Our four kids grew up eating and breathing real estate ” mostly by default. One evening, as we were taking them out for supper, I vividly remember one of the pleading,   “Can you both puleeeze not talk about work during dinner?”

We felt awful, but real estate was under our skin … and got under theirs, too. Over the years it’s been surprising, fun, and darn-right gratifying to listen as they’ve all become real estate-savvy adults.

For example, a few years ago, Shana went along condo-hunting with her friend Catherine in Cincinnati. In one exceptionally-small room she commented, “This shouldn’t be called a bedroom. It’s too small and doesn’t have a window. And no closet.” When the agent did a double-take and asked where she learned that, Shana explained “My dad and step-mom are real estate agents.”

Christopher and I talked about real estate blogs over breakfast at our favorite Sunday morning haunt recently. “Write about smell,” he said. “That’s really important. A house that’s for sale shouldn’t smell like somebody else’s house.”

Thunderbolt! Sounds like an odd comment at first, but think about it. Too many houses, on and off the market, have an “other-person” smell, whether it’s lingering cooking odors, smoke, pet, dirty diapers … or just not “home.”

If you smoke … don’t, not within at least 10 feet of the house and certainly not in the garage. Just as off-putting are cigarette butts piled in a can of sand outside the door.

Watch what you cook and when. Bacon, cabbage, strong spices are all to be avoided; their smell can linger overnight.

Take out the garbage often, even if the bag isn’t full. Dirty diapers ” ugh! Not a single one in the house while it’s on the market. Wrap tightly and take to a tightly-covered garbage can outside, out of sight.

Ask a good friend with a good nose if your house smells of your pet, or anything else for that matter. Make them be honest (and don’t “punish” them when they are!) Keep the litter box clean, clean, clean; and buy one with a big hood so buyers don’t have to even see the contents. As to dogs, oils from their fur can leech into carpets or furniture fabric.

Don’t, on the other hand, go overboard with air fresheners thinking you’ll mask odors. Cloying scents in every room will cause buyers to wonder what you’re hiding.

Once you’ve de-personalized house smells, keep refrigerated cookie dough on hand. Bake a dozen just before each showing, and leave a plateful with a friendly note to “Enjoy!” Not only will the house smell delightful, but the buyers and their agent will welcome the snack.