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Cancer Sticks: Another Reason Not To Smoke

By
Real Estate Agent with RLAH@Properties AB95346

Yesterday, I previewed a house that sounded pretty good, if you believe what you read on the MRIS listing.  It was a center-hall brick colonial with a pleasant facade on a large corner lot in a great neighborhood.  It had a nice virtual tour, although they omitted shots of the kitchen, which usually means it's state-of-the-art-1944.  This one actually may have been renovated in the 1950's. 

But even with a nasty kitchen, it would have been a decent value but for one thing.  There was a lingering smoke smell, even though the place had been vacant for several months - all of the smelly upholstered furniture and drapers were even gone.

Now, I've greatly offended a couple of sellers by suggesting that they declare their home a no smoking area and hire professionals to get the odor out.  After all, with all of the local governments saying you can't smoke in any public place, home is about the only place left to light up. They thought I had a lot of nerve!  Yikes!  One couple just said, "Get out!" without hearing the rest of my brilliant listing presentation.

Just know that if you choose to indulge this nasty habit in a home that is for sale, it's your choice.  But it will cost you a bunch of money in the form of a lower sales price - probably in the form of a selling price of 10% lower than a smoke-free place.

Even smokers are offended by smoke smells in other people's houses.  Then there are the people who are allergic and will have to leave before they can fully appreciate all of the good things about your home.  And any bad odor has a sort of subliminal bad effect on people walking in the door. 

Smoke is right up there with really bad kitty litter, stinky garbage cans and dead racoon on the chimney ledge smells.

My advice:  While your house is for sale, perhaps you need to find a few other, less smelly, vices in which to indulge, at least inside your house!

 

Comments (24)

Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Alan, it's amazing to me how many people just don't get that concept!

Stella,  I had some sellers do that.  It still had a faint smell, but it was so much better!

Chris-Ann, yikes!  If I am ever tempted to smoke one, I will remember this comment!

And Hannah, and even if the do want to buy it, they will discount the price by a huge bunch.

Nov 06, 2010 05:58 AM
Cathy McAlister
Cathy Ashley McAlister, GRI CDPE - Broker / Sacramento - Sacramento, CA
Sacramento DRE#00648507

It seems the smell at the door will welcome a buyer in or turn them away.  If seller's refuse to adjust habits - then the market will simply adjust their price. 

Nov 06, 2010 06:14 AM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

There are lots of homes out there that haven't been smoked in.  That is what the smoker is competing with.

We were in one this week, where the smoke aroma was thin, but thinly masked with chemical.

My buyers were completely turned off, and wanted to be sure I included it in the feedback to the listing agent.

Nov 06, 2010 06:53 AM
Kirsten Lindquist
Pacific Union International - Sonoma, CA
Realtor - Sonoma Wine Country

I wish sellers understood that sometimes the only way to remove the "aroma" is to rip up all the carpets, clean light fixtures, and paint the walls.   If they did, it might not be such an imposition to smoke outside!

Nov 06, 2010 07:15 AM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

I have been in properties so bad, the walls were stained yellow with nicotine. I can only imagine what their lungs looked like...

Nov 06, 2010 07:52 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good afternoon Pat,

Alan is right..when your home is on the market it no longer becomes your home but a product to sell it's very best light! Most buyers will cross a smoker's house off their list..because they can..way too much out there to purchase that is smoke free!!

Nov 06, 2010 09:30 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Pat - there was a short sale that turned into a foreclosure and still did not sell for a VERY long time because EVERYTHING was so YELLOW and smelled of smoke. The owner had lived there for over 30 years and was a chain smoker! When the pictures came down you could see how yellow the walls were!

Nov 06, 2010 10:20 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

This is a huge pet peeve for me as well.  And now that I am missing a portion of my lung, I am extremely sensitive to smoke.

Nov 06, 2010 10:37 AM
Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly Right Real Estate
Kelly Right Real Estate - Hood River, OR
Customized Choices for your Real Estate Needs

Great advice - smoking kills people and sales.

Mel

Nov 06, 2010 11:31 AM
Jack Mossman - The Nines Team at Keller Williams in Lodi
The Nines Team at Keller Williams in Lodi - Lodi, CA
The Nines Team in Lodi

Pat - In California we tax everything ... especially "vices ..."  so if 5 bucks a pack isn't going to slow them down ... a possible "reduction" in equity won't phase someone who has none to begin with.  It is a continuing BUT less common problem now-a-days! 

Nov 06, 2010 11:40 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

I am so glad that smoking is not allowed in restaurants anymore. I used to hate it when I paid money for a nice dinner and a smoker wrecked it all.

Nov 06, 2010 11:47 AM
Karen Crowson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA
Your Agent for Change

Smells of any kind just leave a bad impression. I showed a lovely home today, but when we opened the laundry room door - whew!  Don't know what had died in there, but the smell was horendous.  The buyer couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Nov 06, 2010 12:07 PM
Nina Rogoff
Boston, MA
Wix Websites for Real Estate Agents

Love what Alan said about the house becoming a product for sale. I was in a house recently that looked lovely, but the chemical smell used to cover up the cigarette smell made me want to throw up. In our town, an old school was converted into gorgeous apartments. The entire thing was done to meet the highest "green" standards. They do not allow people to smoke...even in their own apartments.

Nov 06, 2010 02:46 PM
Betsy Schuman Dodek
Washington Fine Properties - Washington DC Area Real Estate - Potomac, MD
SearchPotomacHomes.com

Pat, what a timely post for me! I had clients that rejected a house before walking through the front door. The smell was so strong, it hit my clients like a ton of bricks before stepping foot inside.

Betsy

Nov 06, 2010 03:09 PM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Smokers and cats are the number 1 and 2 turnoffs for my buyers. 

The smokers are worse.  But with so many allergies, cats come close.  Thanks for another great post and it generated some great comments. 

Nov 06, 2010 03:15 PM
Allison Stewart
St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL
St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

Thirty years no one thought much about it...smoking that is.  Today however, it is a different time and people seem to be much more sensitive to odors. Cigarette smoke, cat urine, and mold do have an impact on the outcome.

Nov 06, 2010 09:45 PM
Laura Giannotta
Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Your Realtor Down the Shore!

I'm a smoker, but you're right...I don't like other peoples smoke!  That said, when I sold my last home I had it repainted and the carpets cleaned and deodorized then smoked outside until it sold!

Nov 06, 2010 10:58 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Odor, smell is one big important sense. Think of a kid who gags at the smell of this, that. Same knee jerk reaction. So you only show those places that would generate, smell like two packs of second hand smoke a day when you have a head cold, or the buyers are wearing gas masks you kindly provide? If you paint paint paint, then the blend of "oooh that smell" and fresh paint can cause combination sweet and sour pass out effect.

Nov 06, 2010 11:18 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Pat, I think it will cost more than 10%.  Especially if the odor and nicotine stains are evident.  Fairly easy to take care of, if you want to sell at a better price.

Nov 06, 2010 11:22 PM
Justin Dibbs
Fairway Independent Mortgage - Ashburn, VA
Mortgage Advisor

And if the owner is going to smoke outside on the deck or patio, they should make sure not to leave a large ashtray full of "butts" as the prospective buyer will think they smoke in the house as well.

Nov 07, 2010 08:17 AM