Things Ottawa Buyers May Notice #15 – Smell of Paint and Verathane

Posted on July 18, 2008 
Filed Under Listing and Selling Your Home, Things Buyers May Notice, Valerie Zinger

THE SMELL OF PAINT AND VERATHANE

As I go out with Buyers looking at houses and host Open Houses on Sundays, there are things buyers seem to repeatedly notice.  This series looks at the good and the not-so-good things that buyers have noticed.

A buyer and I were visiting a number of homes one afternoon in the spring.  One home was empty and we were able to get in with very little advanced notice.  Well!!!  After the owner moved out, he or she painted the walls and refinished the floors.  This could have been a good thing but….  We were unable to stay in the home for more than 5 minutes because the fumes were overpowering.  When I mentioned this to the listing agent, he indicated that he thought all of the fumes would have dissipated by the time of the visit.  Ha.   I have no idea how long ago the paint and varathane were applied but it was not a home ready to see and buy. 

If you are going to improve your home before selling, please ensure that all the off gases / fumes / smells are gone before letting people in to view.  

Don’t try to sell a toxic smell site.

Photo credit:  IMG_0189 @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/11988206@N05/2607022211/

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa, Canada ~ Ph. 613-723-5300 ~ Email vzinger@royallepage.ca

 

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