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Smokers Sale or No Sale

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with St.Cloud Homes
  Times have certainly changes. Bi Levels are no longer $14,000, gas is not 70 cents a gallon, the avergae wage is no longer $50 a week and most people don't smoke anymore. It used to be a socially accepted activity. times have changed.... Are you a smoker who feels that smoking has negatively impacted your performance? Has it cost you a sale or a listing? Are you more paranoid that you have a smoke smell about you? Have you not let people in your vehicle because you smoke. Have you shown a home owned by a smoker? Trying to tell our still smoking clients NOT to smoke in their homes is a challenge. It is surprising however how many smokers are aware it could hurt their sales. So what say you are your sales going up in smoke?
Posted by

St.Cloud Homes

Allison Stewart Broker, SFR, CDPE 

407-616-9904www.kissimmee-stcloudflhomes.com

                                                                                                       

    St. Cloud Homes YOUR Local Real Estate Experts serving Home Buyers/Sellers in Kissimee, St. Cloud Fl, Harmony, Lake Nona, Anthem Park, Bay Lake Ranch, Lake Lizzie, Reunion, Celebration, Lakepointe, Steven Plantation, Acadia Estates, East Lake, Windermere, Bay Hill. Our unparalleled service begins with YOU.

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Comments(14)

Leigh Brown
Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC
CEO, Dream Maker - Charlotte, NC
That's a good point, Allison.  Once upon a time we had an agent in our office who would sit outside in her car smoking until she saw walk-ins coming, at which point she would stub out the cigarette and chase them upstairs...needless to say, she wasn't a top producer, it was offputting to clients-and i bet the smoke smell contributed to that.
Mar 27, 2007 01:20 AM
Tim Maitski
Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage - Atlanta, GA
Truth, Excellence and a Good Deal
I don't seem to get too many smokers.  A home with a smoker always stands out.
Mar 27, 2007 01:22 AM
Heather Saul
Weichert Realtors Hoey Group - Wildwood, NJ
I used to smoke - - but gave it up when I was pregnant.  To be honest, I have had showings where my customers walked into a home and the owners were smoking away.  They did not put the cigarettes out when we came in and that bothered my buyers.  The wife was asthmatic and couldn't spend that much time in the home.  We left, never really knowing what the home had to offer.  My advice to sellers would be to not light up during showings.  Actually, my advice would be to paint the walls - do what you can to rid the home of the smell, and smoke outside while the home is on the market.  No one wants to buy a home that smells like an ashtray.
Mar 27, 2007 01:23 AM
Allison Stewart
St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL
St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

Agents that smoke have a hard time in realizing it does affect their performance. It is harder I think for the long term smokers to come to terms with the anti-smokers who are buyers and sellers. Way back when it seemed no one noticed as much but nowadays it is a different story. Interesting how the people reacted.

Mar 27, 2007 01:33 AM
Allison Stewart
St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL
St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

Agreed Tim!  People are very aware of odors and cigarette smoke is a hard one to hide.

 

Mar 27, 2007 01:33 AM
Allison Stewart
St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL
St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
Definately good advise Heather
Mar 27, 2007 01:34 AM
Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

I suffer from migraines, and cigarette smoke is one of the causes.  I can't stand walking into houses that smell of smoke.  I take short breathes and hold it as long as I can.  It hinders my concentration walking thru with the buyers. More times than not, the buyer turns to me and asks to leave.

Then, I also get annoyed when I'm showing and the buyer asks if he/she can smoke before going to the next house.  If you can't go a couple of hours without smoking just so you can find a house, something's wrong.  However, some are nice about it and they'll just take a couple of puffs and allow the wind to blow some of the lingering smell off them.  Others get in my car as they're exhaling their last drag, and then I have to subtely crack a window...

There are agents in my office that smoke at the back door and the office just reaks when they open the door and a gust brings the smoke in... another reason I work from home.  I don't think agents realize how much the smell is on their hands and clothes.

Mar 27, 2007 01:49 AM
Christopher Smith
TREGO REALTY - Cedar Rapids, IA
Allison, I use this purifier called "The Fresh Air" by Ecoquest International  www.tryfreshair.com  I tell clients of course not to smoke in the house if they wish to sell it.  However, I also tell them to run the "sanitize" feature on this machine everyday to clean out the air and purify it.  It seems to work and definitely removes odors.  I use it on vacant listing as well to eliminate all odors and it is a life saver or should I say a listing saver!!!
Mar 27, 2007 01:49 AM
Allison Stewart
St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL
St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

Hi Donna

No I do not think smokers are for the most part aware of the smell of the cigarettes on clothing, hair, and clothing. I have heard ex smokers complain of it and yet most smokers I talk to do not realize it. I guss it is tantamount to a drinker not realizing non drinkers can smell it a mile away.

Mar 27, 2007 01:59 AM
Allison Stewart
St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL
St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

Hi Christopher

OUTSTANDING!  I will look into this product and get one as I have several houses in Florida and once left vacant they often take on a musty odor. Thank you so much for the recommendation!

Mar 27, 2007 02:01 AM
Sam Chapman
Lakeway, TX
Smoke and pet oder are huge issues and it amazes me how many sellers just don't get it.
Mar 27, 2007 02:01 AM
Robert Hammerstein -
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Hi Allison,

We've seen this on more than one occassion.  Either a listing we had with a Smoker or a listing we visited with a Buyer who made the comment - "ugh, somebody smokes".  They equate that to having to rid the home of the smell if they want to buy it.  That costs money and many buyers don't want to have to invest in deodorizing a home.  It's an unfortunate situation to say the least.  Thanks for another great post!

Mar 27, 2007 02:02 AM
Allison Stewart
St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL
St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

Hi Lisa!

Thanks for the comment. I would suggest to any buyer, sanitizing carpet. For sellers, they need to be aware of it more, change air filters, and at least make the effort not to smoke in the house. I have always wondered about buyers with severe allergy problems looking at resales since so many factors can contribute to allergies. It indeed makes the market a bit more challenging.

Mar 27, 2007 02:06 AM
Allison Stewart
St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL
St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
You're Right Sam-most do not get it.
Mar 27, 2007 02:07 AM