Homes That Smell Take Forever to Sell in Sacramento

Homes that smell like cigarettes, junk food, and beer turn off buyers.

If you own one of those homes that smell, you probably don’t notice the odors. Because you live with that house every single day. Take that roasted chicken with rosemary you made for dinner last night as an example. The scent still lingers today but you can’t tell. Ask that little girl on your doorstep trying to sell you Girl Scout cookies what your home smells like, and she’ll tell you it’s chicken.

Of course, you’ve heard that Sacramento Realtors will bake cookies during an open house but most of us do not. Too much work and we can’t turn on an oven. Not to mention, you’d be amazed at how many people do not know how to make cookies without a cookie mix or frozen dough. We also do not use air fresheners because the scent is overpowering.

When I walk through a listing for the first time, I try to notice odors and address the issue. Many homes that smell are homes where pets live. Especially homes with carpeting and drapes, littered with dog beds. That odor hits you hard, right between the eyes when you walk inside. Cat box odors are even worse. For these reasons, it’s sometimes better to board your pets elsewhere when your house is on the market. But separating from your pets is not always a feasible solution, and I completely understand.

Wash all pet bedding with a cup of enzyme solution (you can buy it at pet stores) in addition to detergent. Clean out the cat boxes and replace litter, do not put them into a closet. It goes without saying, bathe your pets, the cats, too. If you can’t do it yourself, take them to a professional groomer.

Cigarette smoke, though, is almost impossible to eliminate. Homes that smell like cigarette smoke or even pot, now that I pause, are super difficult to sell. If you’re going to smoke cigarettes, cigars or weed, do it outside, not in the house, at least while your home is on the market.

This reminds me of a lake home I bought many decades ago in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. When I toured that home, one of the selling features was overflowing ashtrays of cigarette butts scattered about. It stank to high heaven. No wonder nobody would buy it. This home had been on the market for a long time without any offers. I didn’t like the carpeting anyway, and replaced it all before I moved in, along with resealing the walls. That sale cost the seller dearly.

Everything will sell if the price is right. Even homes that smell will eventually sell at a reduced price. One product that might help is Odoban. It comes in solids, sprays, and cleaning products. For best results, ask a friend or neighbor to come over and sniff the house.

If you’re thinking of selling, call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759.