Prodigy Real Estate - SI NY Real Estate Blog

Spring is not only the season for cleaning, but a big season for real estate! If you are a real estate expert who is showing a house, you are not going to want funky scents from pets, cigarettes, food, or grime to hurt your sale. These five tricks will not only help out realtors but can also help homeowners!

1. Do a deep clean! Pudge some items!

Start out by cleaning every surface within the home, including behind furniture, the refrigerator, and stove. Next, move onto cleaning out vanities, pantries, and closets. Give those surfaces and shelves a good cleaning while donating whatever you do not want or need anymore.

Consider also changing your bed sheets and shower curtain lining; this tip does not just help for the odor situation, but can also help for the staging photos taken for the listing.

2. Address your smelly fabrics, rugs, and upholstery.

If you are seeking to get rid of smells, the best place to hit next is to clean your fabrics like drapes, throw pillows, and upholstery items. Any carpets and rugs should be professionally cleaned, especially if you are hosting an open house. As for drapes that cannot be machine washed, simply use febreeze since dry cleaning can be expensive. Just be sure to use febreeze two days before the showing. The day of the open house, just before visitors will arrive, spray a mixture of water and essential oils, like lavender and lemongrass.

3. Transform the scent with candles and fresh flowers.

The day of the showing or [for homeowners who are using these tips, the day that] guest are coming over, add fresh flowers arrangments and scented candles to every room near the entry and by the kitchen.

4. Try a new coat of paint to rid the grime and the smell.

For homes that are going on the market, a fresh coat of paint is always a really good idea. Especially adding a coat of primer can make any space look refreshing and like new.  If you are going to repaint the colors, aim for using neutral colors; neutrals appeal to more people, including considering buyers. A fun trick is painting all the rooms the same color to make the space look bigger!

5. Eliminate the use of odor.

Pet odor and cigarette smoke has become the most common problems are stinking up people’s homes, and have also been know to turn away potential buyers. These two scents stick on furniture the most. It is important that after you have begun the process of deodorizing your home, to get into the habit of only smoking outside and constantly cleaning the litter boxes. Taking out the garage immediately is another must!