the inability to perceive odors. Or dysosmia: things smell differently than they should.

Did you know that when a human nose is working well, it can tell the difference between 4,000-10,000 smells?

Memories, imagination, old sentiments, and associations are more readily reached through the sense of smell than through any other channel.
   -  Oliver Wendell Holmes

I know what he means. To this day, whenever I smell Dial soap, it brings back memories of the home my childhood friend, Alison. Alison's mother put a Dial soap bar in every bathroom and the smell permeated the house. I have great memories of playing over there, so that odor always makes me smile.

I mention all this because the smell of a house has more to do with its sale, than just about any other sense.

For example, when a house smells like cigarettes, it’s the kiss of death.  I had one client who wouldn’t even walk through the front door when they noticed that distinctive odor at the threshold.

Dampness has an unpleasant smell as well. It can be a very problematic odor. Buyers start to conjure up visions of flooding in the basement, leaks in the roof, ice damns dripping into the walls and on and on. All those images drive fear into their minds ... and thoughts of buying the house - out!  

Pets can be another smell that turns off buyers. Love me; love my dog may be the expectation with personal relationships. Don’t count on it when selling your house.

Think about the smells that elicit great memories. Think about odors that are universally pleasing. For me it’s the smell of lilacs, viburnums, vanilla beans or apple cider.  What is it for you?

Create beautiful smells in your home, if you plan to sell. Use the delightful odors of  fragrant flowers (in clean water!) or freshly baked bread or even boil some apple cider. Room deodorants can often be a big turnoff to some buyers -- it's almost always better to have natural smells. 

If you have systemic smells that are imbedded in the carpets and drapes, get everything cleaned and/or rent one of those heavy duty smelly-air eliminators for a few days. If you don't notice anything, bring in a ruthlessly honest friend to give you their sense of the smell... we often get used to the smell of our own homes and don't notice unpleasant odors.

Unless you're lucky enough to have a buyer with anosmia, smell may make the just the difference as to whether your house sells  - or not!