Does Smoking in a home affect your ability to sell it?
Absoultely.
So many folks are allergic to smoke and cannot live in that environment.
What affect does SMOKING have on one's ability to sell their home? Lets take this Manchester NH area home that was listed as a FSBO. The parents had moved to Florida and the Son and daughter decided to sell their parents home on their own.
That was last fall that I first saw the home. I had a new buyer i was working with looking in this area, and they did not mind a fixer upper. The picture is the wall in the Bedroom where a picture was removed.
How I wish this was a scratch and sniff blog so you could smell what we smelled, but you will have to use your imagination. My buyer did not mind a fixer upper, but he had no idea how he would remove the smell of smoke from every surface. He did not want to cover it and raise his kids with this permeating the surfaces.
The son and daughter had both met us there to let us in. They appreciated my buyer stating all that in a nice manner. They said most buyers and their agents have not been so nice the last 8 months. As my buyer pulled away they stopped me and asked to talk more. They really need to sell the home as they were using the proceeds to add an "inlaw" apartment in the daughters home where the parents will stay May to November.
They tried to save money by doing it themselves, but it has only cost them money paying the heat all winter, the taxes and the toll it has taken showing the home.
I easily was able to pull up comps to show them what the house is worth as is and what it would be worth at least partially fixed. They were amazed at the difference in prices. They acknowledged many "flippers" had offered them half price, but they were not going to sell that low.
They bickered back in forth with the daughter ready to list and the brother tryin not to give up and save a little pride. That was my cue as I let them know selling a home is a business. That a seller needs to take the emotion out of selling it. That included changing their mind set of not wanting to change anything inside. The parents belongings, they need to go. The home needs to be cleaned, the carpets torn out and a massive washing to rid the home of smoke. New paint and flooring will go a long way. The kitchen and bathroom are 1960's. Replacing them adds a huge amount of value, but not an upgrade they want to pay for.
In the end they were very thank full I took the time to talk to them so long. They loved my ideas and the brother did agree to list with me. I assisted them in getting quotes to clean the home out and clean the home up. They are very pleased and understand we should hold the home off the market until it is ready.
The MOST IMPORTANT message is to share with every consumer that my philosophy is simple, provide more personal and professional service to guide clients through each step of the buying or selling process. All Agents are not created equal and every buyer or seller should take the time to hire the BEST not just the biggest. Those that hire me, find a dedication like no other.
To CONTACT Scott Godzyk please call 603.661.2121 or EMAIL: Sctprop@aol.com .
About the Author: Scott Godzyk is the Owner/Broker of the Godzyk Real Estate Services in Manchester NH. Proud to be locally owned and operated with 32 years of experience, Scott is a leading Agent for Listing and Selling Homes in this area.We are Full Time Agents ready to serve all of your Real Estate needs. Servicing Hillsborough, Rockingham, Merrimack and Belknap counties.
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