Real Estate Blog

What does your house smell like?  Not after you have cleaned all day or baked cookies, but when you walk in the door after being gone for a while, for example when you have been away for a few days on vacation.   I’ll bet you have noticed the smell of other people’s houses when you first enter.  Have you noticed that after a while you don’t really smell their house either?  Sensory adaptation is the fancy term for this phenomenon, and it simply means that the longer you smell a scent the less you respond and just become used to it.  This could be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing if the scent is not all that pleasant.  I think there is a commercial that refers to it as being “nose blind.”

The scent of your home is a collection of all the people, things and furry creatures that reside inside as well as the activities that occur there like cooking, cleaning, laundry, or home improvement projects.  Some scents like fresh baked cookies are pleasant, but some fall into the strong odor category.  Did someone forget to take out the trash after dinner last night?  Are you overdosing your laundry with too many fabric softener scent pellets?  Do you have pets? Old carpeting? A leaky basement?  Does a smoker live here?  I will bet you can form a mental opinion just thinking about each of these smells.

Consider the scent of your home when you are getting ready to list it.  Have someone come visit who doesn’t live with you or visit regularly and give you a scent audit!  You may pass with flying colors or find that you need to do a little work.  Usually, offending odors can be minimized by a good cleaning session, opening some windows, and perhaps upgrading your homes HVAC filters to get some fresh air circulating.  There are also quite a few stand-alone air filtration devices on the market that can help with more heavy-duty odors if you have determined they are not related to any water leaks, mold, or mildew.  Also keep in mind that although a scented candle here and there may be pleasant to you, potential buyers may be allergic to strong perfume scents or find them just as nasally offensive as cigarette smoke.  Aim for a neutral, “clean” smell in your home when it is being shown and if you do use fragrances or air fresheners, consider gentle smells that mimic nature like mild mint, lavender, or other herbal scents.

Just remember that next to curb appeal, the scent of your home catches the attention of buyers as they enter.  Don’t underestimate how much influence the smell of your home can have on that most important first impression!

...."You've Got A  Friend in Real Estate"

Jarod Tanksley 615.403.8265

www.BrentwoodandBeyond.com

Brentview Realty 615.373.2814

Countless people have told me over the past year that they are thinking of moving and are excited by how much they could make if they sold their home now.   A housing market like the current one is great for sellers, after all, selling your home quickly and for top dollar seems like a win to me!  However, before jumping into the market to sell, keep in mind that you will also be a buyer at some point in this transaction and need to have a plan for what comes next. 

Buying a home right now is not impossible, but it is extremely competitive (hint: the main reason why your home would sell so quickly and bring top dollar!) and requires some patience and preparation.  The first thing to consider before starting a home search is how you will pay for a new home.  Do you need to sell your current home in order to finance the new one?  Currently, many sellers are flooded with cash offers or offers with no contingencies and will often decline offers with sales contingencies.  However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a chance if your offer is strong and you can show your home is on the market or better yet, under contract.  If you really want to move, don’t delay!  Start now by putting your home and finances in order.  Work through what type of loan you will need and get pre-approval.  At the same time, prepare your home and get it on the market.  It will be frustrating for you to look at homes for sale and make offers without having the ability to move quickly when negotiating a contract.

Once you have your finances in order and your home listed, you need a plan if or when your home sells before you purchase a new one.  What if you have a closing date on the contract to buy a new property but that closing date doesn’t match your selling contract date?  Often times we can negotiate dates to match, however, with so many out-of-town buyers moving into Tennessee, they often can’t or don’t want to delay closing.  Consider your circumstances regarding moving and temporary housing.  Is the time difference between closings a few days, a few weeks, or months away?  Are you able to handle the time, effort, and expense of moving twice?  One of the easiest solutions could be to negotiate staying in your current home after it closes and paying the new homeowners rent until you close on your new property if they don’t need to move in immediately.  However, if the buyer needs to take possession on closing day, you will need to have another plan and it should be fool-proof as delays in vacating your old property may cause undue tension for everyone involved!  Plan to budget for the cost of a short-term rental as well as storage for your household goods if this occurs. Some homeowners in this situation are able to save some money by arranging to stay with family or friends until they close.  You can also explore the option of extended stay hotels or fully furnished short term rentals which could help eliminate the need to have access to household goods such as sheets, towels, and kitchen items. 

Also remember if there is a gap between the sale of your old home and the purchase of your new home you transition from being a homeowner to a renter and need to check with your insurance company on steps to take to ensure you have adequate coverage for your personal items no matter where they will be stored. 

Many people continue to sell and buy properties in this current market successfully, they just need to be patient, flexible and have contingency plans in place.  If you really want to sell and move, now could be the perfect time to do so as long as you are prepared.  Call me if I can assist with any of the steps in this process!

Always remember....."You've Got A Friend in Real Estate"

Jarod Tanksley 615.403.8265

www.BrentwoodandBeyond.com

Brentview Realty 615.373.2814