Smokers' houses harder to sell

Wilmington (DE) News Journal ^ | September 26, 2003 | Maureen Milford

[Gabz]

As tobacco has become less socially acceptable and home buyers are more aware of indoor air quality, houses that reek of cigarette smoke are becoming a harder sell, experts report.

"It definitely is a major turnoff," said Michael Wilson, a real estate agent with Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors in Brandywine Hundred. "Buyers immediately think about what they'll have to do to eliminate the odor. It's a real drawback and a real negative."

[Max McGarrity]

I am a non-smoker. I am not overly offended by smoke, but I would not buy a used car owned by a smoker, nor a house owned by a smoker. No offense intended. Really. My parents both smoked. I dreaded the sound of the "flick of the bic" when they awoke in the morning, knowing I would have to breathe that stuff as long as I was in the house that day.

No offense taken, but I do have a question for you if you'd be so kind: Your reaction to your parents smoking is the exact opposite of mine and I wonder, were you a sickly child? (no offense intended) Did you have a happy childhood overall?

[VermiciousKnid]

Speaking as a homeowner who pays the mind-boggling sum of $9,000+/year in property (school) taxes, I would be DELIGHTED to learn that my house is "worth less" than my neighbors'.

But you're right...that dog WON'T hunt at the assessor's office.

Regards,

PS: BTW...how come everybody is so concerned about white walls? I don't have a single white wall in my entire house. Got "Denim," "China Blue," "Sage," "German Chocolate," "Pumpkin," "Imperial Blood," and "Verbena," but no white. Doesn't anybody else like COLOR?

[HamiltonJay]

I suppose, personally I really don't care if people smoke in their homes.. however you definately live in la la land if you think buyers won't penalize a house that smells or is visibly unclean.

I mean for pete's sake, you think used car dealers send out their cars to be detailed and sprayed with used car scent because there is a market out there for smoke smelled nicotine caked on the dash vehicles? Be real... but I guess because its their house the rules of the market don't apply.

[Gabz]

Hey, I heard that cigarette smoke killed dust mites, mold and all of the other latter day hypochonriacistic mennaces that people seem to have discovered about homes.

LOL is right.

It's amazing that the rates of asthma and other respiratory problems in children have been skyrocketing at the same time that smoking rates and smoking indoors have drastically decreased.

I have serious concerns about these sterile environments people insist on living in. They scare me. I can't possibly imagine not lettig a kid play in the mud - but I've actually had people tell me I was exposing my daughter to all kinds of germs by allowing her to make mud pies. And that I am wrong to have dogs in the house, because they may cause her to have allergies.

Good grief, playing in the mud and being around animals are probalby better vaccines against stuff than some of the vaccines they are required to have for school.

If you don't like the fact the house you are looking at is owned by smokers, walk out or make an offer you think might work - other than that - get a life. That is my opinion of these cry babies.

[Max McGarrity]

arrogant prig" Dang, Gabz! I've been wanting to use that phrase for the longest time! Well done.

[hope]

LOL! funny but true. The same affect with pet urine. I cannot tell you how many times I've had to advise a seller to clean up their investment of forget about making a profit.

[Gabz]

Your arrogance is so appealing.

[HamiltonJay]

Well that is definately true, people often don't notice the smells that they are around constantly... but the fact is, and I have seen this, EVEN SMOKERS don't want a obviously well smoked in house! I am not kidding, I have seen couples that were each 3 pack a day smokers, walk into homes that showed the obvious results of years of smoking in a house, walk out saying no way, its too dirty and smelly. And the only dirt and smell were the nicotine and smoke residue.

I have no doubt their house will look and smell just as bad in less than 2 years, but because they are looking to BUY and the defect was obvious both visually and olfactory they didn't want it.

Even smokers don't want homes in that condition if they have a choice. Lets face it, for most people buying a home is the biggest commitment they will make in their lifetimes... they want the very best they can manage.

[Rebelbase]

Re: Car detailing. Maybe the nico brown-shirts should look into "Cigarette Butt" scented air fresheners at the car wash.

[Texan5]

Thank you, Max!

[Gabz]

And I know you are a lot happier where you are now!

You better believe it.

But as any new homeowners, we have lots of things that we are doing and want to do.

I'm just about finished the wallpapering in the kitchen, then I can start painting. Hubby has already built the upstairs deck and added a door from the attic, and that is slowly being transformed into our office and my walk in closet. We just ordered our woodstove.

There is no end to the things one does when one buys a new (to them) house.

[pttttt]

"No, I don't mind if you smoke. Do you mind if I f*rt? It's one of my habits... I quit once for a year, you know, but I gained a lot of weight. It's hard to quit. You know, after sex I really get the urge to light one up." -- Steve Martin

[Rebelbase]

Oh yeah, one more thing. The nico brown-shirts will always disolve to calling you obnoxious, arrogant or some other insult well before the thread ends. In my case its been "clueless droid" tonight.

