Smoke Smells and Does Not Sell | Helpful Home Selling Tips
A lot of home sellers go to great lengths preparing their home for sale, but oftentimes focus so much on the visual appearance they forget about the smell. In my professional opinion as a REALTOR, the two most common odor problems are cigarette smoke and the smell of a pet.
Smoke is particularly difficult because it isn’t simply an odor floating through the air. Smoke residue can settle into walls, ceilings, flooring, window coverings, upholstery, and other surfaces, which is why it takes more than a quick spray to actually get rid of it.
A Real-Life Example: The House Buyers Couldn’t Smell Past
Several months ago, buyer clients of mine saw a beautiful home that was upgraded from top to bottom, but upon entering the home they could not get past the overpowering smell of cigarette smoke, and they crossed it off their list.
Fast forward three months later, with the lack of home inventory, my clients decided to take another look at the home, but this time try to smell past the cigarette smoke and focus on the upgraded kitchen, wood floors, crown molding, and several other upgrades most home buyers would love.
Well, we were pleasantly surprised the second time around because the smell of cigarette smoke was almost untraceable. The sellers obviously took measures to remove the smell of the cigarette smoke, and their efforts paid off because this time my clients focused on how beautiful the home really was and wanted it.
Within 48 hours, we had an executed contract, and I strongly feel if the sellers took measures to remove the smell of cigarette smoke before putting their home on the market it probably would have sold right away. Instead, it sat on the market and became a stale listing. It’s proof that smell deserves the same priority as everything else on the list when preparing a home for sale.
Don’t Try to Cover Up Smoke Smell
Candles, air fresheners, plug-ins, and other fragrances can actually make the situation worse from a buyer’s perspective. Instead of one problem, now they’re smelling smoke layered under something floral or sweet, and that combination often reads as even more suspicious than the smoke on its own. Masking a smell doesn’t remove the residue causing it, and buyers tend to notice the difference between a home that smells clean and one that smells like it’s hiding something.
If you’re dealing with ordinary household odors, such as cooking smells or everyday living, what I recommend using to make a home smell good covers that. Cigarette smoke needs a different approach, because the problem isn’t stale air, it’s residue that has to actually be removed.
How to Remove Cigarette Smoke Odor
The smell of cigarette smoke can easily turn prospective homebuyers away. So if you’re a smoker getting ready to list your home, it’s important to eliminate the smell of smoke before putting your home on the market. Here are some ways to remove cigarette smoke odor from your home.
Let Fresh Air In
Open up windows and doors throughout your home to allow fresh air to circulate. If you have fans you’ll want to turn them on to help dissipate the smoke smell throughout the property. Additionally, placing bowls of baking soda, vinegar, activated charcoal, or even kitty litter around your home can help absorb any lingering odors.
Consider Air Purification or Professional Odor Treatment
Air purifiers with HEPA filters can help remove smoke particles from the air as you work through cleaning. For severe, persistent smoke odor, professional odor-treatment methods may be an option. Ozone treatment can be hazardous when people or pets are exposed to it, so it should never be used while the home is occupied, and it’s best handled by a professional and only after the source of the odor has been addressed through cleaning.
Thorough Cleaning
First remove the offender. Start by getting rid of any cigarette butts and ashtrays throughout your home. Since cigarette smoke chemicals tend to stick to all surfaces, you’ll need to scrub everything from top to bottom.
Use an appropriate cleaner for each surface and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Pay particular attention to walls, ceilings, doors, baseboards, cabinets, and other hard surfaces where smoke residue can accumulate. For stubborn nicotine staining, a stronger cleaner or professional cleaning may be necessary.
Repaint the Walls and Ceilings
Even after a thorough cleaning, a fresh coat of paint, on the walls and ceilings, may be necessary to completely eliminate the smoke odor and staining. Consider using a primer designed to combat odors before applying the final coat to ensure the smoke smell is permanently eradicated. If you don’t take the proper steps the smoke smell can seep back through within a matter of days.
Address Flooring Issues
Smoke can be absorbed deeply into carpets and rugs. Have carpets and rugs professionally cleaned, and consider replacing the carpet padding if the smoke odor remains afterward, since padding tends to hold onto odor even when the carpet itself has been cleaned.
For hardwood floors, clean thoroughly with an appropriate wood-safe cleaner and repeat the process if needed. Don’t forget to clean baseboards and doors to remove nicotine stains and odors. If smoke damage turns into a bigger repaint or flooring job than expected, it’s worth weighing against the other inexpensive fixes that help a home sell faster to see where your money goes furthest.
Clean Windows, Blinds, and Curtains
Window frames and coverings like curtains and blinds can also trap cigarette smoke. Clean the frames and consider replacing the curtains and blinds if they still retain the odor. Soaking blinds in a cleaning solution can help, and curtains can be machine washed or taken to the dry cleaners.
