Sacramento Real Estate Blog

In the first part of this series, I wrote about how bad smells in a listing can ruin a good home sale, even if the house is priced right and shows well in general. I actually intended for this post to be just one post, but the topic of bad smells is such a pet peeve with me, that it seemed never to end. I can’t tell you how many homes I have stepped into with clients and the first thing they say when they enter the home is something like, “They have cats!” or “Smokers!” or “What’s that smell?” I can pretty much lock up and leave right then, because I can tell the outcome is not going to be good - and it never is. Anyway, on to the other things that ruin home sales.

It’s Not Just What They See…

Many home sellers live by the adage, “Out of sight is out of mind.” In my experience, that is not true when it comes to potential home buyers. If you are one of those people that just stuffs the junk into a junk drawer and then every drawer becomes a junk drawer, it would be a good idea to do a major spring cleaning before putting your home on the market. Just because you’ve stuffed your… er… “entertainment reading” into a drawer in the furthest laundry cabinet doesn’t mean no one will notice. They will.

Just assume that all closets will be opened. All dishwashers will be opened. All refrigerators, ovens, hallway closet doors will be opened. Believe me. I’ve walked with home buyers when they are in your houses. And they do check how much room is in these. And when they do see something you’ve stashed away, it’s not just your home that’s being judged, it’s you. And then, by extension, how well you may or may not have taken care of your house. So don’t give then any fodder. Get rid of it, or move it to a public storage facility. Ask yourself what you would keep in plain view and if it’s not going to be in plain view, it shouldn’t be there at all.

Soft Music is a Good Idea, Especially if…

Remember there used to be a time when real estate agents would actually bake cookies at Open Houses to make the home smell good? That’s because research shows that people are actually nicer to one another when the smell of baked cookies is in the air. Try to remember back to malls and how they smell just before the holidays? Heck, think of how malls smell every day of the year! Even if you can’t recreate the smell of freshly baked cookies (I mean, really, is it mandatory to get fat eating cookies when your home is on the market?!?) there are other things soothing to the senses you can create just as easily, perhaps more so. Like music.

Play soft, classical or semi-classical music in the background when home buyers are expected. Keep the light dim. Set a mood. The mood should be one of relaxation, calm and comfort. That is what home buyers want - not just a house, but somewhere they can call home. Some place that is quiet and comforting.

Another reason to play soft music in the home is to drown out other distractions that might occur unexpectedly at the time they are viewing the house. Like brakes squealing outside. Or the occasional passing car with loud blaring music (if you can call it music!). Restful sounds within the home can keep home buyers centered in the space and help them focus on the positive aspects of the house without distracting them. It’s almost as if the house becomes a world in itself and invites them in - exactly what most people want from their own home!

Clean Surfaces

This could be a female pet peeve. And if it is, you should pay even more attention to it since most home buying decisions are made by the women in the family. Call it sexist if you want, but most husbands will agree with me. The surfaces must be clean. Bread crumbs on kitchen counters, random pieces of string (or worse, hair!) on the carpet, these are strict no-nos. Not because they are necessarily disgusting (okay, the hair is!) but because they ruin the appearance of clean, untouched-yet-touchable surfaces.

The same rule goes for pet hair on the couches. Even if you’re going to take the couch with you, it makes the home buyer wonder what else in the home has been ruined by dogs. Trust me on this one - surfaces are important. Many home buyers are kinesthetic, which means they depend more on touch than any other sense. Don’t turn them away with dirty countertops. Make sure to clean the home and then clean it again to ensure it feels clean.

There. I think we’ve covered almost all the senses that really matter. Fortunately, you have only four to worry about. Taste is not one that home buyers depend on. So you get a free pass there! Happy home selling!