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Smell plays a much bigger role in our perception of things than we realize. It's the sense most closely linked to memory, so it can actually cause an emotional response in people. It also influences the part of the brain that affects our mood, so a "bad" smell can trigger a visceral response in how we feel. What does this mean for you when selling your home? You don't want it to smell bad to people. That's all. Of course, smell is largely individual. My wife loves the smell of tea rose; I think it smells like stinkbugs. On the other hand, who doesn't love the smell of baking cookies, which is why your realtor may put a batch in your oven if you have an open house. General Tips to Keep Your Home S(m)elling-Fresh Weather permitting, open windows around your house from time to time to air the place out. With the windows open, run your HVAC on fan mode for extra ventilation. Replace your HVAC filters, if it's time. Beware of scented room sprays ...

A cracked window pane. A doorbell hanging by a wire. A hole in the living room wall from that time you practiced your golf swing inside. All of our homes have them--those annoying little broken things. We patch them up roughly, thinking "I'll fix that next week." But of course we don't. And in no time at all, we become totally blind to them . It takes your ever-observant mother commenting on your oven handle for you to remember that it wasn't always duct taped in place. Everyone's got their favorite fix-it juice (e.g., WD-40, Superglue, wood putty, etc.). What's your go-to? Repairs can be costly, especially if you're not particularly handy. (Of course. That's part of the reason people hold off doing them.) But especially for sellers, it's important to consider the cost of not doing them . That doorknob that came out in your potential buyer's hand? It could cost you an offer. And even the things a buyer can't see could both c...