Let’s face it – few things are less appetizing than a house that smells stale or worse. People associate both good and bad things with particular scents, so their initial reaction to the scent of your home is likely to leave a lasting impression – good or bad. To complicate matters, most people don’t even realize if they have an odor problem, because they have grown accustomed to the individual scent of their home. The first step in correcting this issue is a reality check. If you have animals, smoke in the house, or regularly cook pungent foods (think cabbage or fish) it’s possible you may have a less than pleasant scent to your home.

If you’re not sure, you should ask an honest friend or relative what they smell when they enter your home. Some odors are nearly impossible to get rid of quickly, including a home that is regularly smoked in. If this is the case for you, not only do you need to stop smoking in your home, but you likely need to paint all the walls and clean all carpet, furniture and draperies. Then, try to air out your home on pleasant and sunny days, opening as many windows as possible. Animal odors can also be difficult to remedy, so bring in a professional cleaning service before you begin to show your home, making sure your pets are clean and not having any accidents.

Refrain from cooking pungent foods prior to showings and make sure you empty the trash (and scrub the trash can). If possible, bake something that smells delicious, such as an apple pie or cookies prior to a showing. Light some candles, but be careful to not light too many, as this may overpower your perspective powers or cause them to wonder what scents you’re attempting to hide. Essential oil diffusers are wonderful for instilling fresh, subtle scents into your home. It’s best to stick to commonly-liked scents such as peppermint, oil of orange, or lavender during a home showing.

Musky scents should be avoided because they are unpleasant to some people. Make sure the bathroom has been freshly scrubbed and smells mildly of cleanser. It never hurts to run a load of laundry with a fresh-smelling fabric softener as well. While you can’t please everyone, you can greatly increase the chances that your home will be well-received by making sure it smells nice. This will leave a lasting impression on your future home buyers and may increase the probability of a successful showing.

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