[Max McGarrity]

"walls weeping tar" and other smoke related agents

Been studying that ol' anti-smoker playbook for the proper hype and hysteria, I see. Or are you really Joe Cherner in disguise?

[Gabz]

Any time!!!

Love your screen name (yes I did read your tag line!!!)

[lockjaw02]

I know full well what appraisals and assessments are. The fact is that both appraisals and assessments are attempts to value a property at a specific point in time, but the value changes from minute to minute and month to month according to the laws of supply and demand and many other confounders too numerous to list. Contrary to your opinion, assessments do indeed have something to do with home values at a more macro-level between higher and lower value neighborhoods within a tax district in order to try to assess homeowners their fair share of property taxes. Granted, it's not an exact science and more wealthy homeowners have more means at their disposal to influence tax boards to undervalue their homes, while less affluent tend to have to suck it up with higher assessments. Appraisals, on the other hand, are normally based on the most recent comparative home sales. Depending on the time of day, the phase of the moon, or the latest news on the communist news network, you may get more or less than an identical home that sold on the next lot just the day before.

Furthermore, also contrary to your opinion, the selling price of a home has absolutely nothing to do with it's "true value". Some people overpay and some underpay according to their own economic situation and their own personal desires, many not even paying attention to the intrinsic value of the property. I know someone who just bought a repossessed house after a default on a 56k mortgage for 12k cash, since it sat on the market in an economically depressed area unoccupied for three years and the bank needed to unload. Are you telling me that the "true value" of that house is 12k?!? I think not. In fact, the town sure assesses its value as a lot more than 12k for tax purposes, just like all other homes of similar square footage and property. Anyway, you calling both appraisals and assessements myths nullifies your own arguments that smokers' homes automatically sell for less than like properties own by non-smokers. It's the condition of the house at time of sale, not the fact that someone smoked in it or not which influences the selling price. Funny, but as you continue to argue, you keep making the same point as to the condition. Thanks.

[VRWC_minion]

I got exactly what I asked for my house, which was more than the previous selling identical townhouse unit in the community that was owned by non-smokers. That is REALITY.

Maybe your house would have sold for a premium had you been a nonsmoker.

[HamiltonJay]

#1 I have never called nor classified anyone as a slob based on their smoking preferences

#2 Carpet allowance is NOT generally a condition of sale, at least not in these parts. Unless they are severely stained. Most homes do not get new carpet with a sale around here, believe me.

#3 Leaving homes unfinished for the buyer to decide is a function of new construction, rarely found in existing home sales in these parts.

The market I live in the median HOUSEHOLD income is less than 40k a year, the typical home in a decent neighborhood goes for 60-80k a year.. if you go into the higher neighborhoods/properties you get into the 100-150ish range for most existing homes and for new home construction you are looking generally at 200-300k, and new townhomes in the 100-150ish range.

People aren't given away free carpet with the sale if the existing carpet is not worn damaged or horridly stained. Medium grade carpet with medium pad in these parts is going to cost you around 12.50 a yard installed if you are a contractor/landlord... if you are just joe six pack wanting it installed its much more. In the modest to average price ranges, people aren't giving buyers 2-3k carpet allowances with their sales if the carpet is good and fucntional.

Your area of the country may be different, here in the rust belt, its not typical to expect the seller to front cosmetic repairs on a typical average home.. it can happen, but even if it does, you are still affecting the sale price as that credit comes off the sale, so again you are not getting top dollar. The market is not hot enough to support it, why would I choose your house in need of cosmetic repair when I can go pay the same price for a completely rehabbed one ready to move in?

If any sort of significant work is needed at all to a property, the seller does it before the sale, or you better get ready to hand your buyer some instant equity.

[NCLaw441]

No, I wasn't sickly, hardly ever sick at all, actually. Perfect attendance in school most years. Happy childhood? I can't complain too much, at least in retrospect. I never thought I lived a wretched life as a child. We were poor, but I didn't know the difference. My father drank too much, and earned too little, though. My parents divorced when I was in 6th grade, and we moved to NC (My mother, my younger sister and much younger brother and me.) We received govt assistance for a short time, but we didn't miss many meals. I was the first in my family to attend college. My mother died less than a year after I was married, of cancer (smoking-related I believe). She was 43. I went to grad school later and now earn enough to be hated by the dems (which pleases me to no end). We are not rich, but comfortable. My father has since stopped smoking. My sister has tried repeatedly to quit, without success. My younger brother has never smoked. By the way, I never blamed the tobacco industry for my mother's illness and death. She made the choice herself. She did smoke a LOT, and it was uncomfortable coming home to see her, walking through the door into the haze and smell. Only after leaving for college did I even realize that my clothes smelled of smoke from living in the house with her. I have rambled. Sorry.

[Gabz]

Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms...whose got the chips ?

OOPs!!! I forgot.

Am I forgiven?