How Much Does Cigarette Smoke Decrease Your Home Resale Value Based on the Smoke and Odor?

Chances are, you’ve heard of something called secondhand smoke. It occurs when exhaled smoke is present in the air, affecting those around the smoker. Secondhand smoke is a common term and is generally something people try to avoid.

But, have you heard of third-hand smoke? Regarding cigarettes, according to Mayo Clinic, it’s “residual nicotine and other chemicals left on indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke.” Outside of the context of health, third-hand smoke is a damaging hassle in the real estate industry as cigarette smoke will negatively impact your home’s resale value.

Though homeowners are not required to reveal the fact their property had a smoker as a tenant, prospective buyers will be on the lookout for anything indicative of a smoker living there; this includes odor. Smoke from a cigarette (or marijuana) has chemicals that will stick to the walls of your home, leaving a smoky scent detectable by those in the proximity, as well as potentially dangerous carcinogens. Home inspectors, for instance, generally have a trained eye and nose that are good at finding undisclosed improprieties relating to smoke. According to a study out of San Diego State University, pollutants caused by third-hand smoke stayed in a house for months after it had been thoroughly cleaned.

How Smoke Pollutes Paint

When people smoke indoors, the fresh smoke particles from marijuana, cigarettes, and even pipe smoke end up sticking on the walls and ceiling. However, as time goes by, they can break-off and re-emit back into the air, thereby polluting the indoor air of such premises.

While the current occupants may not mind the foul odor, new or potential homebuyers will find such polluted homes or premises to be unattractive. In fact, a study by Ihab Elzeyadi as reported in Architect Magazine, found that as much as 91.6% of people associate Quality Indoor Air with better health.

Effects of Paint Pollution

In another study by EPA, most Americans said they spent about 90% of their time indoors, either at home or at work. According to studies carried out by EPA, indoor air can at times be more polluted than outdoor air. That is because outdoor spaces get natural air circulation, which helps to disperse pollutants and lower their concentration. On the other hand, most indoor spaces have limited air circulation, which means pollutants float around much longer.

Removing the scent of cigarette or marijuana smoke is a complex hassle, often requiring a lot of time. Regularly, people are forced to remove whole systems from their homes to eliminate the scent of cigarettes quickly. It’s an important situation to rectify, too. 25% of homebuyers said they were unwilling to purchase a home owned by a smoker, and that smoking reduces house value by 29%, according to Realtor Magazine.

Solution:

The best solution to the problem is ECOBOND® OdorDefender™, a revolutionary odor-blocking paint featuring breakthrough technology. This innovative, eco-friendly product is designed to block odors stemming from cigarettes, marijuana, fire, meth, and much more. Give your family the protection they deserve with ECOBOND® OdorDefender™.