Smoking hurts your homes resale value

Smoking hurts more than you health, it hurts you in the wallet! I am not just talking the cost of buying smokes and the added health costs.

I am talking about your home’s value.

A recent survey of REALTORS in Ontario stated smoke filled homes sell for up to 29% less than homes without a smoker. The survey also said 56% of buyers are less likely to purchase a home that smells of smoke and 27% said buyers wouldn’t purchase a smoke filled home. I can tell you from personal experience, I have had a buyer open a door to a house, smell the smoke and say to me “I think we should pass on this one.” They wouldn’t even go inside!

Smoke filled homes take longer to sell

As an agent, there homes I will not go into.. We had a home listed at one time, the owner smoked constantly. One day I was showing 8 homed to a nice couple. We looked at the smokers home first, I spent the rest of the day wanting to go home and change because the 5 minutes I spent in the house allowed my cloths to absorb the smoke smell and bothered me all day long. That was the last time I went into that house. I finally sold the house but never went back inside. I would stand on the front porch in the rain instead of going inside.

The longer a home sits on the market, the less a seller will get for the house. I had a great home listed, it was in a great neighborhood, lots of space, well maintained.. but smelled like smoke. The house finally sold but it took so much longer than it should have due to the smell.

What is the Big Deal?

The smell of smoke gets into the walls, the carpet, furniture, the air ducts, it smells up the whole house. Most smokers cant smell it and have no idea how bad it stinks to non-smokers. It is a big turnoff and a major expense to remove the smell of smoke.

Don’t try to cover the smell it just makes it worse. Start by not smoking inside and opening the house to allow it to air out. Allowing it to air, is one of the best things you can do. Wash all drapes, rugs, and change your air filter. Use baking soda on the carpets and upholstery. Best bet is to call in a professional and be clear with them you are trying to get rid of tobacco smoke. Be prepared for the cleaning bill.

If you going to smoke, smoke outside