I make them remove the ashtrays even if there is not thew smell

Smells are a huge barrier to overcome when selling. Do you know how many homes I have walked into with Buyers and they turn right out the door without a second glance upon their first wiff of a smell. People listen to your agents. We know what we are talking about.

And don't forget to point out that those are after tax dollars. Here in Canada that means double the amount lost!

Kathy, more and more people have become non-smokers, or never started smoking because of better health education.  This means that tobacco smoke is an increasingly less familiar, and hence unpleasant, smell.  It's not tolerated as well as it used to be.  People who continue to smoke in their houses are creating an unpleasant environment just like bad pet smells. 

And just like homes with unclean pets, the smells seep into the furniture and floors, are extremely difficult to completely eradicate, and will end up costing the owners money. 

Charlie, Heather & Michelle - Thank you for stopping by and taking time to comment!

Brian - That is SO true.  I am actually surprised when I walk in to house that smells like smoke because we just don't see smokers that much anymore in the newer communities.

It's not just the smell either.  Many people are allergic to the cigarette smoke and it's aftermath.  I also suggest having the vents cleaned.  This can get rid of a lot of the smell as well, and gets the home ready for it's new occupants.

Pam - Good point!  It makes sense the tar and nicotine are going to coat those surfaces.  That might be why after doing a thorough cleaning you can still smell it sometimes.

Brilliant advice and so true. Thanks for laying this out. I will supliment some of your wize words to my in house smoking sellers!

Thanks

Kathy, Especially people that have allergies or just can't stand smoke can smell it from a mile away.  It would be well worth it to have the draperies and the entire home cleaned and open those windows!  Great advice.

Some people just never listen.  Those are the ones I try to educate and then pass up because it will hurt us in the longrun.  They don't want to listen to a professional opinion, they can think about it later when it expires with the agent that just through it on MLS and let it sit.

Christina - If they would only listen.  Most times they don't grasp the concept until their home has been discounted over and over and is still languishing on the market.

Carole - I'm VERY sensitive to it.  Many times I will pick up on it before my clients do.  I don't say anything though unless they mention a "funny" smell.

I cannot stand to show or walk through a smokers home.  They always smell like a toilet.  Sellers need to grow up, and agents need to tell them when listing the home that it stinks!

James & Kathleen - Yes.  This is unfortunately what ends up happening.  The agent will generally take the blame.

Jim - I think the more seasoned agents are more apt to not pull any punches.  It's the agents that are hungry for business that tend to tell the seller what they want to hear (or NOT tell them what they SHOULD hear).

You hit so many nails on the head in this post, but ultimately it is up to US as PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS to actually do what we are paid to, CONSULT!  We are not only doing our clients a dis-service by not telling them the BRUTAL AND HONEST TRUTH, but also oursleves.  I personally will tell a seller NO I WON'T TAKE YOUR LISTING if you don't do X, Y, and, Z and/or drop your price by SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS.  If it's not going to sell, I don't want my name on it!  After all not only do we not get paid, but we also get a negative image in that community as the Realtor who can't close or the Realtor who can't sell.

Michael - We ARE being hired to do a job.  And you are absolutely right, part of that job is to tell them what they may or may not want to hear.

Kathy: 

This is a so true about cigarette smoke.  My Mother sold her house earlier this year.  It was terrible trying to get the smell out.  New carpet.  Still there.  New paint.  Still there.  Did I mention there were no furnishings.  She was already in her new condo.  Well, she couldn't understand why it wasn't selling.  So we rented an ozone generator.   Three days that puppy was on.  But you know what?  It solved the problem and got rid of the smell. 

The kicker to the story was this:  she swore she wouldn't do this to the new house.  It was a brand new construction condo.  It was gross to see her yellow (once white) lampshades up against that brand new white paint.  And the yellow (once white) couch.  Those furnishings looked perfectly clean in her old house.  So, she started smoking in her new house.  Now, six months later, she's quit.  Health issues.  Had to.  But in two weeks, after smoking in that house for only six months, she says to me, "How could you stand to visit me?  This place stinks."

Live and learn.

Chris - You bring up a good point.  The ozone generator.  I haven't had first hand experience but have been told these heavy duty generators do a great job at getting the residual odors out.

There's just no way around it. My nose knows.  If my clients smell the "odor" from cigarettes they are out of the home in a New York minute. 

