What to do - house on market - potential buyers say "smells like dog"

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

We are looking for a Florida property & the "smell thing" is really a turn off to me.
If you have carpets get rid of them. Covering any smell with flowers, ocean, berry scents just makes the entire thing worse.

 

[minkydog]

Try burning some incense. Not one of the flowery/cheap ones; one of the nice/expensive ones. I like Japanese Sandalwood. The smoke will permeate the curtains and other fabrics.

Personally, the smell of incense would be a deal-breaker for me. It gives me migraines. I would not be able to stay in the house more than 10 seconds.

When we were house-searching we ran into this more often than you would think: dog smell, cat box, cigarettes, incense, mold(!!), dog barking and growling in the basement. Every one of them gave us a reason to NOT buy that house.

We get acclimated to our own family smell so unless it gets really offensive we just don't recognise it. Your walk-throughs have actually done you a favor that none of your friends would be willing to do--they told you the truth. If you've gotten 8 comments about the dog smell, you've got a problem. You need to forget about cleaning, covering up, and perfuming the environment. Replace the carpet and paint some walls. Put the dog in doggy daycare. You're going to have to pull out all the stops if you want to sell your house. Believe me, you will get the money back at closing.

 

[bumbershoot]

Do you have a friend or family member who will 'tell it like it is' and give you some honest feedback? That would be where I would start. If a friend asked me I'd certainly tell them what I thought to help them out.

Good idea.

As a home buyer using sprays, candles, and plug in air freshers can make a smell worse. For me it is a red flag.

Agreed!

We just passed on a used car that was otherwise pristine, b/c all I had to do was stick my head in the car, and I smelled chemical-flowery dog. Better than our current car, which was smoked in for 2 years before we bought it (I wasn't there when it was bought, never again!), but I don't want to trade one problem for another!

In addition to all the suggestions here about cleaning, have your air ducts cleaned. If there is pet dander in your vents, no matter how much you clean, your air conditioner is going to constantly spread what's in your AC system all over your house.

Another good idea!

Personally, the smell of incense would be a deal-breaker for me. It gives me migraines. I would not be able to stay in the house more than 10 seconds.

Your walk-throughs have actually done you a favor that none of your friends would be willing to do--they told you the truth.

I don't mind incense, but I have some friends who feel the same way. All the coverups aren't good. Things have to be cleaned. Wash the walls and wipe them down with vinegar before priming and painting them, by the way!

And yes, they have done the OP a favor.


best of luck to you OP!

 

[merekc]

Personally, the smell of incense would be a deal-breaker for me. It gives me migraines. I would not be able to stay in the house more than 10 seconds.
QUOTE]

I absolutely agree. Unless they are an incense person, many people don't like the smell. It doesn't give me migraines, but it makes me gag. But I also have a super sniffer.

 

[johnsontrio]

Please know this is coming from a dog lover. Can't imagine ever living in a house without a dog. However, we have had friends with boxers and bulldogs and they both have had exceptionally bad odor problems in their homes, not that they were ever aware of it.

I'm not sure keeping the dog out of the house during the day or during the showings will help. I'm with the group that says you need to eliminate the odor that is lurking in any soft goods, upholstery, curtains, carpeting, window coverings etc.. I would try and arrange for the dog to live elsewhere until you have sold.

The only other odor I have ever encountered that caused this much difficulty in selling a home was curry. Good luck.

 

[tennvalgirl]

My brother and his wife have a pit bull. Their house is carpeted in all but the kitchen and bathrooms. They don't smell dog...I do, the minute I walk in the house. They clean, they use candles and plug-ins, which makes the house smell like a floral dog.

It's in the furniture, drapes, carpet, etc. I don't know that anything but time will get the smell out of your house or my brother's. I think you're just going to have to either take on of the suggestions to rent furniture for staging and give a carpet allowance or hope to find someone that doesn't mind.

"Floral Dog"

I literally lol'd

But when I thought about it, that is EXACTLY what it smells like when you try to cover up dogs, cats, etc. with floral air fresheners.

It's like putting a ring of flowers around your dogs neck, and leaning down to smell of him.

 

[C.Ann]

No suggestions, but just wanted to share my experience with you.. We have always had dogs.. Our last passed away in late spring, 2004.. In Oct. of that same year, we had to leave our home (my late DH was terminally ill) and move in with my daughter and their family - who have a dog..

I have never, ever had a problem with dogs - but suddenly, if the dog got too close to me it would be so bad I would actually feel as though I was going to vomit.. Then I would start coughing like crazy.. The dog was always kept very clean, but suddenly I just became very sensitive and very aware of "dog odor".. I have since moved into a new house with DD and her family and because of the dog, I have to keep my bedroom door closed at all times.. I can't sit in the same room that the dog is in and carry on a conversation without getting very sick to my stomach - and then starting to cough.. DD and her family don't notice the "dog odor" because it has no effect on them..

