Real estate agents do their best to make a home as enticing as possible when showing it, especially during an open house. A pleasant-smelling home is more likely to sell, and the same holds true when attempting to land a new tenant for a rental.
Just think about it—the odor of stale cigarettes or cat litter is likely to have a negative impact on a potential renter's decision. They may not even want to see your other available rentals if your place smells bad. Getting rid of that odor is the first step toward making the place smell nice. The rest is easy. Here are five ways to make your rental smell inviting during a showing.
1. Do basic rental deodorization
Whether the vacant unit has a specific odor issue or just smells a bit stale, a few simple steps make the place smell a whole lot better.
- Open the windows in every room and turn on ceiling fans. A box fan or window fan placed in a window, positioned to pull air out, helps remove unpleasant odors. If another window is available on the opposite side of the room or the rental, place a box fan in it, positioned to draw fresh air in.
- Refresh carpets by sprinkling baking soda on them. Vacuum the powder up after 30 minutes or so. The baking soda helps absorb odors trapped within carpet fibers.
- Wipe down hard, non-porous surfaces such as countertops, shower stalls, and appliances. Use equal parts water and white vinegar. The vinegar helps remove sticky residue, all sorts of buildup and, of course, odors. Note: do not use vinegar on natural stone such as marble or granite, as it could cause damage.
2. Get rid of tobacco odors
Cigarette and cigar odors are among the most difficult to remove, as the chemicals in the smoke cling to hard surfaces and become trapped within porous materials such as curtains and rugs. The more the place reeks, the more surfaces you'll have to clean to remove the odor.
- Wipe down every non-porous surface with a water/vinegar solution, including windows, blinds, ceiling fan blades, and even linoleum floors. (For wood or bamboo flooring, use a non-wax floor cleaner designed for the material.)
- Air out drapes, rugs, and any upholstered items outside to help remove odor.
- Use a baking soda treatment on carpets.
- Spritz drapes, rugs, and upholstered items lightly with the 50/50 vinegar/water solution, testing an inconspicuous corner first. Note: If a carpet still smells of cigarettes after the baking-soda refresher treatment, spritz its fibers lightly with the vinegar solution. Use just enough to make the surface damp so the liquid doesn't soak through to the carpet pad or floor beneath.
If the place still smells bad, or if the previous tenants smoked heavily in the unit, do the following:
- Spray the ceiling with one part white vinegar, two parts water.
- If the ceiling is smooth, follow up with a damp sponge containing the same vinegar solution.
- Wear eye protection to avoid getting vinegar in your eyes.
- Wipe down all the walls with the vinegar solution as well, after testing an inconspicuous area first.
- If the walls still smell of smoke a few days after cleaning, paint over them with a stain- and odor-blocking primer, followed by a washable latex paint.
Remember that, as a landlord, it is your right to include a "no-smoking" clause in your lease to protect your rental. When you create your lease with Apartments.com, you can create a customized lease agreement that suits your property and your standards, including no-smoking policies.
3. Cancel pet odors
The most difficult pet odors in an empty rental unit are trapped along floor level, within floor coverings or the subfloor.
- Air the place out, wash hard floors, and vacuum carpets with the baking soda treatment.
- At this point, it's easier to spot problem areas on a carpet or floor. If certain areas of a carpet still smell or appear stained, pour enough white vinegar on the spot to soak the carpet fibers but not the flooring beneath the carpet pad.
- Sprinkle baking soda over the vinegar, which creates a fizzing reaction. (Grade-school science project, anyone?) Allow the mixture to sit for at least a day, then vacuum it. This should get rid of most carpet-laden odors and stains.
- For extreme situations, such as a unit that contained several cats, use an enzymatic cleaner that targets pet stains. These usually require soaking the spot with the cleaner, allowing the cleaner to dry in place. The enzymes break down uric acid and other substances trapped in the fibers. Follow the directions on the bottle, as formulations and specifics vary from one brand to the next.
- If the problem soaked all the way through carpet or flooring to the subfloor level, you may need to cut out and replace that area. In these cases, the subfloor probably looks black or dark and will smell during warm weather.
4. Add pleasing aromas
Once you've removed any existing odors from the air and the place smells as good as possible on its own, it's time to add enticing natural scents.
- Slice lemons or oranges and put some of the slices in a saucepan of water. Simmer the liquid on low.
- A saucer containing a lemon half, cut-side up, can also be tucked inconspicuously into a bathroom or closet for a fresh scent. Smelling citrus fragrances helps reduce stress and boost happiness and mental clarity.
- Around the winter holidays, feel free to swap the citrus out for cinnamon sticks and cloves, which also smell wonderful. Fresh plants such as rosemary or sprigs of pine also emit a pleasing fragrance. Stick with the same, or at least similar, fragrances throughout the rental to avoid overwhelming potential renters with conflicting fragrances. Also keep in mind that a little goes a long way, much like cologne and perfume.
Bottom line
A clean rental that also smells clean is more likely to entice potential renters. The time spent refreshing the place is well worth it, potentially reducing the number of times you'll show the place before renting it out.
