By Melissa Dorman, November 20, 2020
Odors in a home can be a sign of a much larger problem. Or they can be easily remedied. Either way, it’s important that you notice them and try to find the source so that you’re prepared for any consequences later.
So what do you do if you’re getting a virtual tour of a property and you can’t actually smell the odors? Make sure you ask your agent to “be your nose” and sniff out anything unusual for you.
These are a few critical smells that your agent should identify for you in order to avoid a major problem later.
1. Pet odors
While doing in-person tours, the most common odor complaint is pet odors. Lingering odors from pet “accidents”—especially dry cat pee (because ammonium salts form in residue)—are particularly pungent. And nasty!
Unfortunately, a typical bottle of carpet cleaner isn’t likely to remove the odor. You’ll have to call in the pros. Sometimes replacing the carpet and, sometimes, the subfloor is the only solution. Other times, a good cleaning will suffice.
2. Cigarette odors
Coming in a close second is cigarette odor, tobacco odors seep into porous surfaces like carpeting, drapes, rugs, walls, and especially ceilings.
Ceilings can be the biggest culprit in a persisting smoke smell in a home, as cigarette smoke tends to travel upward and latch onto the first surface it comes in contact with.
Professional cleaning is prudent since carpets have different fibers that can be damaged with a DIY approach. And tobacco-stained walls (including wallpaper and paneling) not properly cleaned and treated with a nicotine stain-blocking primer will come back to haunt you and bleed rusty stains through any newly painted walls.
A smoker’s house doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker, but there will be added costs and elbow grease to remove the odors.
3. Mold, mildew, and musty odors
These three odors not only smell bad, but they also leave a seriously negative impression, regardless of how attractive the house is. The odors suggest uncleanliness and a damp, cold feeling—plus the scary possibility of mold growing beneath the surface.
When there is mold, there is always a moisture concern somewhere. This needs to be addressed first, so the challenge does not reappear in the future.
An indoor environmental professional should be called in to capture air and surface samples to see what types of molds are present and determine the type of mold remediation necessary. At the very least, call a pro to check for leaks and professional cleaning of porous services, and then run a dehumidifier.
4. Rotten eggs or a sulfur smell
First things first. If your agent is overwhelmed by a rotten egg smell, he/she should hightail it out of the house for safety, since the odor might be a sign of a gas leak.
However, if your agent smells a milder version of rotten eggs or sulfur, it could point to plumbing issues. If the house has been vacant for a while, the drainpipe water trap might be dried up, leaving the pipe without a water barrier to stop offensive odors from farther down the pipe wafting up.
The real budget buster? If your agent notices the stench coming from multiple drains. This could be a problem with the plumbing equipment or with the local sewer authority. If the problem lies with the sewer, a sewer inspection—possibly digging in the yard or basement—might be needed to resolve the issue.
Ask about visual evidence of possible odors
You put a lot of trust in your agent during your home-buying journey, but even more so when it comes to video tours. Expect full transparency, but also keep your eyes open for visual indicators of lingering odors.
While your agent is showing you a video of the house, don’t hesitate to ask about odors—say, if you see a litter box in the laundry room, a dog bed in the living room, or an ashtray on the coffee table. When your agent shows you the basement, ask if there is an overwhelming musty odor.
Speak the Truth!
I encourage clients to ask their agents to give them the pure, unvarnished truth when doing a video tour. That way, everyone can avoid wasting lots of time and energy on a house that the client will end up hating when they finally visit in person.
Melissa Dorman
Broker | OR & WA
She/They
Ten years ago, Melissa was living in a slum in Kolkata, India, helping over 200 women escape sex trafficking by providing alternative work at a social business.
It was there she discovered her passion for financial education as a means of empowering people to move out of poverty. After graduating from UCLA with a Masters, Melissa spent 5 years working as a Social Worker; assisting clients facing homelessness, in jail, or at a psychiatric facility.
As much as she loved the work, imagining saving for retirement on the meager salary of a social worker was becoming grim. That's when Melissa discovered "passive income." In no time, she fell in LOVE with real estate as a vehicle for wealth. Soon after, Melissa began locating off-market multi-family properties to purchase through creative financing strategies and win-win opportunities. Two years into investing, Melissa quit her day job as a Social Worker to become a full-time broker and investor. Initially, she was drawn to people in difficult circumstances, so she developed extensive experience assisting families facing foreclosure, short sales, and probate. Melissa is well versed in helping her clients overcome complex real estate challenges.
Currently, Melissa is teamed up with Super Broker, Yascha Noonberg at Living Room Realty. Together they assist clients to achieve their real estate dreams, including how to strategically buy and sell a personal residence to maximize profits. Far from the slums of Kolkata, her greatest passion now is empowering other working professionals to develop passive forms of income through buying multi-family properties in Portland.
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- T: 503-567-4697
- melissa@livingroomre.com