So - if people are leaving feedback saying they are smelling a dog odor - no matter how well you have cleaned - they are smelling a "dog odor"..

Hopefully some of these suggestions here will help - but even if you remove the dog when the house is being "shown", the fact that he's there when it's "not" being shown will result in the dog odor remaining..

Hope you can find a solution - or a family that has dogs and doesn't notice!!

 

[jlima]

give a carpet allowance

This might be the best solution, if you don't want to re-carpet before you sell. If the problem is the carpet; and there is urine in the carpet padding, the smell may never go away. If you go this route, maybe your agent call contact the people that visited your house, and tell them you're willing to give them the carpet allowance? How quickly do you need to sell?

 

[olena]

Don't forget the duct work, too. Your whole ventilation unit may have it in its system and just blows it right back in.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

Bulldogs often have yeast infections in their facial folds, ears and feet. The smell is kind of sour and 'doggy' and doesn't wash off. Many owners don't seem to notice it or aren't bothered by it too much, but it's a very distinctive, diagnostic odor to me. I can often tell if a dog has a yeast infection before I even see the dog.
My advice is to take your dog to a vet and have them look for a source of the odor.
Good luck selling the house!

 

[DznyLvr2005]

I have a dog. She's clean, but the house has a dog smell. Actually, every person that I know that has a dog, their house smells like dog. It's not a bad smell, just a smell of dogs.
It's wierd because you don't notice it when it's the house you live in, but it's there.
Sorry about the problem selling your house, people should just realize that it won't always smell like a dog!!!

 

[clgwli]

I admit I am very sensitive to dog smells and can tell when any kind of smelly dog lives in the home.

I suggest taking the dog outside, cleaning the house and then letting someone with a good nose who is honest come in the house and tell you if it smells or not after doing that. Unfortunately a lot of dog smell just remains in the furniture and the curtains. Any kinds of soft surface.

Never leave a dog at home during a showing. To me that is just a bad idea. If we saw a dog in a house we were looking at we would leave immediately. One of us absolutely hates and is afraid of dogs so we'd just walk. I'm sorry to say that but it is the truth.

Good luck with the sale though! I do agree that having a carpet allowance would be a good thing.

 

[cbilton]

I absolutely hate the smell of dog, I find it revolting. Unfortunatey, I have a friend who's house smells like that too. Trust me, even if you hide all the photos and toys, and someone is sensitive to that smell - or it's just really noticeable in your place - they'll know.

Could you try doing some baking in the house before your open houses? What about having your ventilation cleaned out? What about one of those air filtration systems?

 

[7beasley]

Hi Guys...You are all the best -- I knew I would get some help on the Dis.

I emailed my realtor about the carpet allowance and she does not want to do that right now - she thinks if we put something in the listing it will decrease the number of showings. I am going to talk to her again about it though or maybe we could put a note in the house with the other paperwork about the floor allowance.

The dog smell is not urine -- he has never had an accident in the house.

The smell is undoubtedly this musty, frito-like smell that bulldogs - at least our bulldog - has. He is also very gassy. On the weekends and at night he is not home for the showings but unfortunately for showings during the week while we are at work - he is in the basement.

We don't have a ventilation system or central air or anything like that.

We are going to do the following:

1. Remove all evidence of the dog (pictures, toys, his bed, water bowl...) Although I recognize that won't help on weekdays when the actual dog is in the basement. But physchologically maybe it will help people see the house before they see the dog.

2. Wash all the walls and the kitchen/bathroom floors

3. We are going to have our couches cleaned

4. We are going to wash our bedroom comforter and take it off the bed - the dog sleeps on the bed - so we aren't going to let him sleep on the bedspread -- we will just put that back on the bed for showings only.

5. We are getting rid of his dog bed and will replace it with a new one -- his current bed stinks.

6. Windows opening to air out the house as much as possible.

7. Continue using the bath and body works plug ins

8. When possible before a showing I'll bake on low some vanilla/cinammon

9. Going to talk to the realtor about the carpet allowance again

10. We are going to wash all the curtains/drapes

11. We are getting rid of all throw pillows and afghans on the couches

12. We are going to ask my DH's cousin who is *very* allergic to dogs who has only been to our house once and is very nasty and critical to come over - tell her the issue and have her go through the house after we do the above things to point out the problems to us or where she smells the dog

I guess for now that is all we can do.

My DH is against ripping up the carpets right now because he is afraid if we spend all that money and do it and still get the comments - then what do we do then.

So for now we are going to try all of the above and go from there.

Any other suggestions/thoughts I would love to hear them!!

