Special offer
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz

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Rainmaker
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Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Usually, yes and if the home smells it take longer to sell.

Aug 19, 2016 09:32 PM
Ambassador
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Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Smoke and pet smells can be very difficult to remove, and this does have a huge impact on the price.

Aug 20, 2016 01:13 PM
Rainmaker
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Robert,

Where ther is a will, there is a way.  A

Aug 19, 2016 02:56 PM
Rainmaker
2,401,235
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Cat Litter Bob

Vegas Bob wanted to throw this question out to the Brokers & Agents of ActiveRain and possible outsiders.

I think with so many homes on the market that have been rental properties and trashed with animal odors, cigarette odors, etc, that if the homes cannot be totally rid of the odors that these homes should be worth less.

Unless these homes are completely gone through they seem to have that smell that can really be a turn off to potential buyers, don't you think?

cigarettes

And after looking at these photos, what do you think?

Aug 19, 2016 02:23 PM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Yes if you have lost your sense or smell.

Robert Vegas Bob Swetz this question stinks

Aug 20, 2016 03:10 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,328
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

buyers buy on comparison and the homes with odors are usually removed from the list....if the price is discounted, there's always a concern about removing the odors PERMANENTLY!!!

Aug 19, 2016 11:10 PM
Ambassador
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Investors have been saying for years that a stinky house smells like OPPORTUNITY.

Aug 19, 2016 05:08 PM
Rainmaker
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Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Depending on the smell far less value.

Aug 19, 2016 03:07 PM
Rainmaker
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Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Robert Vegas Bob Swetz - I am also a believer in that. In fact, the toughest homes to sell are the one with the smell of cigarettes.

Aug 19, 2016 03:05 PM
Rainmaker
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Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

All smells can be removed just takes a bit of knowledge and expertise:)) but for the ones for your example yes it will be worth less...Endre

Aug 19, 2016 02:52 PM
Rainer
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Andrzej Niemyjski
Realty One Group - Sun City West, AZ

in the normal market those homes are almost impossible to sell

Aug 19, 2016 02:29 PM
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
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Yes as it takes longer to sell - IF it sells!

Aug 19, 2016 02:19 PM
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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Less in value, and often they cannot be sold.

Aug 19, 2016 02:16 PM
Rainer
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Sandra Steele
Wise Choice Properties, Sedona/Verde Valley Branch - Cottonwood, AZ
Integrity, Knowledge - 37 Years of Experience!!!

That is a touchy question and depends on so many things.  All odors can be removed.  It can be expensive and a professional should be called in to analyze the situation.  Could be removing carpet, painting and good odor repellents could do the trick.  ???

Aug 23, 2016 12:54 PM
Rainmaker
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Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Yes.  Odors can put people off.

Aug 21, 2016 04:42 AM
Rainmaker
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Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Of course, however, if they are that nasty my buyers won't offer on it.

Aug 20, 2016 02:01 PM
Rainmaker
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Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

Yes. 

Aug 20, 2016 12:44 PM
Rainmaker
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William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

If theodor is there they are gone.

Aug 20, 2016 12:30 PM
Rainmaker
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Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Some buyers don't care about the odors.  They'll buy it anway.  Usually it does bring in less that asking price.

Aug 20, 2016 12:26 PM
Rainmaker
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Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Yes, much less.

Aug 20, 2016 12:16 PM
Rainmaker
290,969
Allie Angeloni
Long Realty - Oro Valley, AZ

Yes, it would make sense that nasty odors that cannot be totally removed would sell for less and have diminished value for that reason.  Every nasty odor does not clean-up, so new flooring and walls might be in order, though I would certainly bring in an expert to get an Evaluation and Estimate.  Maybe multidimensional remediation is required Robert Vegas Bob Swetz.                        

Aug 20, 2016 10:57 AM
Ambassador
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Yes. I actually had a post I wrote about a Stinky house picked up and publish. It gave an actual example of how much less the home sold for ... how much longer it was on the market because of the odor ... in this case it as the smell of curry. 

Aug 20, 2016 06:02 AM
Ambassador
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Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Absolutely.  Anything that makes it harder to sell a home makes it worth less money.

Aug 20, 2016 04:07 AM
Rainmaker
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Yes but nasty odors always can be removed or sealed. If you have to remove all the carpet & seal the floors it's possible. I've had rehabbers also have to remove the ductwork just to be sure also.

Your sellers are going to pay a hefty 'hassle factor' for someone else to remove the stink depending on what it is.  Cigs are nothing compared to a body laying in the dining room for a week.

Aug 20, 2016 01:38 AM
Rainmaker
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Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

Yes, it makes a great case to submit a lower offer in my opinion.

Aug 20, 2016 12:50 AM
Rainmaker
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Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Yes, complaints from future home owners.

Aug 20, 2016 12:40 AM
Rainer
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Jessie Cochran
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Panama City Realty Group

Nope, been there done that - got lucky though I think

Aug 20, 2016 12:19 AM
Rainmaker
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Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

They will be harder to sell and have less value. if i was a buyer of one, i would identfy sources of odors, then estimate costs of removing odors, and lower my offer to cover remediation.

Aug 20, 2016 12:17 AM
Rainmaker
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

All other things being equal -- yes, odors make a difference.  

Aug 20, 2016 12:16 AM
Rainmaker
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Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Robert Vegas Bob Swetz I believe "Nasty Odors" turn off people before it affects the price.

Aug 20, 2016 12:00 AM
Rainmaker
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Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Not really, just have to find the right buyer

Had one with a pet odor that could not be removed after 3 commercial cleanings - found a buyer who couldn't smell anything :)

Aug 20, 2016 12:00 AM
Rainmaker
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Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Smell will turn buyers off! Those with an interest want a large discount!

Aug 19, 2016 11:56 PM
Rainmaker
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James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

You bet

Aug 19, 2016 11:48 PM
Rainmaker
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Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

yes

Aug 19, 2016 11:10 PM
Rainmaker
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Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

They can represent great values to the right buyers; yes!

Aug 19, 2016 10:50 PM
Rainmaker
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Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

NO but guess who is getting a new paint job and or flooring makeover?

Aug 19, 2016 10:50 PM
Ambassador
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Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Stinky houses are not favorites of buyers -- and they usually do sell for less.

Aug 19, 2016 10:43 PM
Rainmaker
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Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Absolutely.  Considerably less.

Aug 19, 2016 09:59 PM
Rainmaker
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Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

yes

Aug 19, 2016 09:46 PM
Ambassador
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Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Probably, after al, who wants to live in a smelly house?

Aug 19, 2016 09:25 PM
Rainmaker
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Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Yes. Investors love them.

Aug 19, 2016 09:14 PM
Rainmaker
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Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Yes, these definitely lower the value (as well as time on market).

Aug 19, 2016 07:41 PM
Rainmaker
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Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

It will reduce your potential pool of buyers significantly, at least, here in Los Angeles county. I'd disclosure the odor in agent remarks not to waste anyone's time. 

Aug 19, 2016 06:26 PM
Rainmaker
634,532
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

Get rid of the odor or sell for less!

Aug 19, 2016 05:51 PM
Rainmaker
1,157,791
FN LN
Toronto, ON

It depends upon the particular situation.

Aug 19, 2016 03:35 PM