Smoking may put off potential buyers

Friday, 8 July 2005 12:00 AM

Smoking, it seems, does not only harm your health but may deter people from buying your home, according to new research.

Household smells can be crucial to convincing prospective buyers to purchase a property, says the survey for Cif Oxy Gel Herbal Energy.

Certain smells can attract buyers, while others can deter them completely.

Smoking is the biggest turn off according to 55 per cent of the people questioned for the research.

And there is bad news for pet owners too, with pet smells topping the list of turn-offs among the 25-34 age group.

Bad odours lead house buyers to conclude that vendors "don't take pride in their home" according to more than a quarter of buyers.

Good smells, on the other hand, can assist vendors in selling their home, with smells projecting a feeling of relaxation found to be the most appealing.

Kirsten Riley from leading property company We're Moving said: "People don't realise how important the right household smell can be for a potential buyer. Buyers make assumptions about vendors, and this can have a knock-on effect when they consider the property."

More than half of respondents (52 per cent) felt that aromatherapy smells were the most relaxing, followed by home cooking smells - favoured by just less than a third (32 per cent).

However, people who use air fresheners to make their house smell better are failing to achieve the desired affect, with only 16 per cent of buyers finding them appealing.

Ms Riley added: "To avoid upsetting buyers, we recommend that clients fragrance their home to make it more appealing. Certain fragrances win every time such as the cliched coffee, fresh bread, and relaxing, calming aromatherapy-style smells."

Tags:
• uk property news