Smell of smoke and nicotine stains can stub out value of your home by €20,000
Experts in England have said yellow stains and the odour of stale smoke mean that 30% of buyers would offer about 10% less than the asking price.
According to the latest Permanent TSB house price index, the average Irish house price is just over €230,000, which would mean smoking could cost the seller €23,000.
In Dublin, the loss could be €30,000 as the average house price in the capital is €300,000.
Chief executive of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, Liam O’Donnell, said the atmosphere of a house is very important to its cost.
“We would be anxious that the house has a homely smell and atmosphere. It’s an old trick to have brown bread baking in the oven to create a nice smell,” he said.
“If the place is stinking with smoke it has an adverse effect, many people would walk in and walk out. But you don’t get that happening much any more. A professional agent would make sure that type of thing is usually eliminated before a showing.”
According to the research, which was carried out by British bank the Woolwich, another major turn-off for potential buyers is the smell of animals, mentioned by 20% of the 1,000 people surveyed.
Stone cladding on houses was a no-no for 11% of the buyers, as were dirty fridges or ovens (10%) and ‘swirly seventies-style carpets’ (4%).
