We’ve known the costs of smoking cigarettes, or other tobacco, for years, both in terms of buying these products and the negative health issues that can result. However, as trusted Dallas real estate agents we want to share with you one more costly consequence of smoking: the drastic reduction in resale value if you decide to sell your home!
A survey of brokers and real estate agents in Canada recently found that when a homeowner smokes inside the home, it can reduce the value of the property by as much as 29% on resale. This is huge! Essentially, if your home is valued at $350,000, you may find that if you decide to sell, the resale value has plunged by over $100,000.
Real estate professionals can understand why potential homebuyers either avoid homes in which the owners have smoked altogether, or are not willing to pay what the home is worth. Not only is the odor offensive, nicotine and smoke are absorbed into carpeting, drapes, even wall coverings. Eliminating the odor can be tough, but cleaning the smoke residue out of carpets, walls, and other areas is a monumental task.
Another factor to consider. When someone in the family has allergies, chances are they will run from a home that has even the slightest hint of cigarette smoke. Not only that, other allergens such as mold and pet dander will turn potential homebuyers off.
The fact is, smoke permeates furnishings, walls, flooring, virtually everything in your home. When you have smoked inside your home for years, cleaning the walls and shampooing the carpets won’t do it – you have to first scrub the walls, then add a fresh coat of paint to completely cover stains.
To sum it all up, how much is your smoking habit really costing you? If you’re considering selling your home, you may be devastated to learn the real impact financially. Stop now, and do everything possible to eliminate the after effects of that result from smoking in your home.
At Team Nelson, our goal is to help you get the most for your home! As highly reputable Dallas real estate agents, we offer these tips so that you can sell your Flower Mound or Denton home for what it’s truly worth. Give us a call today – and don’t forget, “buy a house through me, I’ll sell your home free!”