To sell your house, a few of the basics include tackling any repairs, adding a new coat of paint and doing a deep clean – but what if looks aren’t everything?
Once you’ve made the decision to sell your house, the next step involves working through quite an extensive checklist. Although the current weather might not be ideal for getting your hands dirty, taking the time to get your property looking its best is a must if you want a quick house sale, and for the best possible price.
Aside from finding a decent real estate agent, cleaning your gutters and getting your garden in tip top shape, the power of aromatherapy is a growing trend in real estate circles that is rumoured to boost sale prices – but does it actually work?
Five Scents That Could Help Sell Your House
Whether we like it or not, real estate psychology is a deeper level of what drives us towards making decisions surrounding property purchases. Although it can vary from person to person, the forces at play influence our choices when it comes to what is arguably the biggest purchase of our lives, such as emotions, logic, imagination and even our noses.
Particularly relevant for owner occupiers, people tend to buy property from the heart, and the figures are there to prove it. So much so, that a study conducted by the Commonwealth Bank found that 44% of Australian buyers paid more for a property for the sole reason that they “really liked it”. Quite simply, people really do fall in love with properties, and how they look, feel and yes – smell.
In fact, Eric Spangenberg, the Dean of the College of Business at Washington State University, is an expert in the realm of smells that sell, and his findings on the subject have shed new light on long-believed assumptions about scents and sales.
Spangenberg’s studies have shown that buyers tend to prefer smells that are not too complex. Many prospective buyers may regard discernable, complex odours as a cover-up, potentially hiding a smell that will only appear after they’ve acquired the property. From his research, the following scents are considered to be the best picks for sellers looking to capitalise on the power of scents.
Citrus – Lemon, orange and other citrus are fragrant and long lasting, and our brains tend to associate them with both cleanliness and relaxation – making them ideal for simple scents that could potentially help you sell your house.
Vanilla – As one of the world’s favourite scents, the strong yet simple aroma of vanilla is known to have a direct impact on the nerves that induce calm and relieve stress, particularly when used as part of an aromatherapy treatment.
Pine – Thanks to a medley of naturally sourced chemicals, the smell of pine – and in turn, pine trees – has long been associated with spending time in nature and the great outdoors. While these smells are refreshing, they also have several health benefits associated with them.
Cinnamon – Turns out, the warm scent of cinnamon does more than just spice up an apple pie. In fact, studies have shown that people who smelled cinnamon had improved cognitive functioning in areas linked to attention span, working memory, and visual-motor response.
Green Herbs – Letting fresh rosemary, thyme and basil boil in a pot in the kitchen before potential buyers arrive enhances the appeal of this key area. Buyers need to envision themselves in the space, and the fresh and uplifting vibes of green herbs can do that and more.
Should you be looking to sell your home or purchase a new one, enlisting the services of a free property advisor like ESPA can often be a game changer. As an example, your advisor would likely research the property, local agents, check the zoning, evaluate market conditions, and communicate clearly with you regarding all of your options – but where do you find one?
Take The Stress Out Of Selling Property
As a completely free service, Emergency Services Property Advisors provide property advisor services to Police, Fire, Ambulance and S.E.S personnel and their families right across Victoria.
Luke and the team at ESPA are passionate about providing support to some of Australia’s most valued public servants. Along with key industry insights, ESPA also works with a broad range of service providers linked to the real estate industry such as conveyancers, trades, legal practitioners and mortgage brokers.
If you are an emergency services worker looking to potentially buy or sell property in the future, please get in touch with Emergency Services Property Advisors today to discuss how we can turn your real estate dreams into reality, or call Luke directly on 0414 757 705.