The Sense of Scent

We’ve all heard the advice when it comes to selling your home: declutter, decorate, dress it up. But there’s one sense people often forget about, and it might just be the one that has the biggest subconscious sway over your buyers. Smell. Or to put it slightly more elegantly, aroma.

Shops have been at it for years. Supermarkets have long been accused of wafting the scent of freshly baked bread at the entrance, not because they think you’ve come in for a baguette, but because the smell makes you hungrier, looser with your wallet, and far more likely to leave with six things you didn’t plan on buying.

And then there’s the age-old property trick: a pot of coffee brewing or bread baking in the oven. We’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth reiterating because the principle is the same. Buyers don’t just walk into your home; they experience it. It's the property equivalent of eating with your eyes. And let's face it, if what they’re experiencing is last night’s curry, damp laundry, or the lingering bin bag you meant to put out, it’s not exactly “buy me” territory. 

Imagine it: the front door opens and instead of “welcome home”, the greeting is “we had a fish pie last week and it still hasn’t quite left us”. Buyers might politely smile, but in their heads, they’re already halfway down the street. We have all eaten egg sandwiches at the office. It's not something most of us do twice.

Scents that sell
The good news is it’s an easy fix. A quick blast of fresh air, the bins emptied, floors mopped, and maybe a quick spritz of something light and clean (please, not “Summer Tropical Explosion or Pumpkin Spiced Punch Up”). Fresh flowers can do the trick too, and unlike air freshener, they don’t give away that you’ve tried to cover something up.

Plug-in diffusers in the hallway can work wonders, just remember to switch them on before you leave for the day. Nothing too overpowering; we’re aiming for subtle, not suffocating. Think “Spa” rather than “Poundshop Yankee Candles”.

You’re not selling it to yourself
This is the golden rule of preparing any property: you are not the customer. You’re appealing to the masses, or at least the segment that your property type appeals to. What smells normal or homely to you might not to someone else. (Yes, we’re looking at you, dog owners). The aim isn’t to trick buyers with sickly scents - we dont want viewers who skipped lunch to be gnawing at your countertops. it’s to make the space feel fresh, cared-for, and somewhere they could happily call home. 

So, consider the sense of scent as part of your preparation. A little attention here can spark the same reaction as Spiderman’s tingling senses, only instead of warning them of danger, it reassures them they’re in the right place. If you’d like more guidance on preparing your home to sell (scent and otherwise), get in touch. We’ve got the experience, the tips, and the noses to help your property put its best foot and best scent, forward.