It has to look good and smell good in my market to sell!

 PS.  Your Raleigh NC 55+ Expert

This is a huge issue. Smells are huge in turning people away. And sometimes even worse than the smells are the cover-up artificial smells. There are some homes you just almost have to run out of the artificial smell is so intense.

KATHY - It sounds so logical when we say it to each other, but somehow, many homeowners just don't take our advice and it costs them time and money.  I had one listing where the homeowners chain smoked.  I told them to stop smoking in the house, and they wouldn't even do that.  Needless to say, the home stayed on the market for a very long time, with several agents, and ultimately sold for about $100,000 less than original asking price, and this was back a few years ago when homes were still selling for higher prices.  Great advice, Kathy.  Hopefully, some consumers will read it too.

Great post Kathy and so true! This is also the case with pet smells. I think the current owners are so used to the smell that they don't notice it is why they refuse to take those extra steps to get the house sold quickly. If they only knew!

There is nothing worse because when that smoke gets into the drywall and ducts, it is impossible to remove.  I had a listing in Sun City about 3 years ago and to this day, it has never sold.  I wasn't even upset when I lost the listing because I knew I had done everything possible.  All of the drywall will need to be removed to get the odors out. 

Unpleasant odors are a real problem in all markets.  We can't stress it enough to sellers in pre-listing. I wrote a post "psst, what's that smell?" that continues to get good traffic. There are professional cleaning services that clean after a fire for example that can help and there are some tricks that can help,but in drastic circumstances, carpet and drapes have to go.

Tracy - This seems to be the trend in our communities too.

Bob & Carolin - I actually had a client a couple of weeks ago want to know if the homeowners were trying to cover up a "bad" smell.  I didn't smell anything underneath the potpourri smell but buyers do sometimes wonder.  Then of course there are people with allergies to these artificial smells.

Adam - I know.  They just never believe these issues apply to THEIR house.  It isn't until many months later they MIGHT see the wisdom of our advice.  But even then it is much easier to place blame elsewhere.

Laura - That is true too.  I don't think they know how bad the smells are.

Diane - That is where the ozone generators might work.  There are also companies that come in to clean out homes that have been the sight of many gruesome acts and by specializing in this type of clean-up, claim to be able to get rid of everything.  It usually takes many days and the home cannot be occupied while running the machines because it supposedly changes the molecular structure of the air.

Judy - Yes.  It is these professional services I'm talking about but have you ever had a client that would be willing to go to this extent?  I don't know if I will see it in my lifetime, but I can always hope someone will read this post (and everyone elses comments too) and understand it will cost them dearly in the end if they don't take the proper steps.

I just realized someone picked this article to be a featured post here on AR (this is my first feature!!!).  No wonder I had so many wonderful comments when I turned on my computer this morning.  Thank you!!

Very timely post. There are some peopl who get it and some don't. Your right it's a personal preference whether you smoke or not but not when you're trying to sell your home. Now it's the public who dictates whether it sells or not.

Very timely post. There are some peopl who get it and some don't. Your right it's a personal preference whether you smoke or not but not when you're trying to sell your home. Now it's the public who dictates whether it sells or not.

Kathy - Great post and great comments.  The weird thing is that even smokers can smell the smoke and they don't like the smell of someone else's smoke. 

I agree that the artificial fragrances can make it worse.  To people who are sensitive, that is as bad as cigarette odors.  I recommend use of only natural fragrances, like a little lemon juice down a drain, real citrus peel.

Tough comparison, but I would rather show a house that is dirty but no odor than a house that appears clean but has an odor.  Buyers can envision having the house cleaned before moving in but everyone knows, sometimes you just can't get an odor out.

I hadn't heard of the ozone generator and I will check into that.

Robert - Thank you for taking the time to add your comment

Margaret - What I've found is that EX-smokers are the worst.  My husband included.  He smoked for 20 years and now is the most vocal when it comes to other peoples smoke.

Kathy, good post.  One of the places most overlooked in the process of eliminating a past cigarette smoking condition is the heating system.  All the ductwork will look like the smoker's lungs and the heat exchanger of the furnace can be literally coated with nicotine.  Often times the ductwork has to be replaced.  Everytime the furnace fires it smells like cigarettes-----pretty nasty.

