Fixing to Sell: 6 House Smells That Could Signal Bigger Problems

If you’re planning to sell your New Orleans home, it’s important to present it in ways that attract potential buyers and help you get the best possible price. Although people may overlook how the residence smells or mask them by lighting candles, some odors are potentially dangerous. You should deal with those before proceeding with the sale. Fortunately, many are easy to tackle, especially with professional help.   1. Deceased Critter Smell When you smell a rancid odor that becomes more intense over time, the source may be an animal that became trapped behind the walls or in a tight space and died. Although this odor does not present an immediate danger, it could pose a health hazard due to leftover urine and droppings. Additionally, this issue may be a sign of a larger pest infestation. Typical Locations Behind walls In small spaces  Lesser-used areas  Immediate Actions Contact a pest control expert  Survey the home for other animal signs Preventive Measures Keep garbage cans closed Bring pet food bowls in at night Seal potential entry points 2. Sulphuric Smells If you smell something akin to rotten eggs in your home, it could indicate a natural gas leak. Although some fuel has no smell, an additive may change things and this signals an urgent problem. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers took nearly 600 natural gas samples to investigate the potency of the rotten egg smell.  Interestingly, the variations were significant, with some areas having five times more noticeable odors than others. Even so, the team concluded that the rotten egg smell is usually strong enough to alert occupants to problems with gas systems.  Typical Locations Near your stove or heating system  Around gas lines Immediate Actions Turn off all gas appliances Do not smoke or light flames Do not touch electrical switches Ventilate the home Contact your gas company Preventive Measures Keep your heating system professionally maintained Listen to expert advice about replacing old gas appliances 3. Musty Odors Musty smells in a home you plan to sell could be caused by mold. Mold spores are naturally present in the air and dust but only grow in moist areas. Unaddressed mold in your home releases microbial volatile organic compounds that cause a musty odor.  Confirming this smell’s source is crucial because it could be a sign of a bigger moisture-related issue, such as a leak. A musty smell is not an emergency, but you should do your best to detect the source quickly to determine its severity. Extensive water damage or mold growth can be dangerous and impact the integrity of your roof, siding and envelope structure of your home.  A dehumidifier may help during the onset of musty smells. A dehumidifier dries out the air in the room the smell is coming from, discouraging mold and bacteria growth and removing any unwanted moisture. Getting a roof inspection is also another way to safeguard your home. Typical Locations Bathrooms Kitchens Poorly ventilated areas Immediate Actions Look for signs of water damage  Apply topical mold removers Contact professionals to remove extensive mold Preventive Measures Monitor humidity levels in your home  Use dehumidifiers when appropriate Turn on exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms Repair pipe and faucet leaks promptly Get a roof and siding inspection twice a year 4. Sewage Smells Sewage smells are immediately recognizable and invariably unpleasant. Fortunately, there is an easy fix to try if one of the home’s drains is the odor’s source. Pour a half-gallon of water down it to see if that tackles the smell. If it does, the issue was likely a dry P-trap or floor drain. When those work correctly, they create a moisture barrier to prevent sewer gases from coming up through the drain. However, you may smell them once it dries out, which happens due to disuse.  Sewage smells may also be a sign that other plumbing issues are present, and it’s always best to have a professional take a look to prevent minor issues from becoming major problems. Typical Locations Bathrooms Drains Damaged plumbing connections Immediate Actions Pour water into P-traps Clean and deodorize drains Ventilate the home Contact a plumber Preventive Measures Keep drains moist Clean drains regularly Maintain plumbing systems   5. Fishy Smells Feeling perplexed by a fishy odor that appears even though you have not cooked or eaten fish? Electrical damage could cause it, leading to fires if not addressed. Some professionals also warn that lightning strikes can cause hidden damage that may trigger this smell. Unplugging electrical appliances to prevent lightning from harming them is always a good idea.    However, problems can still occur with the infrastructure you cannot see. For example, you may notice that the smell disappears when you stop using a particular appliance. However, if that does not happen, concealed wiring could be the culprit.  Typical Locations Near plugs or lights  Behind electrical appliances Immediate Actions Turn off the power at the circuit breaker  Investigate all recently used appliances  Contact an electrician for further assistance Preventive Measures Consider having a lightning-protection system installed Buy whole-home or point-of-use surge protectors 6. Smoke or Burned Plastic Odor Although they might temporarily make your kitchen smoky, kitchen smells can sometimes be pleasant and make you hungry. However, they also pollute outdoor air. A 2024 investigation of external pollution linked cooking activities to 21% of the mass of human-linked volatile organic compounds on average. They also fluctuated from 10% to 30% depending on the time of day.  What if you smell smoke but have not been cooking and you have checked for potential fires?  It could be from a hidden electrical fire. More specifically, the smoky smell can be caused by burning plastic on the connectors and insulated wires of your electrical system.  Once you begin to smell unusual smoke or a burning plastic odor, it may mean an electrical problem has worsened — such as one that started with a fishy smell but people did not act at the time. You may also notice certain outlets become blackened or have smoke coming out of them. All these signs indicate urgent problems for professionals to investigate.  Typical Locations Behind walls Near lights At outlets Immediate Actions Stop using the affected outlets or appliances  Contact an electrician for emergency inspections Preventive Measures Never overload outlets  Unplug appliances after use Retire old appliances when appropriate Get an electrician to do routine checks  Stop the Smell Before Trying to Sell You may have improved the landscaping, given your walls fresh coats of paint and hired professional cleaners before putting your home on the market. Those are all good things to do, but you should also investigate and address any unusual smells, including some of the most common odors mentioned above.  Those are the responsible actions to take because they will keep future occupants safe and prevent potential damage that could reduce your sale price if buyers become aware of the problems during prepurchase inspections. Plus, many are quick fixes once professionals get involved.

