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."

[Judith Anne]

Yes, well, I'm off this thread. You can't talk sense to some people.

I'd guess that any house that people lived in for 80-100 years would take quite a bit of work to rehab, but for heaven's sake, blaming it on smoking is so strange...I'm still shaking my head over the brown crust--that was the oddest thing I've read from a putative conservative in quite a while.

I've also known of some pretty shady "rehabbers" who slap a few coats of paint and some cheap carpet over serious water and bug damage, and then sell to unsuspecting kids at a premium. I don't think much of the trade as a whole. Mostly they're out for a quick buck and wouldn't dream of buying for themselves the crap they turn over. Imaginary smoker's damage is the LEAST thing wrong with these structural nightmares.

[OMalley]

LOL
Its true. Its all in the care.

My husband is asmatic so I only smoke in the upstairs bathroom, exept when he is gone travelling, then its a free for all. I always keep a window open (unless its below zero) and I vacuum daily.
Most ppl never notice I smoke in the house at all. Febreeze is a great product too, just spray like mad before you leave for a few hours, it can be over powering, but will smell fresh when you get home:)

[Gabz]

Good for you.

But expect to be attacked. Anytime I have done what you did (call someone that knows) I have been called all kinds of nasty things, liar being the nicest of the names.

[Gabz]

The Nico Brown-Shirts descend upon these threads like flies on sh_t.

The nico-gnatzie control freak nannies descend upon these threads like white on rice.

You're here - I've proven my point.

[Judith Anne]

Harpies everywhere. They just gotta be ragging on somebody, preferably a nice person who doesn't bother anyone and wants to be left in peace with a cigarette, pipe, or cigar.

[Gabz]

Tell us where you are and I'm sure several of us would be more than happy to take you up on the challenge.

[Gabz]

Smoker, or not

Exactly.

I'm not a 'clean freak' only because I am messy when it comes to paperwork and stuff - but I am clean.

As long as you pay attention to simple things like vaccuuming, mopping floors, doing laundry, doing dishes, cleaning up after accidents (pets, kids, or whatever), emptying ashtrays, and occasionally washing windows - there is not going to be a problem.

I actually got more money back than just my deposit from the last landlord I had.

We were out 5 days prior to the lease being up and the place was so clean, according to the letter I got from the landlord, that she prorated the rent by 10 days. That was more than a hundred bucks, plus the entire security deposit. Since we had just bought a place and needed to do a bunch of work that came in really handy.

[Blue Jays]

Good Evening All-

Post by SheLion: "...And how about those of us who have to heat in the winter with WOOD FIRES?..."

*************************

SheLion, foul odors (regardless of source) reduce property values. It doesn't matter whether it is cigarettes, wood stoves, nearby toxic waste dumps, or body odor.

The previous penny-pinching owners of my home relied upon the woodstove as much as the gas furnace...and we low-balled him on our offer and STILL got the house because he was carrying two mortgages. If the house smelled "seabreeze fresh" we probably would have encountered more bidding competition and could have lost the house.

I don't care if people smoke, but doing it in your own home or automobile only hurts YOU in the end come resale time.

~ Blue Jays ~

[Gabz]

I am right now in the process of painting the inside of the garage.

Paint it orange.

[kingu]

A 1999 California tobacco study found that 47.2 percent of smokers in that state had smoke-free homes. In 1993, only 20.1 percent of smokers had restrictions on smoking in their houses, according to the California Department of Health.

What a joke this statistic is in relation to this article. In California, you can have a mass murder in a home and people will still buy it. Crack houses, drug labs, porns - compared to those, the smoking issue is a non-issue. Besides, it's a provable fact that the glues from cabinets, the plastics used in creating the carpets, and the solvents in house paints and in adhesives used in flooring are a lot worse than 'left over' smoke will ever be.

Home prices have climbed another 20 percent in the last year around here. No one cares if the house reeks of smoke, 'cause if they wait to find one that doesn't, the home prices will rise yet again.

[Gabz]

No apology necessary, my FRiend - you said nothing wrong.

I was agreeing with you and just expanded upon the pointyou were making.

While I can't totally give up my entire adult life*, I am still happy to be out of Delaware.

**I was born raised and educated in NYC and moved to Delaware when I was 22. And after 21 years in Delaware, I'm now a happy camper in Virginia!!!

[Gabz]

So funny............

How about some clue where it comes from.

[Gabz]

You seem to have a bit of a problem with your reading comprehension.

I only commented on corrupt real estate agents in Delaware, a state you claimed to not have any real estate dealings. Who has the problem here?

I don't keep my crabs in a bucket - I try my best to cook them as soon as I get them, they taste better.

Get over yourself. And start paying attention to what people say to you - even if they have a differing opinion.

When the next FReepathon starts I will remember you think I belong at DU, every hour that I am working to keep FR going.

[Gabz]

Yes, well, I'm off this thread. You can't talk sense to some people.

I'm not far behind you, my FRiend, that school bus shows up very early, and when hubby doesn't have to leave for work early the little one does like to see both mommy and daddy before she goes.

Of course we all know that I am lying with that comment because it is a well known fact that smokers aren't two parent married families who have any interest in their children.

We bought a small farm house from the son of the man that had built it in 1945. Every last bit of problems (none) were explained to us - and I haven't washed a bit of smoker residue from anywhere, and I know the old man had been a smoker because when we first looked at the house, there were ashtrays everywhere.

Ventilation!!!!!

After 5 months I remembered to wash the window that is next to my desk - fingerprint grease and doggie nose residue was all that was on the window. Proper ventilation and the proper tobacco product will put to rest all of the bogus claims of the anti-smoker nannies everytime!!!

Have a good night - talk soon.

[Gabz]

Everyone has a personal opinion.

We just ordered our new wood stove - it should be here by the middle of next week. I can't wait.

[Jeff Gordon]

Capitalism works.

[Gabz]

And what you are saying is not much different than what I encountered in Delaware.

I helped close down the crack house that had been across the street from me. It got to the point where I was on a first name relationship with the dispatcher of the local police department because I called so often.

I worked real hard in the years I lived in that neighborhood to help clean it up, and even when I was planning to move I had no intentions of changing my attitude.

They all knew I was the "narc" but as soon as the FOR SALE sign went up in front of my house they thought they had it made. Boy-o-boy were they so wrong.

[Gabz]

Capitalism works.

As it should.

[Jeff Gordon]

Living in the house of a smoker would remind them that they are just little girly men.

That is a new one but it sounds like you speak from experience.

[Jeff Gordon]

Give 'em hell Judy.