Getting rid of cigarette smoke

mi-key

Emily_Joy said:

I like the house,  location less so. The nearest small shop is M&S at a petrol station (15 minutes walk downhill, so some climbing back with groceries), the train station is some 25 minutes walk away. A proper supermarket... maybe an hour on foot. We would be relying on deliveries for the grocery shopping.

Ah do you not drive? that can be awkward in some places. If I had to go to the nearest local shop on foot ( little tesco ) it's a 40 minute round walk.

Although, if the house is what you want, then there is the option of learning to drive in the future, then the distance from the shops isn't an issue

Emily_Joy

I've swapped car for a bicycle some 10 years ago and lost about 26 pounds in weight over two subsequent years. Probably due to the fact that it is not very convenient to nibble chocolate chip cookies while pedalling

ThisIsWeird

Emily_Joy said:

ThisIsWeird: So, I'd ask P&Ds how successfully this could be done, an assurance that the smell would be eradicated, and an idea of the cost. Then factor in new carpets and floor coverings. Make a judgement on what else this house offers you compared to others, and how it's currently priced - then make your offer.

Can one get estimated cost without extra intrusive testing? We would like to have the house livable (by us) within no more than 3 months after exchange of contracts, this means we need to get rid of the nicotine by then.

I'd have thought so. They could likely even give you a ballpark from the selling particulars. You could ask for best and worst case scenarios, perhaps?

You just want a likely sum it'll cost in order to get it livable, and factor that in to the asking price, taking into account whether it's already 'good value' - ie, priced for this work.

From what you've since said, tho', it would seem to be a 'good' house for you, rather than a 'dream'? Factor that in too!

What alternatives are there?

sheramber

How much do you want the house?

is there other interest  in it?

Emily_Joy

Regarding other interest: we have been told by the Estate Agent that the house has been sold, but the sale fall through (don't recall why). 

Other options: there is one we fancy. It is a 200 years old house the previous owners took good care of. It doesn't have any problems of this one, but it doesn't have a garden or garage. It has rather large front yard where one can comfortably park and a back yard surrounded by a brick wall. The back yard is paved at the moment and is overall in a very good condition.
It is on a relatively large road (but not a major road). The windows on the ground floor are half opaque, so the lounge is not really overlooked. We have level 3 survey in hand and it doesn't show any major problems. 

[Deleted User]

I don't think 10k is enough. The work is disruptive and you wouldn't want to be in there when it's being done. Don't want to move your stuff in to get contaminated until it's been cleaned up either.

All flooring, every wall, all ceilings, need to be cleaned and redecorated/replaced. Everything scrubbed down by professionals. Fixings replaced is probably easier than getting the stains off. Even stuff like light switches will be covered in it, and when you come to do DIY it will release more of it.

ThisIsWeird

Emily_Joy said:

Regarding other interest: we have been told by the Estate Agent that the house has been sold, but the sale fall through (don't recall why). 

Other options: there is one we fancy. It is a 200 years old house the previous owners took good care of. It doesn't have any problems of this one, but it doesn't have a garden or garage. It has rather large front yard where one can comfortably park and a back yard surrounded by a brick wall. The back yard is paved at the moment and is overall in a very good condition.
It is on a relatively large road (but not a major road). The windows on the ground floor are half opaque, so the lounge is not really overlooked. We have level 3 survey in hand and it doesn't show any major problems. 

Blimey. A 200-year oldie? That'll bring a whole different range of issues :-) If you go further with this one, give some serious consideration to how you'll be able to heat it efficiently - adding insulation, for example, if not already done.

Anyhoo, good luck with whichever place you go for, and please keep us updated, especially if you go for Ol' Smokey - I'm sure many folk would like to know just how easy and effective it is to de-smoke a house.

mi-key

Considering how many people used to smoke - nearly 50% of people in the 70s and early 80s - chances are most houses will have been smoked in at some time if they were built then. Do they still smell of smoke or need the walls replastering or major work doing ? 

It really wouldn't cost anywhere near £10K to get rid of unless you are talking about a huge mansion! 

Noneforit999

Well the smoke itself will have long gone by the time you move in but the remnants of smoking smell could linger forever.

If they have been smoking in the house for 15 years, you might be in for a challenge to rid it entirely but you can probably dull it by 90%. It depends on how sensitive you are to it, as a non smoker I can smell instantly if someone has smoked anywhere near something. 

Any fabric surface needs changing so carpets, blinds, curtains etc. Those will hold the smell.

Every surface is going to need painting, including door frames and skirting. I would be looking to sand them down a bit first to try and get some of the top layers off before painting in the hope it removes some of the smell too.

If any walls are papered, I would be getting that off and replacing or painting.

My sister in law moved into a place which had been smoked in, she replaced every floor, painted every surface including the kitchen cabinets and even now 2 years later, I can smell the house has been smoked in as soon as I walk through the door, although its a lot better than it was before. 

GrumpyDil

Emily_Joy said:

We would like to have the house livable (by us) within no more than 3 months after exchange of contracts, this means we need to get rid of the nicotine by then.

Is the house empty and you have agreement to get work done after exchange and before completion or do you mean within three months of completion?

Just wondering about the time line as it would be unusual to be able to start work before completion.