Hi Charles!  Thanks for stopping by.  I really enjoyed reading some of your posts!

One of the other comments referred to the air ducts too.  It makes total sense this would be an issue.  How easy is that to clean?  Bloggers (inquiring minds) want to know.

Kathy, I am sure there are duct cleaning companies that will telll you they can be cleaned, but I am sceptical and would opt for replacement.  You know how difficult it can be to clean spaces you can get into----now try doing that to the inside of irregular, serpentine ductwork that you can't get in to. 

Charles - Thanks for re-visiting!  That makes sense.  Not sure I could convince a seller it is a necessary expense though.

Kathy, I hear you there.  They are likely to hear it requested from the buyer though----if the smoking condition is bad enough.  I have a pic of a nicotine coated duct----I will see if I can dig it up.

Here is the picture:

Thanks again Charles!  Too bad the picture doesn't have smell-o-vision.

I wrote a post several months ago about smoke smells and got some great responses.  I was able to get the home fresh enough to sell in just a couple of weeks.  But, I had a willing seller who did everything I asked.

We had the perfect home for a client... EXCEPT... you guessed it- the smell was overpowering. It didn't even sell during the rush three years ago. Three years later it has finally turned into a rental.

Diane - A willing seller is key to the successful close.  Congrats!

Chuck - Yet another example.  Thank you!

I deal with this Issue often When meeting with Sellers and I normally get little cooperation from Them. They tell me they will smoke outside but there is little you can do to convince them otherwise.  It just always seems to be a hard Sale.

Kathy Hyatt, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.

Kathy - You speak the truth.  It is hard to impress enough upon a seller how much money this can cost them when they want to move.

Isn't this common sense! 

Great post and Sooooo TRUE! Here in Vancouver, Washington we deal with smoke odors and pet odors alot. The weather keeps people in the house with the windows closed for a good part of the year. Try mixing a chain smoker with a wet dog! You get the picture.

Of course the one listing that was on the market could have sold long ago had it been priced appropriately for the condition. (Smell) $306,000 2 1/2 years ago? If that was a reasonable price for a non smoking home at the time, then they probably could have sold it fairly quick for $285,000. Much better than the $254k that they are now asking.

Pricing can cure alot of things, but that is another story.

Seller must consider buyer point of view. I suggest to clients to get home clean & fresh so chances of selling increased many fold.

Earn Extra Income: Get Free List of Broker Price Opinion(BPO) Companies

You are so right. I have had client not even step into a house because the smell knock us off our feet at the door.

Kathy - I think this is the experience most agents have

Jason - Thank you for your comment!

Rafael - I think its human nature to believe the rules don't apply to us (or in this case, our homes).  Probably the same reason why I've seen realtors (who should know better) list their own homes for more than what the comps show.

Mark - I'm from the Seattle area originally so I'm very familiar with being housebound.  Thank you for adding your real life example!

Gary & Mary - Thank you for taking the time to comment!

"If you can smell it . . . . I can't sell it!"

Hi Kathy, I know exactly what you mean. I had clients that smoked all the time and let their pets use the garage as a litter box.

After several acid washes on the garage floor and 2 ionization treatments we were able to reduce the smell.

Not sure why people do the things they do.

Thanks for a great post.

Rich

Great post Kathy!

Since smoking kills the sense of smell, most smokers don't even know how bad it really is.

Dog and cat odors can be just as bad for creating a bad first impression.

Alan

The whole thing about soft furnishings....wow, I learned my lesson! I was staging a small vacant  property, and needed a few pieces of furniture.  With no rental options in the town I was working in, i purchased an adorable loveseat at a thrift store, with the intention of slipcovering it.  The ride home in the back of the Suburban was enough to tell me that was not going to work.  I took it home and Febreze'd the heck out of it.  Eventually I stripped it to its frame, used all new foam and then slipcovered the bare foam.  It ended up not being QUITE the bargain i had envisioned...

Gut it and redo it with the best they can afford.  Makes the home look and smell new and it makes the buyers think its well cared for..

The home we purchased was owned by a smoker... we had to spend close to 50K to get rid of the smell and get the house back in shape.

I have a friend who is an EcoQuest Dealer. He rents a very powerful and effective air filter that truly does eliminate smoke odors. 3 or 4 days runs about $120. There is a noticeable difference in the air quality. The trick is getting the seller to stop smoking in the house once the unit is in place.

