A real estate agent once told us that one of the best ways to make a sale is to make sure that the interior of the home smells fresh and inviting to prospective buyers.

She said that when holding an open house or home tour she places a couple of tablespoons of vanilla extract in a pie tin and places it into the oven which is set to bake at about 350 degrees, leaving the oven door ajar. The tin remains in the oven until the vanilla has disappeared usually about fifteen to twenty minutes.

The vanilla aroma permeates the home leading visitors to believe that a batch of cookies has recently been baked. The real estate pro then treats her guests to freshly baked cookies from the local bakery as a treat, and as sensory reinforcement.

Unfortunately there are some odors in the home that even the vanilla treatment won't mask. Furthermore, masking the odor is temporary. The real trick is to find the source of the odor and correct the condition.

A major problem that our readers write to us about is a musty odor in the home. It's been described in various ways moldy, damp, cheesy and rotten are just a few.

There are several possible causes of this unwanted aroma. And they all stem from one common source water. Some of the ways that water can cause the home to smell less than fresh and even threaten its integrity, are heavy condensation which occurs on the interior of windows. It, more often than not, will result in a puddle at the window sill. The puddle will in turn make its way into the wood window sill, wallboard sill and likely the framing below. If the condition persists, these materials will reach a moisture content that will create the perfect environment for rot. And the smell that goes along with it.

One of the most effective ways to deal with sweaty windows is to improve the circulation in the home. This can be done in various ways. One of the simplest is to open window coverings during the day to allow the sun to enter the home and create natural air currents that have a drying effect.

Frequently, trees and shrubs around the home are so dense that opening shades does little to allow the sun to enter. Thinning dense shrubs and trees will have a profound affect on the condensation problem.

Decorative ceiling paddle fans are another means of eliminating the condensation problem and, at the same time, enhancing comfort and lowering the utility bill. A ceiling fan run in reverse (counterclockwise when looking up at it) will force warm air down from the ceiling and along the perimeter walls, drying out the windows almost instantly.

The kitchen, laundry and bathrooms, which contain moisture-producing appliances or water fixtures, should have ventilation fans that discharge moisture to the exterior even if these rooms have windows. Also, the clothes dryer should be ducted to the exterior.

Poorly ventilated areas will cause the construction materials of the home and its contents to absorb the abundant moisture and cause mildew, various types of fungus and the accompanying odors.

Poor watershed at the perimeter of the home can cause an unusually damp basement or crawl space that will cause condensation at floor level. This is often the cause of a damp or musty-smelling home.

There are several things that can be done separately and together to improve conditions. The first is to limit the amount of irrigation done at the perimeter of the house. Some thought might be given to replacing archaic and inefficient watering systems with new sprinkler heads or a drip irrigation system.

The soil at planting areas that surround the home should be graded away from the foundation. Downspouts that carry water from the roof should be discharged into subsurface drainage pipes that carry water away from the home.

Installing foundation vents at the perimeter of the home is another way to dry out the basement or crawl space. This should be considered even if the home already has foundation vents.

A layer of plastic sheeting, (six mil visqueen), placed directly over the dirt in the crawl space will cause condensation to occur below the plastic sheeting rather than at floor level. The plastic sheeting should overlap by six inches, with all joints sealed with silver duct tape.

The sheeting should also be run up the sides of interior piers and the foundation wall about four inches or so, and should be affixed with the silver duct tape.

Homes on lots with slopes or other unusual soil conditions may require more elaborate drainage or watershed systems. A soils engineer should be consulted if this is the case.

And a little vanilla extract in the oven before invited guests arrive is a great idea. Just remember, if the guests are the Carey brothers, don't forget the cookies.