When I walk into a home, I don’t want to smell anything except baked cookies.  A plate of them on the table with a nice note, "Welcome home! Help yourself!" is always nice.  But many times, we walk in to smell stale (or fresh) cigarette smoke, kitty litter (used), wet dogs, unidentifiable cooking odors, or just that old, empty house moldy or something smell.

Ohio agent Laurie Scalf offers ideas on getting the smells out of your home, including:

Empty trash cans, recycling bins and ash trays.

I think it’s not uncommon for people to forget about their trash cans.  I once approached a house with trepidation when I could smell the garbage before I even entered! It was just as vile inside as outside. The sellers should have listened to the advice of Frugal for Life who offers suggestions on removing odors using natural materials.  Or just cleaning up the dog poop off the carpet could help, too. All of it.

Silicon Valley Real Estate blogger also lists smells that will kill the deal.  Pets. Smoke. Are we seeing a theme?