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Are You Prepared to Buy a Home? Find Out Here [Checklist]

Are You Prepared to Buy a Home? Find Out Here [Checklist] Down in New Orleans, culture is everything. You can hear it in the jazz bands, smell it in the food and see it in the architecture. If you dream of owning one of those fabulous NOLA homes, you may feel like jumping the gun whenever a listing pops up. Are you prepared, though? Use this checklist to gauge if you’re ready to buy a house in the Big Easy. 1. Do You Have Income? Naturally, the first step is to ensure you have a consistent means of paying the mortgage. Even if you have a little saved up, life can get in the way, and handling monthly payments on top of medical bills or repair expenses may dry up the well fast. Whether you’re a hands-off entrepreneur or an hourly employee, a steady paycheck is a major boon. In addition to income, it’s crucial to have emergency funds. You should have at least three months of expenses saved or as much as six months. In 2023, the hidden costs of homeownership added up to over $13,000 — a hard pill to swallow after buying a home. Saving up ahead of time provides a cushion to fall back on and reduces your potential regret of moving too fast. 2. Do You Have Debt? A better question is, “Do you have manageable debt?” It’s still possible to buy a home when you have debt, but it’s an expense you must account for as much as other bills. One way to gauge if you have an appropriate amount of debt is with the debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Start by adding up your monthly payments, including what your mortgage would be. Then, divide that number by how much you make in a month before taxes and other obligations. Lenders like to see a DTI ratio of 36%-43%, and they prefer that less than 28% of that goes toward your new space. 3. Do You Know What You Can Afford? Now that you’ve taken inventory of your financial situation, you need to identify a house you can afford. Here are the factors you should consider when calculating how big a home you can buy: The property’s price The down payment The interest rate Your loan term Your annual gross income and monthly expenses State taxes Additional fees, such as homeowners’ association or condo fees You could do all the calculations yourself, but luckily, there are a host of free home affordability calculators on the internet. To give yourself a starting place, consider 28% of your total monthly earnings to gauge the mortgage you can afford. 4. Will You Live There for a While? Buying a home in New Orleans makes little sense if you only stay there for a year. One of the best clues of your preparedness to buy a house is if you’re ready to put down roots. Is where you’re staying where you can see yourself in five or 10 years? Only 10% of homes owned for under a year have worthwhile equity. Your equity increases as you stay in a house, pay off your debt and make improvements. It starts to be worth more while how much you owe decreases, so you can earn a decent bit of change when you are finally ready to sell. 5. Do You Know Which Professionals to Work With? Working with professionals who can guide you through the process is the key to buying a house the easiest way possible. You can go into the process independently, but there will likely be mountains of paperwork or questionable electrical work you may miss. Before buying, you need a real estate agent, a home inspector and an appraiser. The agent will help you negotiate and understand the market you’re trying to buy in. Meanwhile, an inspector will ensure there’s nothing wrong with the property or point out potential issues that could lower the price. The appraiser can do the same, ensuring you’re not paying back a bigger loan than necessary. 6. Are You in the Right Headspace? Buying a house can be stressful. Nearly one-quarter of homebuyers said therapy sessions were necessary to make it through the process, and 77% of those with partners said they bickered during it. You should be ready to buy and using professionals along the way will help make the process smoother, manageable and about as stress-free as it can be. Still, being ready to look is a requirement. Many factors add up to a better homebuying mindset. Do you know your must-haves, wants and compromises? Do you really like the place you’re living in? Do you have resources and support when things feel too challenging? A self-check-in on whether you can handle the stress right now helps greatly in the months ahead. Get Ready for Homeownership With Your Preparedness Checklist New Orleans may be known as The Big Easy, but buying a home here shouldn’t be taken lightly! The process requires preparation, including your finances and mental health. Get ready to start browsing the many gorgeous NOLA listings after ticking off each box on this handy checklist.

