Buyers decide how they feel about a house in the first few seconds. If the first thing they notice is pets, smoke, or a musty smell, they start wondering what else is wrong, and that can mean lower offers or a listing that sits. The good news: most odors can be fixed before you list.
The Odors That Hurt Sales Most
- Pet odors: urine in carpet and padding, and dog smell in fabrics. See how to get rid of pet odor.
- Cigarette smoke: residue on walls, ceilings and in the AC. See how to get rid of cigarette smoke smell.
- Musty smells: buyers often read these as “water damage” or “mold.”
- Heavy cooking odors: grease and spices that settle into cabinets and fabrics.
A Simple Pre-Listing Plan
- Get a fresh nose. You stop noticing your own home’s smell. Ask your realtor or a friend for an honest opinion.
- Find and fix sources. Leaks, wet carpet, pet accidents, or an AC drain problem have to be handled first.
- Deep clean. Walls, cabinets, carpets, curtains, and inside closets.
- Change the AC filter and keep the AC running so the house stays dry.
- Treat lingering odor before photos and showings. Skip heavy air fresheners. Buyers often assume you’re covering something up.
If the Smell Is Musty, Check for Moisture First
A musty smell can point to hidden water damage or mold, and a buyer’s inspector may find it. It’s better to know before you list. A mold inspection with moisture meters and an infrared (thermal) camera can find hidden moisture, and licensed mold remediation takes care of any problem. Talk to your realtor about what you may need to disclose.
A Whole-Home Odor Treatment Before Showings
Once sources are handled and the home is clean, our whole-home odor removal treatment treats the air throughout the entire home, including one AC system, to remove the odors that cleaning leaves behind. You’ll need to be out for about 8 hours, so it’s easy to schedule before your listing photos or first open house. Realtors: it’s a simple add-on to recommend to sellers with pet or smoke homes.
Whole-Home Odor Removal in South Florida: $997
Our Whole-Home Odor Removal Treatment is $997 and includes one AC system ($550 for each additional AC unit). You can buy and schedule it online, or call 877-224-2532. We answer 24/7, and hablamos español.
About the author: James Rice-Peña is the owner of FL Cleanup and a Florida-licensed Mold Assessor (MRSA4035) and Mold Remediator (MRSR4158). He has worked in property restoration in South Florida since 2012, and FL Cleanup has earned 200+ five-star Google reviews.
