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William Piotrowski, Just Call William 630-881-8655 (Diamond Residential Mortgage Corporation )

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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Make sure it is clean.  I do not recommend any kind of air freshener. 

The best air freshener is clean air from outside.  Open some windows and air out the home. 

Apr 28, 2022 08:40 AM
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1,452,819
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I haven't smelled anything but lilacs in the last decade or so but I do imagine my clients keep a clean home so no additives necessary.  Clean for the win!

Apr 28, 2022 07:26 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,656
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Prep:

Professionally having it cleaned and the carpets shampooed. Then...

Keeping it clean. Because it's fraud to mask odors otherwise. 

Smoke and pet smells sometimes require new window treatments, paint and carpet if cleaning doesn't remove the odors.

No candles, no plug ins, no artificial masking.

Apr 28, 2022 09:35 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

In homes that had tobacco, pet odors, or other strong scents I had an air purifier that I would use, with the owners permission of course

Apr 28, 2022 08:48 AM
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Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

A clean house is an answer. Be careful with those plug-ins and other strong smells. There are some who are allergic and the rest wonder what you are covering up.

Apr 28, 2022 06:48 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I have never made this kind of recommendation and am anxious to see the answers.

Apr 28, 2022 06:30 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Keeping a home clean is the first step.

Airing out the home is a good second step.

When I've sold my own homes, I would burn a vanilla candle (not a very strong scent) in advance and always got comments about how great the house smelled.

Apr 28, 2022 09:34 AM
Rainer
195,422
Karen Climer
Demetree School of Real Estate - Orlando, FL
Teaching people to pass the real estate exam

Here's an article of someone who tried too hard to ask the odor.

The Realtor put air fresheners in the air ducts to mask the smell.  I believe the agent was also the owner of the home.

Apr 28, 2022 09:22 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

It's a good subject and there is a cure for every home. Normal and artificial scents can sometimes work against you as we know. The key is moderation in whatever we do. I like opening windows to air out the place, I favor pine sol way prior to visitors coming over and I never met anyone that didn't like the smell of oven baked goods whatever they are.  While a good cleaning is a good start, sometimes certain smells refuse to leave the walls, ceilings and floors where they hide. Then, a paint job is in line or a carpet replacement? From fresh flowers to a complete TSP bath, smells don't have chance if we decide to take them on. The future buyer is entitled to that

Apr 28, 2022 07:59 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Depends on why it smells bad in the first place. And it's not a recommendation, it's a requirement for me to have that listing.

Apr 28, 2022 07:59 AM
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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Keep it showroom clean.  

If it smells really bad (musty, smoke, cooking odors, cat litter boxes, whatever) then paint it.  Be sure to paint the ceilings.

 

Apr 28, 2022 07:52 AM
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Clean as a whistle.  How clean is that?  White glove clean!  And don't use any smells.  That is the biggest turn off.  Ugh.

Apr 28, 2022 10:11 AM
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Get rid of the source of the odors, many times this involves drastic measures including getting rid of all carpeting and more.

Apr 28, 2022 12:56 PM
Rainmaker
1,197,097
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

I am a big fan of plug in's.  I don't care what brand, I have several because I can never remember which brand I prefer to use when I buy the refills at the grocery store.  

Apr 28, 2022 06:38 AM
Rainer
378,517
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

Clean, if you must have a smell.... bake 

Apr 28, 2022 11:21 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,605
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Bake some cookies.

Apr 28, 2022 10:02 AM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

The only concern is presence of cigarette smoke. It cannot be masked or easily explained to the smoker. An OZONE generator will work although the "clients" will not be able to continue the habit after they return home. Treatments could take as little as 2 hours or up to 2 days depending on its severity. I will always begin with the suggestion of a professional  cleaning before adding OZONE into the conversation. Saying "hey, your house stinks" is not the best way to begin.

Apr 28, 2022 09:45 AM
Rainmaker
2,241,053
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Suggest taking the two wet St Bernards or 3 Pitbulls for a dairy bar dish of ice cream. Get there early to dump the two over flowing cat boxes and crank open a couple windows. Sometimes the smells can make some buyers feel right at home... "Hey honey, love that cigar smell... reminds me that I need to light up a stogie. You seen my lighter or got a pack of matches on you Stella?"

Apr 29, 2022 04:30 AM
Rainmaker
1,556,468
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker

Open windows and let the fresh air in.

Apr 28, 2022 07:26 PM
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Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Clean the home, open the windows, bake bread, do NOT use air fresheners.

Apr 28, 2022 06:53 PM
Rainmaker
901,535
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

Not the plug-ins! A good cleaning for certain. Fortunately I don't run into many issues. Essential oils can be good. That's what I use at home.

Apr 28, 2022 06:31 PM
Ambassador
2,339,137
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

William Piotrowski  Bake a pie or bake a cake - always makes a house smell wonderful   - they sell frozen pies  

Apr 28, 2022 02:07 PM
Ambassador
5,828,820
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi William- if you can let fresh air in before a showing. Make sure everything is clean!!!  Run ice cubes or baking soda and vinegar down your garbage disposal. DO Not overpower the senses with candles and air fresheners around the home. 

Apr 28, 2022 12:39 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

I am in the camp of those who have advocated a thorough cleaning. Yet, smells can persist in fabrics such as carpets and drapes which may have to be removed to achieve the clean smell goal.

Apr 28, 2022 12:35 PM
Rainer
417,221
Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

Sprinkle baking soda on carpets the day before and vacuum with vacuum bag clean and empty.  Clean everything including window treatments or toss them if they have smoke damage. Open windows. 

Apr 28, 2022 11:10 AM
Rainer
672,772
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear William,

Go for plain clean. Clean always sells. There are so many people with allergies, that just about any scent will annoy someone. I have had people run out of homes, because of their violent reactions to some plug-in smell or potpourri they could not handle.

May 03, 2022 08:33 PM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

It start way before the house if listed for sale.  Smoking in the house makes in harder to sell and this odor is hard to get out of the house.  I'm not big on phony or artificial smells such as vanilla or freshly baked cookies.  The house showing clean, light and bright, in good repair with good curb appeal and manicured lawns works best.

May 02, 2022 04:44 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

#1 Clean
#2 Don't do anything stupid
#3. Chocolate/cinnamon anything in the oven.
No artifical fragrances of any kind. No Candles. No wall warts. 
#4 Yes to fresh cut Gardenia blooming if Fl now. Yep, some will be allergic, but it will be a GOOD allergic.

Apr 29, 2022 04:46 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

Clean.  And then clean again.  And then hire a cleaner to clean.  And then open a window.  Let restaurants make your seafood dinner & let a trusted contact or the kennel keep your pet for a few days while you allow showings. And then clean one more time. 

Apr 29, 2022 04:43 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

I have suggested an owner to strongly consider a professional cleaning  but never a specific air freshener!

Apr 29, 2022 04:35 AM