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Don’t Do These 7 Things to Your NOLA Home (According to Experts)

Is there anything more exciting than moving into a new house? Of course, you'll want to put personal touches on your dwelling as soon as you settle in. Homeownership in New Orleans presents a few challenges, though. From working through unruly weather to navigating renovations on a historic structure, making upgrades requires much consideration. Fortunately, it's nothing research, careful planning and expert advice can't help you with. Whether you're a long-time resident or new to town, here are seven things you should avoid when updating a New Orleans home. 1. Ignoring Historic Preservation Rules New Orleans boasts 26 historic districts, covering 40% of the city. It also has 111 historic properties, which give it its beloved and most recognized charm. Ultimately, this may not be the right place for you if you're after ultra-modern decor. Homeowners should avoid significant contemporary renovations, which may clash with the home or neighborhood's historic architecture. Instead, they should look for ways to complement the city's heritage in their upgrades. For example, leave the intricate crown moldings and ironwork. Also, consider seamlessly meshing old and new materials so they don't look out of place. Just be sure to check with the city's Division of Historic Preservation to ensure your renovations align with its standards. 2. Painting Brick Without Proper Preparation Giving a brick home a fresh coat of paint can hide many imperfections and help it stand out on the block. However, brick's porousness and NOLA's humid climate could spell disaster if you don't prepare it properly. Moisture could cause the paint to bubble, crack and eventually peel. If the brick is dirty or unsealed, you may also have difficulty applying the paint evenly. Although it's an extra step, preparing the brick ensures a long-lasting finish you only have to worry about doing once.   3. Neglecting Wrought Iron Many NOLA homes — especially historic ones — have wrought iron features you'll want to highlight. However, when left unmaintained in the heat, humidity and precipitation, these elements can rust and become a safety hazard. You don't want to scrape yourself on corroded surfaces. It's essential to clean the wrought iron regularly with a soft brush and dry it thoroughly with a towel. Low-grit sandpaper can help address rusty spots on fences, balconies and even door hinges. If a corroded hinge pin has caused an old door to become stuck, a 15-minute application of penetrating oil can disintegrate the decay. Occasionally, apply a lubricant to prevent future rusting or a rust-resistant coating to protect outdoor ironworks. 4. Improperly Ventilating the Home The temperature is rising in New Orleans. By mid-June 2024, the city had surpassed record-high temperatures four times, with one day even reaching 97˚ Fahrenheit. This is in addition to seven heat-related deaths from April to June in 2024. You may need to invest in adequate ventilation if you've moved into an old NOLA house. Otherwise, you could experience HVAC problems and mold and mildew growth, posing significant respiratory health problems for household members. 5. Cutting Down Trees Without Permission New Orleans has strict ordinances regarding tree-cutting on private property. For instance, live oaks are a protected species throughout the city. Unless it's within 15 feet of a home, residents of Jefferson Parish cannot remove mature trees, including magnolias and sycamores. If you do remove trees from your property without a permit, you could face hefty fines and need to replant one of the same size in your yard. These rules are in place to preserve and rebuild NOLA's tree canopy.   6. Forgetting Hurricane Shutters It's hard to imagine a city as beautiful as New Orleans in the line of hurricanes. Sadly, major weather events have intensified in recent years in the Gulf Coast. Installing hurricane shutters can protect your windows and belongings from damaging wind and downpours during the rainy season. On average, homeowners spend $3,675 on shutters, but the cost might range from $1,505 to $5,893. Ultimately, it depends on how many windows you have, the type you purchase — accordion, Bahama, colonial or motorized, among others — and labor fees. 7. Landscaping Close to the House Homeowners should exercise caution when sprucing up their property's landscaping. Adding trees and shrubbery too close to the house's foundation could cause moisture buildup and structural damage. The excess dampness can attract pests and termites, which happily feed on rotting wood. It might also pose a fire hazard — drought or a lightning strike could ignite the plants, causing a severe house fire. Select plants carefully and avoid overdoing the garden beds with greenery. You might choose to hardscape some of the yard or include native plants already adapted to the climate. Make Wise Upgrades to Your NOLA Home Living in New Orleans is many people's dream, and you'll enjoy everything the city offers. While upgrading a house requires a different approach than residing elsewhere, the result is a safe, sturdy and comfortable home you'll love for years. *Written by Rose Morrison of renovated.com

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