The Unseen Impacts of Smoke Damage that are Reducing Your Home’s Value
Smoking can cause infertility, erectile dysfunction, poor immune system, premature wrinkles, loss of vision, and more. Despite the well-known health hazards, over 34.1 million American adults regularly smoke cigarettes.
But, if these dire warnings are not enough to motivate you to quit the habit, perhaps taking a look at your real estate value will do the trick. Did you know, smoke damage can decrease a home’s resale value?
Although you don’t have to tell your buyers you’ve been smoking in the house, they will still ask for discounts if they take into account the smoke damage restoration cost, cleaning, and replacing some of the damaged furniture.
If you are contemplating the damage done to your health and house, you’ve come to the right place. We compiled all the hidden effects of smoke damage you probably didn’t know about. Let’s get right to it.
How Does Smoke Damage Affect Your Home’s Value?
Cigarettes and cigarette smoke are packed with over 4,000 dangerous chemicals like ammonia, butane, tar, acetone, lead, arsenic, and more. Not only are these chemicals harming your health, but they are also affecting your surroundings.
The problems with smoke damage restoration occur from third-hand smoke (THS). This is the sticky residue left by the cigarettes, which taints surfaces inside your home. The residue contains plenty of dangerous chemicals and nicotine that can linger on the walls, ceiling, tiles, furniture, drapes, and more.
Blemishes
When the cigarette touches the carpet, curtains, or any area, it can permanently tarnish that spot. It’s typical to find burned or scorched surfaces all around the house, including the bathroom, living room, garage, office, and bedroom.
Based on how long smokers have been living in that residence, buyers could be spending plenty of effort and time on restoring the house completely. Even if the house is in relatively good condition, the walls will need at least 2 to 3 coats of paint.
Stains
Tobacco leaves a residue that creates a brown or yellowish stain. These stains can appear anywhere, from furniture to appliances, flooring, walls, and even the ventilation system. It’s normal to encounter wallpaper peeling and discoloration, which may be off-putting for potential buyers.
Smell
The odor of cigarette smoke remains for a long time. Spraying the area with perfumes or deodorizers won’t mask or remove them or. Therefore, when a non-smoker buyer enters the home, they will spot the smell right away. Where there are smells, there are also stains and carcinogens. To get rid of the smell, they will need to deep clean the entire home and replace much of the surface materials. This will add up in costs.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking to sell, consider deep cleaning the house from top to bottom. We offer a wide range of restoration specialties that will restore your home to its former glory! Depending on the damage, you might have to replace the carpet, paint the ceiling and the walls. You have the power to gain back your home’s lost 30%.