A COMMON habit could be reducing your home’s value by an average of £27,000.
Smoking indoors can cause damage to your home including burn marks, stains on walls and ceilings, and a lingering smell.
You might notice yellow or brown stains on walls, ceilings, windows and surfaces due to a build-up of smoke residue.
Not only can it be unsightly while you’re living in the home, but it can also put off potential buyers when you come to sell.
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Experts at Northerner and The Property Buying Company have estimated it could take as much as 10% off the value of your home.
With the average UK property valued at £271,900, this could mean a potential loss of up to £27,190.
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Dr Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific affairs at Northerner, says: “Fine smoke particles can build up over time, settling into surfaces, fabrics and materials around the home.
“While burn marks and lingering smells might be the most noticeable signs, smoking indoors can also affect how a property looks, feels and is perceived by potential buyers.”
Buyers may be put off by worries over how much it could cost to fix the damage.
Karl McArdle, co-founder of The Property Buying Company, said: “If someone thinks they’ll need to give a whole house a fresh new look, rip out the carpets, and scrub all the stink out, they’ll factor that in when they make an offer.
“In places where the smoke damage is pretty light, the impact on price is usually minimal.
“But where people have been smoking indoors, day in day out, for years on end, you’ll often see prices knocked back by as much as 5-10%, especially if the place needs a major makeover before it can be lived in or sold again.”
If you’re a smoker, the simple solution to prevent major damage is to smoke outside.
How to prevent smoke-related damage in your home
NORTHERNER’S Dr Marina Murphy shares her top tips for homeowners…
Reduce smoke exposure indoors
The most effective way to limit smoke-related damage is to prevent smoke from entering the home in the first place.
Smoking outdoors, or moving away from combustible tobacco products to smoke-free alternatives such as nicotine pouches could help reduce the residue and odours left behind.
Look out for early signs of smoke damage
Yellow or brown stains on walls, ceilings, windows and surfaces can indicate a build-up of smoke residue.
Check less obvious areas too, such as skirting boards, windowsills and behind furniture, where residue can collect.
Spotting the signs early can help prevent more costly cleaning and refurbishment work later.
Don’t rely on ventilation
Opening windows, using extractor fans or restricting smoking to one room may seem like ways to reduce smoke exposure, but they won’t fully prevent residue from settling around the home.
Smoke from a single cigarette can linger in a room for up to two and a half hours, even with a window open.
Avoid masking smoke smells
Air fresheners and scented products may temporarily cover unpleasant odours, but they won’t remove the source.
Over time, fragrances can mix with stale smoke smells, making them harder to eliminate.
Tackling the underlying residue through proper cleaning is key to removing persistent odours.
Deep clean before redecorating
Painting over smoke-damaged walls won’t solve the problem.
Tobacco smoke residue can seep through fresh paint, causing stains and odours to return.
Walls and ceilings need a thorough scrub first to remove built-up residue, using a solution such as warm water, vinegar and washing-up liquid.
Once cleaned, apply a stain-blocking primer before repainting to help prevent marks from returning.
Carpets, curtains and upholstery should also be professionally cleaned or replaced if heavily affected, as smoke smells can become trapped in fabrics.