Thanks all
Nicole

 

[kacaju]

Hi Guys...You are all the best -- I knew I would get some help on the Dis.

I emailed my realtor about the carpet allowance and she does not want to do that right now - she thinks if we put something in the listing it will decrease the number of showings. I am going to talk to her again about it though or maybe we could put a note in the house with the other paperwork about the floor allowance.

The dog smell is not urine -- he has never had an accident in the house.

The smell is undoubtedly this musty, frito-like smell that bulldogs - at least our bulldog - has. He is also very gassy. On the weekends and at night he is not home for the showings but unfortunately for showings during the week while we are at work - he is in the basement.

We don't have a ventilation system or central air or anything like that.

We are going to do the following:

1. Remove all evidence of the dog (pictures, toys, his bed, water bowl...) Although I recognize that won't help on weekdays when the actual dog is in the basement. But physchologically maybe it will help people see the house before they see the dog.

2. Wash all the walls and the kitchen/bathroom floors

3. We are going to have our couches cleaned

4. We are going to wash our bedroom comforter and take it off the bed - the dog sleeps on the bed - so we aren't going to let him sleep on the bedspread -- we will just put that back on the bed for showings only.

5. We are getting rid of his dog bed and will replace it with a new one -- his current bed stinks.

6. Windows opening to air out the house as much as possible.

7. Continue using the bath and body works plug ins

8. When possible before a showing I'll bake on low some vanilla/cinammon

9. Going to talk to the realtor about the carpet allowance again

10. We are going to wash all the curtains/drapes

11. We are getting rid of all throw pillows and afghans on the couches

12. We are going to ask my DH's cousin who is *very* allergic to dogs who has only been to our house once and is very nasty and critical to come over - tell her the issue and have her go through the house after we do the above things to point out the problems to us or where she smells the dog

I guess for now that is all we can do.

My DH is against ripping up the carpets right now because he is afraid if we spend all that money and do it and still get the comments - then what do we do then.

So for now we are going to try all of the above and go from there.

Any other suggestions/thoughts I would love to hear them!!

Thanks all
Nicole

BATHE THE DOG!! Often, You can bathe him twice a week if needed. Use a very mild shampoo.
With your couches, chairs, do not allow a company to come in and just clean them like you do with carpets, you need to take off the covers (most couch, chair cushion covers you can unzip) and WASH THEM!!
Febreeze the heck out of the coushions while you are washing the covers

 

[Feralpeg]

I had the same problem. Just before a showing, I'd bake a quick batch of cookies to leave on the counter for the folks viewing the house. Not only did the smell of the fresh baked cookies cover the dog smell, but it made the viewers happy.

 

[ZanneMarie]

Hi Guys...You are all the best -- I knew I would get some help on the Dis.


We don't have a ventilation system or central air or anything like that.


Any other suggestions/thoughts I would love to hear them!!

Thanks all
Nicole

It looks like you live in New England...potentially a cold state!...so you probably do have a furnace and the accompanying duct work (unless you have a boiler system) that could be dusty/dirty and that could be cleaned out. Stanley Steamer does this also.

 

[turkeymama]

BATHE THE DOG!! Often, You can bathe him twice a week if needed. Use a very mild shampoo.
With your couches, chairs, do not allow a company to come in and just clean them like you do with carpets, you need to take off the covers (most couch, chair cushion covers you can unzip) and WASH THEM!!
Febreeze the heck out of the coushions while you are washing the covers

I agree with actually washing the covers, but with a word of caution.

A friend of mine took her couch covers off, washed them, then dried them in the dryer on HIGH HEAT! Yep, she couldn't get the covers back on.

 

[jlima]

I emailed my realtor about the carpet allowance and she does not want to do that right now - she thinks if we put something in the listing it will decrease the number of showings. I am going to talk to her again about it though or maybe we could put a note in the house with the other paperwork about the floor allowance.

Does your agent have to put the carpet allowance in the listing . . . you could ask her to mention it to anyone who comments about the dog smell.

I don't think it will decrease the number of showings. There are so many foreclosures on the market that are probably in WAY worse condition than your house, that a buyer might appreciate a seller being proactive. Also, anyone who REALLY wants to buy your house may make an offer contingent upon you offering a carpet allowance. Offering it up front cuts to the chase.

 

[SeaSpray]

I don't know if anyone has posted this yet, but I just saw a commercial for a new product and thought of this thread!

I don't know if you want to bother with re-painting the inside of your home or not, but there's a new paint out made by Dutch Boy contains Arm & Hammer baking soda, and the commercial claims that the paint/baking soda absorbs and neutralizes bad odors, continuously.

I did a quick search on the internet and found this review: http://www.momadvice.com/reviews/index.php/2009/05/01/review-dutch-boy-refresh-paint/

Hope this helps, and I hope your house sells quickly!