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Smoker's Den - UGH!

Yesterday a friend gave me a call - there is a condo in her community that is in foreclosure - seems someone passed on and the remaining relatives just cleared out the furniture and let the bank take the place over. Well, after checking it out I am understanding why. The place is a mess!

The gentleman that lived there must have resided there for years! The walls and ceiling are stained yellow from cigarette smoke. It is so bad that when they removed the wall hanging in the bathroom you could see that all of the bathroom tiles (with the exception of the spot that had been covered by whatever had been on the wall there) were totally YELLOW!

My friend is interested in the place but is wondering what she can do to get rid of that horrible smell! The carpet has been removed, but she is wondering if paint alone will get rid of that odor and I am really clueless! I have NEVER seen anyplace turned TOTALLY YELLOW like this place is! It is disgusting!

Does anybody have any experience with a place where smokers lived for a long period of time? Does that come out of the walls and cabinets? I am sure that odor is deep inside everything!

Suggestions on what to do are welcome!!! (No, we can't burn it down, it is a condo)

 

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barbara jo roberts berberi, realtor
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Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA

Charles Rutenberg Realty

Serving the Greater Palm Harbor Florida Area, including Crystal Beach, Ozona, Clearwater, Dunedin, Safety Harbor & Tarpon Springs Florida & surrounding area

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Comments (5)

Terry Edwards
Russell & Jeffcoat Real Estate Corp. - Columbia, SC

Last winter a friend called to say he needed to sell his older sister's house who had passed away.  I met him there and the house reeked of smoke.  We talked about this and he stated his sister had lived there since the early '70s so the smoke molecules were embedded everywhere. He said he would correct the problem before we listed it.

About 10 days later I met him at the house and what a difference!  He had replaced all the carpeting and added 2 heavy coats of KILZ to the walls along with 2 coats of Glidden oil-based paint.  The Glidden rep told him that latex paint would not work during periods of high humidity. 

Over the next 3 months I was in the house several times and not once did I detect any smoke odors.

Terry Edwards in sunny and humid SC

Nov 13, 2008 09:00 PM
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

Terry- wow! Kilz - who would have thought! I have used it before put it would have never occurred to me to use it for smoke!!! Thanks!!!

Nov 14, 2008 04:46 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

I think a good thorough cleaning, and then repaint everything, would work.  Get rid of carpet, drapes etc.  Scrub the heck out of the tiles.  Open the windows and let the fresh air in.  Good luck, I hope they get it.

Nov 21, 2008 06:41 AM
Mary Strang
Viroqua, WI

I would also consider renting an air purifier to improve the indoor air quality. Cleaning is going to require removal of every thing attached, wall switches and cover plates, light fixtures and bulbs, closet rods, drapery rod, lots of work there.

Nov 22, 2008 12:01 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

Georgina - carpet and drapes are already gone - I have never seen anything like this place!

Mary - Indeed and my client has decided to move on - just too much work involved!

Nov 22, 2008 08:46 AM