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Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS, South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker! (Fathom Realty Washington LLC)

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Rainmaker
4,571,456
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

There is no perfect house.  

Real buyers buy.

Real sellers sell.

Someone might get a smokin' deal.

 

Feb 05, 2016 09:07 PM
Rainmaker
533,993
Robert Havana
Park and Protect- Alberta Real Estate License Parking - Calgary, AB
Alberta Real Estate License Parking

I bought a house personally from a lady who had smoked heavy for 50 years.  The walls actually bled yellow.  We washed them with bleach twice, then tried to paint them with heavy duty primer, but even still there were spots the nicotene bled through the paint.  Eventually we had to repaint in a yellow tint color.

Feb 05, 2016 12:46 PM
Ambassador
5,048,708
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I wrote a post about this and also  Q and A

I have yet to have a buyer purchase a home where there were smokers, at least where it was obvious

I did have a listing a few years ago where the seller was a smoker. Her family did a lot of work to remediate and it sold

Feb 05, 2016 01:18 PM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Paul I have a listing in that category right now. They had to repainting and it still did not do it.

Feb 05, 2016 12:35 PM
Ambassador
1,452,569
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Paul S. Henderson, Realtor, Broker, Tacoma Washington  I wrote a blog about this a few weeks back.  We used to think it was only the odour that needed to be dealt with - Nope!  It has now been determined that the smoke/chemicals permeate into the drywall and a lot of flooring.  It is called Third Hand Smoke and it too causes cancer. 

My clients are running from any home that has been smoked in!

Feb 05, 2016 12:26 PM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Paul - Never had that situation come up.

I'm not sure anyone actually ever finds the perfect house.

I have only been in a few homes where the owner(s) smoked, and they were a no go from that point. Most buyers are very turned off by cigarette smell.

Feb 08, 2016 10:34 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

We walked out of a house like that just the other day.  It absolutely reeked of nicotine.

Feb 07, 2016 11:21 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,372
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I have some out of town buyers now, that DID write on a home they loved, and HOPED that awful smell would disappear after painting and replacing carpet.   Did not win the bid though!

Feb 07, 2016 02:15 AM
Rainmaker
637,434
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Yes, this past year. They got it at a great price. They cleaned it thoroughly, put all new flooring in, etc. and are super happy with it. I must say, I noticed that one of them smokes too, but never inside.

Feb 06, 2016 05:23 PM
Rainmaker
864,658
Les & Sarah Oswald
Realty One Group - Eastvale, CA
Broker, Realtor and Investor

Yes. Our first purchase as a married couple was just as you described. We didn't know much but sure learned quickly. We scrubbed, cleaned with TSP several times. The walls were dripped with yellow stains. We were young...and had to learn the hard way. Although the house was only infused with 20 years of smoke.

Feb 06, 2016 03:18 PM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Yes they did.  And a good Ozone treatment took care of the problem.

Feb 06, 2016 03:29 AM
Rainmaker
152,661
Chrissi Chapman Topoleski
Coldwell Banker Realty - Woodbridge, VA
Helping agents live an exceptional life!

I have not sold one, but my ex bought one many years ago before I saw it. When I went in for the first time I cried, because I didn't want to live there. The walls were mustard yellow, except for the pristine white where pictures had hung. The smell was unbelievable. All the flooring was replaced, everything sealed and painted with Killz, and every other inch of the house was cleaned. You couldn't smell the smoke anymore when we were done.

Feb 05, 2016 09:42 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Typically most buyers these days wont walk in. Those that do have a chore of washing, painting every surface and new flooring and that always does not get all the smell out. 

Feb 05, 2016 09:08 PM
Rainmaker
5,215,388
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Yes, my best friend's uncle smoked cigars in his home for over 40 years. When he died the family wanted me to list it! We spent 6 months removing the odor! Luckily they had the funds to remediate and take the time to do so. House sold in two days!

Feb 05, 2016 09:04 PM
Rainmaker
3,626,530
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Yes I have several times.  Most of the time they walk.  

Feb 05, 2016 08:46 PM
Rainer
150,416
Michael Thacker - Re/Max Real Estate Center - Louisville
Re/Max Real Estate Center - The Thacker Group - Louisville, KY
Your best friend who just happens to be a Realtor

More often they run from it if upgraded, but if not upgraded and its priced to sell, then they will buy it.

Feb 05, 2016 08:35 PM
Rainer
274,059
Curtis Evans
Cabin Realty LLC/ USA, Licensed in Louisiana - Golden Meadow, LA

One way to help absorb the smoke smell is to put several containers of charcoal thru out the house. I have done this and after a few days there is a very noticeable difference. If the oder is really bad, change the charcoal after 30 days.

Feb 05, 2016 08:30 PM
Rainer
42,670
Fred Hafdelin
Weichert Realtors - Mountain Lakes, NJ

I once had a Seller who smoked...a lot. The home reeked of smoke and the windows had a brown film over them. The Home was sold in that condition and the new owners hired a professional deep cleaning service who cleaned and deodorized ( I think) the home while it was vacant. Fortunatly the home had no carpeting and the new owner had the entire interior of the home painted while it was empty.

Feb 05, 2016 07:55 PM
Rainmaker
564,720
Women of Westchester Working Together
Women of Westchester Working Together - West Harrison, NY
Women helping Women get ahead

They would be super stupid to buy it.  Not good for health at all.  And, next to impossible to ever get that smell out unless you replace all the walls and floors.

