HOME SELLING TIPS: Smoking Has Negative Impact On Home Saleability

By  //  March 13, 2016

REAL ESTATE REPORT

ABOVE VIDEO: Learn how to avoid the Five Top Mistakes Home Sellers make when selling a home. Choosing to work with a qualified agent can help you avoid costly mistakes such as incorrectly pricing your home, not preparing your home for sale, and ineffective marketing.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – I’m sure you’re aware that tobacco smoking is bad for your health. In fact, according to the American heart Association, 24 percent of men and 21 percent of women in the U.S. are habitual smokers. But did you know that it’s also very bad for selling your house?

Smoking in a home could lower the value of property as much as 29 percent according to a recent survey real estate agents and brokers, sponsored by Pfizer.
Smoking in a home could lower the value of property as much as 29 percent according to a recent survey real estate agents and brokers, sponsored by Pfizer.

Smoking in a home could lower the value of property as much as 29 percent according to a recent survey of Ontario real estate agents and brokers, sponsored by Pfizer Canada.

COULDN’T WAIT TO EXIT

As a matter of fact,  just the other day I happened to be showing a nice home in a Brevard County beachside communtiy that had a very offensive smoke smell throughout.  To make it even worse, the seller had incense sticks burning to mask the smell.  Actually I believe the incense made the offensive odor even worse.

The first comment my buyer made to me was, “Yuck! Someone likes to smoke in here.” She continued by saying that it would be very hard to get all of the smell out of the home. This being said, my buyer and I couldn’t wait to exit.

So sad to see such a nice house ruined.

MORE REASON TO QUIT SMOKING – AT LEAST IN YOUR HOME

Almost half (44 percent) of the real estate agents and brokers surveyed said smoking in the home affects resale value.

Of these, one-in-three (32 percent) said smoking in the home may lower the value by 10-19 percent and a further one-in-three (32 percent) said it may lower the value by 20-29 percent.

Smoking has a negative impact on how appealing a home is to a prospective buyer, according to the experts.
Smoking has a negative impact on how appealing a home is to a prospective buyer, according to the experts.

An overwhelming majority of Ontario real estate agents and brokers (88 percent) said it’s more difficult to sell a home where owners have smoked.

More than half (56 percent) said most buyers are less likely to purchase a home where people have smoked, and 27 percent went further and said most buyers are actually unwilling to buy a home where people have smoked.

“Smoking has a profound impact on how appealing a home is to a prospective buyer,” said David Visentin.

“It stains walls and carpets, and leaves a smell that can be hard to eliminate. Many prospective buyers are really put off by homes that have been smoked in, and they can be very challenging to sell.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bobby Freeman
Bobby Freeman

Bobby Freeman, a life-time resident of Brevard County, has been a top Realtor in the area for two decades. In his first year as an agent, Freeman received a Rising Star award from his Brokers. Since then he has achieved numerous sales awards including the prestigious RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award.

Freeman, Jennifer McCoy and Nikki McCoy-Freeman are family partners for RE/MAX Elite’s McCoy-Freeman Group. Together they have more than 30 years of extensive experience in all aspects of the real estate industry and have sold over $300 million.

Among McCoy-Freeman Group’s achievements are RE/MAX Hall of Fame, RE/MAX Platinum Club, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS), Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE), Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) and voted Best Realtor in Brevard County.

The group has been featured in many news publications including CNN Money Magazine, CNNMoney.com, WFTV 9 News, News 13, WKMG News 6, Coastal Condo Living Magazine, Hot Retirement Towns Magazine and SpaceCoastDaily.com.

For more information log on to BrevardRealtyConnection.com

TO SEE CONDO LISTINGS LOG ON TO CocoaBeachCondoGallery.com