Passing the Sniff Test in Selling the Home

Daily Real Estate News June 27, 2007

In addition to depersonalizing and decluttering, experts say home sellers need to be concerned about odors.

Sales associates polled informally by REALTOR® Magazine Online a few years ago said the lingering presence of pets, tobacco, mildew, and decay in the air are major deal-breakers.

Given that not everyone smells the same odors and that people can become accustomed to a particular smell over time, it is important for property sellers to have their sales associates or another objective party inform them about unpleasant scents in their homes.

According to Joan Cromwell, a Chevy Chase, Md.-based Long & Foster practitioner, if buyers "can't imagine clearing the smell, they can't imagine occupying that space."

In particular, the smell of cat urine is especially difficult to remove. Chris Coffin of the Alexandria, Va.-based branch of the cleaning company ServiceMaster estimates that spot-cleaning carpets and replacing the carpet pad would cost home buyers upwards of $400; removing and replacing saturated floors would cost much more.

Coffin says that it often takes three cleanings to remove nicotine odors from walls, and some cases involve the replacement of insulation.

Experts urge home buyers to be wary of air fresheners, candles, and other scents when touring homes, as they could be used to conceal offensive odors. A better solution for sellers, they say, is to clean drapes, sheets, and pet bedding as well as to air out the house.

Source: Washington Post, Dina ElBoghdady (06/23/07)

When Contingencies Halt Negotiations

I found this article particularly appropriate this morning as I was catching up on my real estate news. While it's an article written out of Florida, it still reflects what's going on in our market here in Wisconsin as well.

Daily Real Estate News June 26, 2007

With the amount of time that homes are sitting on the market climbing, more practitioners are facing real estate deals that are contingent on the buyer selling a current residence. But before accepting a contract contingency, Apple Valley, Minn.-based REALTOR® Steve Fiorella urges sellers to determine whether the buyer "is marketing their home aggressively and pricing it accurately."

Buyers might want to indicate their commitment to the purchase by reducing the price of their existing home to ensure a speedier sale, Fiorella says.

However, real estate practitioner Faith McGown says buyers would be in a better position if they sell their current residence prior to making an offer. McGown suggests that those who need a contingency might want to make a full-price offer to compensate for having a contingency. Fiorella recommends they offer more earnest money — some of it nonrefundable.

Source: Lakeland Ledger (Fla.), Aimee Blanchette (06/23/07)

7 Ways to Get Rid of Pet Odors

When a house you’re trying to sell smells like a pet, there are some tactics that can improve the odor situation. Don Aslett, owner of Varsity Contractors, one of the country's largest cleaning companies, offers up these tips for identifying the source of the smell and then eliminating it:

• Use a fluorescent black light (pet-supply stores sell them), to expose odor-producing spots on the carpet, couch, floorboards and even on drapes.
• Remove all solids and blot up as much liquid as possible with a clean towel. Apply an appropriate odor neutralizer or cleaner according to directions.
• Never use ammonia, which takes on the smell of what it's supposed to be cleaning, can trigger more accidents.
• Choose the best product to remove the problem. On water-safe surfaces, try Simple Solution stain and odor remover. The problem area must be thoroughly soaked and left to dry.
• Bramton's Oxy Solution Pet Stain and Odor Destroyer can remove odors and stains from surfaces that won’t withstand soaking, but test first in an out-of-the way place.
• The most effective and safest disinfectant for use around pets is Chlorhexidine, which is sold under such names as Nolvasan, Chlorasan and Chlorhex by veterinarians and medical-supply outlets. Use these for problems that demand deep cleaning.
• When all else fails, temporarily neutralize odors using a product such as Fresh Wave.

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sarah Casey Newman (03/10/2007)