Feb 05, 2016 06:59 PM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

As time goes on my sensitivity also rises but I've used zone treatments somewhat successfully and painting will keep it at bay often too. There's a 50/50 shot at making the sale after the initial shock. It's a stigma that's very hard to overcome with non-smokers and more so if they have children.

Feb 05, 2016 06:34 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Paul. When I was in the business, smoking was a lot for common, most of the time the purchase was made.

Feb 05, 2016 06:30 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good morning Paul S. Henderson, Realtor, Broker, Tacoma Washington . I have inspected a few of these. Not much fun.

Feb 05, 2016 05:22 PM
Rainmaker
883,537
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

Yes! I had this happen just this year...beautiful home beautiful view and buyers who LOVED it! it took several weeks to have it cleaned with a professional who washed every square inch... ceilings, walls,floors, closets,  trim, windows, fixtures, light sockets everything . then they kilns everything and painted it... all carpet was torn out and replaced after they treated the floors the same and kilns themm too.....the house was gleaming clean and smelled liked fresh air when they were done but it took a lot of work and effort and patience ... but the buyers love it!   it was a special product you can buy at Home Dept.. THS or something like that...

Feb 05, 2016 04:59 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I'm not a smoker and very sensitive to such houses. It takes some time to get rid of such smell, so I do not consider such houses ''perfect''.

Feb 05, 2016 03:57 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

That's why I tell my buyers Paul S. Henderson, Realtor, Broker, Tacoma Washington - there is no perfect house...you have to have some kind of compromise to do, if at all...

Feb 05, 2016 01:09 PM
Rainer
216,904
Sharon Altier
Coldwell Banker Realty - Elmhurst, IL
Luxury Property Specialist, CSC, SFR

My buyer recently bought a house as such.  There appears to have been one room, one area (desk) where she smoked.  The ceiling above was deep yellow/sooted, the walls around the picture in front of the desk were clearly showing the yellow soot...They were going to remove the drywall and flooring in that room and quickly did that after moving into the home.  Otherwise, they didn't seem to have an issue with it. 

Feb 05, 2016 01:03 PM
Ambassador
6,392,879
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

We buy and fix homes like this.

May 07, 2019 08:15 PM
Rainmaker
4,935,551
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

That would be a draw back.  Hard to say if you can ever get the smell out

Feb 09, 2016 08:34 AM
Rainmaker
140,768
Joan Dickie
Keller Williams Premier Realty - La Crosse, WI
Keller Williams Premier Realty

No.  More than ever, buyers are sensitive.

Feb 06, 2016 08:55 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,896
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

No; in my opinion, no house is perfect. Everyone must compromise.

Feb 06, 2016 07:40 AM
Ambassador
3,344,906
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I cannot stand the smell of smoke. It literally makes me feel like I am going to throw up. Just passing by someone who is smoking will do it to me. I would not enter a home that reeks of smoke.  So, the answer is No.

Feb 06, 2016 04:45 AM
Rainmaker
763,783
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Yes, and my advice is that it will take a lot to get the smell out of the paint, carpet, drapes, ventilation system and might take more money than they anticipate.  I have been successful in discouraging people from buying headaches so far.

Feb 06, 2016 04:17 AM
Rainmaker
7,834,939
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I have sold many smokey properties but I would not describe any of them as perfect.

Feb 06, 2016 03:19 AM
Rainmaker
175,614
Spirit Messingham
Tierra Antigua Realty - Tucson, AZ
Third Generation Full-Time Realtor® 520 471-6900

Yuck.  Most buyers will move on, turns them off so fast, not even funny.  Like a house with mold, you can get it remediated.  Or you can find another house with no mold.

Feb 06, 2016 02:23 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

If someone smokes then it would not be a perfect house.

Feb 06, 2016 01:01 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Paul,

It depends on how much the buyer likes it.  A

Feb 05, 2016 11:48 PM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

If this was the problem, then the only situation where the client would likely want to buy the property is if they intend to demolish the house and put up a new house. 

Feb 05, 2016 11:15 PM
Rainer
223,831
LUXURYSOCALREALTY COMPASS La Jolla
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network

I listed one we gutted it and did smoke remediation work

Feb 05, 2016 11:15 PM
Rainer
80,653
Linda Guess
Keller Williams Tri-Lakes Branson, MO - Branson, MO
Branson area real estate sales.

I bought a rental where the nicotine was thick on everything.  Wash walls and cabinets with vinegar.  That really helps.  We of course had to throw out the furniture.  Install new floors and A/C.   It was not bad after that. 

Feb 05, 2016 10:49 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,013
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Had this with pets & spices as well as smokers too...transaction did move

Feb 05, 2016 10:26 PM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Paul S. Henderson, Realtor, Broker, Tacoma Washington The non-smoker clients that I worked with in the past could tell there were smoker's in the house the minute they hit the front door. That's as far as they got. No sale there.

Feb 05, 2016 10:18 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

I have sold many 'smoker den' houses.

There is a buyer for every house.

A delicate buyer would be properly advised to avoid these situations.

Feb 05, 2016 10:05 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

No

Feb 05, 2016 09:33 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I have not yet sold a house where the sellers smoked 3 packs a day.

Feb 05, 2016 08:52 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,806
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I've sold one home like this. One!!!!!

Feb 05, 2016 08:47 PM