Address Upholstery and Furniture
Upholstered furniture can retain cigarette smoke odors even after everything else in a room has been cleaned. Have heavily affected pieces professionally cleaned, or consider removing them from the home before listing if the odor persists. For other furniture, such as cabinets, wipe down surfaces with an appropriate cleaner to remove smoke residue.
Don’t Forget the HVAC System
Cleaning every room doesn’t always solve the problem if the HVAC system itself is still holding onto smoke residue, and it’s easy to overlook since it isn’t a visible surface like a wall or a couch. A few things worth checking:
- Replace filters, and replace them again after the first round of cleaning
- Clean accessible surfaces like vents, registers, and the visible parts of the unit
- Run the system and see whether the odor becomes noticeable when air is actively moving through the house
- Have an HVAC professional evaluate the system if the smell persists after cleaning everything else
This doesn’t mean the system needs to be replaced. In most cases, filters and a professional cleaning are enough. But if the odor keeps coming back, the HVAC system is one of the first places to look.
When Smoke Odor Requires More Than Cleaning
Sometimes a seller cleans everything on this list and the smell still lingers, because smoke residue has penetrated further than a surface clean can reach: carpet and padding, drywall, ceilings, cabinets, insulation, or HVAC components.
That’s usually where professional remediation, replacing specific materials, or sealing and priming affected surfaces becomes necessary. Before assuming the whole house needs to be gutted, though, identify the actual source and extent of the odor first. Jumping straight to a full renovation is exactly the kind of scenario I cover in are you wasting money preparing your home for sale, since the fix that actually solves the problem is often much smaller than sellers assume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sell a house that smells like smoke?
Yes. However, a strong smoke odor can discourage buyers from staying in the home, reduce interest, and lead buyers to factor the cost of cleaning or repairs into their offers.
Can you sell a house with cigarette smoke damage?
Yes, but smoke odor and staining typically reduce buyer interest and can lead to lower offers or requests for repair credits. Addressing the smell and any visible damage before listing generally leads to a better outcome than listing as-is.
How much does it cost to remove cigarette smoke smell from a house?
Costs vary widely depending on how deep the odor has penetrated. Deep cleaning and repainting with an odor-blocking primer might run a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars, while replacing carpet, padding, or drywall in severely affected areas can cost significantly more.
Should I replace carpet before selling a house that smells like smoke?
Not always. If the carpet has absorbed smoke odor that doesn’t respond to cleaning, replacement is usually worth it. If the smell is coming primarily from other surfaces, cleaning the carpet thoroughly may be enough.
What is the fastest way to get rid of cigarette smoke smell before showings?
Start with fresh air, replace AC filters, and do a deep clean on surfaces and fabrics. If the odor is embedded in walls, ceilings, carpet, or padding, additional steps like steam cleaning and repainting with an odor-blocking primer may be needed.
Will painting remove cigarette smoke smell?
Painting can help, but only if the surfaces are cleaned first and you use an odor-blocking primer. If smoke residue is still present, the odor can seep back through.
Can cigarette smoke smell come back after cleaning?
Yes, if the source of the odor wasn’t fully addressed. Residue left in porous materials like drywall, subflooring, or HVAC components can cause the smell to resurface, especially in humidity or heat.
Do air purifiers remove smoke odor?
Air purifiers can reduce smoke particles and improve air quality, especially with HEPA filters. They help, but they do not replace cleaning surfaces where smoke residue sticks.
Are ozone generators safe to use in a home?
Ozone can be harmful to people and pets. If used, it should only be done when the home is vacant and following manufacturer instructions. It is best viewed as a supplemental step, not a replacement for cleaning.
How do I know if buyers can smell smoke even if I cannot?
Many sellers become nose blind. Ask a trusted friend, your agent, or a neighbor to walk in and give an honest opinion. If there is any doubt, address it before photos and showings begin.
Final Thoughts
Eliminating the smell of cigarette smoke from your home will require effort, time, and money. However, with diligent cleaning and the right approach, it is possible to significantly reduce or remove the odor. Removing a strong smoke smell can make your home more appealing to prospective buyers and prevent an otherwise avoidable reason for buyers to walk away.
Remember, buyers don’t just look with their eyes. They smell with their nose, too. Additionally, stop smoking in or around your home. Even if you smoke outside, the smoke stays on you and you’ll be dragging it back into your home.
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Smoke smells can turn homebuyers away. Learn how to remove cigarette smoke odor and get your home ready to sell. #realestate #homesellingAbout the Author
Top Wellington Realtor, Michelle Gibson, wrote: Smoke Smells and Does Not Sell | Helpful Home Selling Tips
Michelle has been specializing in residential real estate since 2001 throughout Wellington Florida, and the surrounding area. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or rent she will guide you through the entire real estate transaction. If you’re ready to put Michelle’s knowledge and expertise to work for you call or e-mail her today.
Areas of service include Wellington, Lake Worth, Royal Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, Greenacres, and more.