Paul - Cute!

Rich - Garage as a litter box?  YUCK!!!

Alan - Yes.  Fortunately I haven't had an issue with pet odors yet.  Probably just a matter of time.

Cheryl - I have a friend who was given a free crib for one of her brand new adopted twins.  To this day we can't figure out why that crib stank the way it did.

Hunter - A new carpet and paint can make all the difference in the world but sometimes even that isn't enough sometimes, according to Jeremy

Jeremy - If you check back, tell us what the $50k involved

Gregg - I heard some people have had success with these units and others have said the odors came back, not as bad but still came back

GREAT article.  I have had a couple of sellers start smoking outside which helps but the buyers STILL complain of the smell.  It does really turn them off, especially in this market where the buyers have so much inventory to choose from.

I would agree that even smokers do not want to buy a home that smells of smoke  Most of the time clients will just turn around a walk out without ever viewing the home when it smell of smoke.

There is a fix the can help if the house is vacant, go to a rental store and ask the if they have an air cleaner to rent that will remove smoke, it will need to be in the house for about 24 to 72 hours depending on the level  of the embedded smoke.  Then you would still need to clean and paint over the stain from the tar and remove all the carpets.  This does work better than just cleaning and painting only.

Have them get an Ozone blast.  It'll kill all smells and kills mold too.

Its funny how smokers never seem to smell the smoke in their car, on their clothes, in their hair, and in their homes......

Oh, you are so right!!! Smoke is a horrible thing to get rid of!! We rented low-rent apts. for several years and it knocked you over when you went in!

Now I'm a stager and decorator and can attest to the fact that all these things detract from the price.  I was just in a home the other day that had SO MUCH clutter, I wondered how these people lived in the house!  Whether it's smoke, pet smells, clutter or lots of cutesy collections, you've got to make the seller understand that it must go.  They will get more for the house and it won't sit on the market for so long.  If we can get that accross, it will make a huge difference!

And, as long as I'm at it, real estate agents, do you try to do it all and "stage" the house as well as market it and show it and close it.....you get the point.  I love the agents who are far-sighted enough to include staging as a part of their package.  The better the property looks, the better it shows!  And that's a reflection on you.....

Debbie Fiskum, PTStaging.com  Denver, CO

Debra, Jim, Steve, DeAndrea & Debbie - Thank you so much for giving the rest of us your thoughts on the subject.  Your input counts!

Kathy, you sure hit the nail on the head with your comments.  As the owner of a restoration company, I get hit up by both buyers and sellers looking for an easy fix but as you've stated, there is no easy fix to a really bad ashtray smelling house.  The same is true for bad pet urine smell or as we like to call it a "cat pee house."

Some water and fire restoration companies like mine are trained in odor control and can tell you what it will really take to eliminate the odors.  In the SF East Bay, look me up at www.PuroCleanEastBay.com.  In other areas you can find a good odor control technician by entering your zip code at www.PuroClean.com.  Nice blog, keep 'em coming.

Brian - Thank you for the information!

Kathy, Great advice.  It's so important to tell your clients the truth... Getting a home ready for showing is VASTLY important, no more than given the market right now!

I know how you feel.  I had a client who was a smoker and everytime I had to show her house she would smoke all the way to the last minute of the showing.

Angela - I just keep coming back to the money they throw away because they don't understand the importance.

Michael - GROAN!!!  Nothing like leaving a lasting impression!

Hi Kathy- Smoke can be a touchy subject (especially to the seller who is the smoker) While taking a listing, I mentioned to the seller if she could possibly smoke outside while her home was on the market.  She said they were going to repaint, and that she would smoke outside.  But every time I went over she was smoking in the house.  Long story short...all negative feedback was about smoke smell, house ended up an expired listing.  The funny part was that she was once a licensed Realtor.

Denise - I know its touchy but even if I was a smoker I wouldn't want to give up thousands of dollars on the sale of my house.  I'd try to do everything I could to maximize sale price and minimize time on market.  In fact I did before I ever became a realtor.  I researched what it takes, did it and was able to get my home sold FSBO in a month.

On the last part... isn't it funny how some of us realtors think the rules don't apply to our own homes?  Thank you for adding your comment!