Smells Don't $ell

Odors in a home can be a big turn off for buyers.

Several things can cause odors in your home. Cooking, pets and smoking.

The cooking of certain foods should be to avoided while selling your home because the smell lingers in the air much longer than you think.

Here are a few foods that make my short list:
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Chili Powder
Cumin
Curry
Fish
Garlic

Weather permitting, grill your meats outside so the smell is not a "leftover" of last nights dinner for showings.

Empty all the trash cans daily to ensure that smells don't emit from these.

Dog beds and cat boxes and diaper pails are other areas that need attention. Wash dog bedding frequently and clean the cat box daily (even several times a day if possible!) And diapers should go to the outside garbage can ASAP!

Smokers must move their smoking area to the outside or at the very least to the garage. Even then the ashes should not be left in ashtrays, but wiped out daily.

Realtors have long-used the trick of baking cookies or yeast bread to make the house smell inviting.

Use this quick, calorie-free recipe for giving that fresh-baked aroma.
Place a cinnamon stick and a 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract on a piece of foil that you have turned the edges up to create a small tray and place in a warm oven.
Um, Um. Smells like homemade goodness!