To a frequent smoker, the residual smell of tobacco in a home may be unnoticeable or even pleasant. However, from the perspective of a potential homebuyer, the smell of tobacco smoke residue can be a major red flag.
If you own or rent a home and are wondering about the financial effects of tobacco smoke residue, read on for our insights. Whether you’re trying to figure out how much to charge for rent or just curious about what kind of effect it might have on your resale value, we’ve got some answers for you.
Contents
What Smoke Does to a Home
Tobacco smoke leaves behind a residue that lingers long after smoking has ceased. This residue can include particle matter, nicotine, and other toxins. Over time, the smoke seeps into drywall, carpets, drapes, furniture and fabrics. Even if you paint or clean frequently to remove the smell of tobacco from your home’s surfaces, the residue will often remain deep in the fibers of your home’s materials.
The most notable effect of tobacco smoke residue is a decrease in property value. Because potential buyers are usually turned off by any hint of a smoky smell, many real estate agents and appraisers will knock down the resale value of a home if they detect a smoky smell.
Effects of Tobacco Smoke on a Home’s Value
The short answer is yes, tobacco smoke residue can decrease your home’s value. One survey of real estate agents suggested that evidence of thirdhand smoke in a home, such as stale tobacco smell or stains on walls or fabrics, reduces the selling price of a home by as much as 30%.
The smell of cigarette smoke and other particles from smokers can be extremely off-putting to potential buyers. Smoke residue has been linked to higher levels of certain toxins and can cause a decrease in indoor air quality.
The degree to which tobacco smoke residue affects your home’s value will depend on the market you’re in, as well as how much smoking has taken place in your home. If you are selling a home and you want to get the best price possible, it’s important to address the issue of smoking before you put your house on the market.
Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take if you want to minimize the effects of tobacco smoke residue.
Reducing Tobacco Smoke Damage
The best way to reduce the effects of tobacco smoke residue is to stop smoking in your home altogether. If this isn’t an option, be sure to keep any areas where smoking takes place well-ventilated. Open windows or use fans and air purifiers to help circulate the air and bring in fresh oxygen.
If you have already moved out of a home where smoking took place, there are several methods you can use to reduce the impact of smoke residue. You should start by cleaning all surfaces, with special attention paid to carpets and fabrics. Sprinkling baking soda on carpets before vacuuming can help absorb some of the smell. Although one vacuum and shampoo session likely isn’t enough to completely remove all tobacco particles from a carpet – you’re better off replacing the carpet altogether.
You may also want to consider repainting any walls that have been exposed to smoke. For pieces of furniture or other items that can’t be removed from the home, clean them with a special cigarette smoke odor-removal solution.
To remove lingering scents from the air, setting out bowls of white vinegar, activated charcoal, and baking soda can help absorb some of the smoke particles. It can also be helpful to invest in an air purifier with a HEPA filter that is specifically designed for smoke removal.
Finally, it’s important to address the issue of smoking when potential buyers come for viewings. Buyers will appreciate your honesty in disclosing any smoking that has taken place, and they’ll be able to adjust their offer accordingly.
Try Smoke Damage Restoration Services
If you want to get the most out of your home sale and minimize any potential losses due to smoking, it may be worth investing in professional smoke damage restoration services.
These companies specialize in removing the evidence of smoke residue from homes – both from tobacco and from fire damage – leaving them clean and odor-free. They use advanced technology such as ozone treatments, ultraviolet light treatments, and chemical fogging to remove even the most stubborn of smoke odors.
By taking these measures, you can protect your home’s value and ensure that it will fetch the highest price possible when it comes time to sell.
Try Room Deodorization Services
Finally, you may want to consider investing in room deodorization services. These companies use specialized equipment and techniques to remove any lingering odors from the air.
This can help to reduce the impact of tobacco smoke residue on your home’s value by removing any remaining smell of cigarettes or other smoke particles. It also helps restore indoor air quality and makes the home more attractive to potential buyers.
Overall, there is no doubt that tobacco smoke residue can have a negative impact on your home’s value when it comes time to sell. But by taking the proper steps and investing in the right services, you can minimize the effects of smoke residue and get the best possible price for your home.
If you need assistance restoring your home from smoke damage, please contact our team of experts at Shepherd’s Disaster Recovery and Remediation at (650) 459 4557!