Depersonalize and Get rid of Clutter

I see them talking about these two topics on the shows about selling your home on HGTV and other channels. These have also been the key elements in articles I have read on home staging, and the first things that many of the home stagers or real estate agents I have talked to about staging a home for sale bring up. In fact the list in the sidebar comes from this reading and these discussions.

Depersonalize: This not only includes photos, trophies and souvenirs, but also the smells of pets, children, and cooked food. For better or worse, the odors of ethnic spices, and certain foods can turn off a buyer. As well, not all buyers are animal and kid loving. In order to appeal to the broadest range of potential buyers, depersonalize the air as well as the visual. 

Get Rid of Clutter: Clutter does not end at what the eye can see. The sense of smell is much more astute, and moreover much more subconscious. A consistent, controlled aromatic environment will not only appeal to the buyer and make them more relaxed, but also prevent an impression of discordance of space. Through controlled fragrance in the home, you can avoid the olfactory clutter of a cookie scented kitchen, transitioning into a moth ball scented closet, and into a lavender scented bathroom smelling of cheap industrial scented plug in air fresheners and sprays.