Any homeowner who has put their property on the market knows that there are certain do's and don'ts when staging a property to potential buyers. One of the biggest is smells - stake, cigarette smoke and pet odours are never a draw card for a property.

However, there are certain smells that might well attract that elusive buyer. According to a recent poll conducted by PropertyGenie, 28% of people surveyed believe that the smell of freshly brewed coffee would help lure them into buying a home. 

If a pot of coffee is not your thing there are plenty of other smells that buyers say entice them. 22% of those polled said the scent of fresh flowers would attract them when viewing a home, followed closely by vanilla (20%), freshly baked bread (19%) and cookies (11%).

Overpowering doggy smells are the biggest turn off for prospective buyers viewing a home according to an online poll by propertygenie.co.za, South Africa's largest property listings website that showcases over 155 000 properties nationwide.

Johan Strydom, general manager of propertygenie.co.za, said that the poll showed that 31% of people said pungent pooch aroma was their biggest deterrent when home viewing, followed by 24% that noted tired bathrooms and kitchens made them hurry to the exit.

"We all love our dogs but it's worth remembering that when they spend a lot of time inside they tend to smell the place up. When you live with it everyday you get used to odour le canine, but when it comes to selling your home, your dog might not be your best friend," said Strydom.

The poll showed that the next biggest turn off was the lingering smell of cigarette smoke with 18% of people saying that was their biggest no-no, followed by unbearable décor (14%), ugly burglar proofing (9%) and foul fridges and stoves (4%).

When asked about how sellers showed their homes in the best light, 36% of respondents to the propertygenie.co.za poll said that a thorough spring clean was their top tactic followed by 19% who said they gave the exterior a makeover by painting the outside and ensuring the garden is more Chelsea Flower Show than junkyard.

The next most popular strategy was adding flowers and coffee table books (14%), followed by a basic tidy (13%). And 9% of people said they would do nothing special when it came to selling their home while the same percentage said they would hire a professional home stager.    

Said Strydom: "It really is important for sellers to make an effort in this buyers" market. A good rule to remember is that what you are really selling is a lifestyle, not just bricks and mortar. People need to be able to picture themselves in your home so too much of your personality and taste on show will make it harder for them to do that."

When it came to probing exactly how home buyers determined their budgets, a whopping 55% said they make a rough estimate from personal calculations while 23% took guidance from their banks.

Only 16% first went through a pre-approval finance process with a bond originator and a paltry 6% sought help from a financial advisor.

"Given the huge amount of paperwork required by the National Credit Act and the large variation in lending criteria by banks in these tougher times, we strongly advise people to get a reputable bond originator like ooba on your side to steer you to the best homeloan rate," concluded Strydom.