After my last visit to Paris I vowed not to return until I could go indoors and not be smoked out.
I’ve got nothing against smokers. There are many people I love and admire who smoke.
And I recognize how incredibly hard quitting is.
However, I don’t like inhaling large quantities of smoke of any kind while in an elevator, a small unventilated café or other places where Parisians have until now been pleased to light up.
When I saw this week that France has finally banned smoking in public places—with 70% popular support–I cheered and pulled out my Paris guidebook again.
Then I got to thinking about real estate agents.
- How many smoke?
- Do vendors think less of an agent who smokes?
- Has a friendly conversation over cigarettes helped any agent win over a vendor?
- How many agents enjoy a celebratory cigarette every time they sign up a vendor?
Anti-Smokers
With the increasing militancy of anti-smokers (different from just “non-smokers”) in Australia, I wouldn’t be surprised if some agents were losing money as well as life span because of their tobacco habit.
Not only that but I bet that most buyers, even those who themselves light up over breakfast, prefer a place that has not been occupied by a smoker over a place formerly occupied by a heavy smoker.
That lower level of demand could affect prices. How much? Only agents would know, but I’ll guess by about 5%.
In New York City I recall that neighbours forced a man to sell his unit and move. He was unable to keep his cigarette smoke from travelling through the ventilation shaft and into their units. A court decided he was impairing their enjoyment of their own homes.
An agent named Mimi in the USA tells this story:
“I had a listing where the home owner had a guest over who had smoked in the house shortly before we toured it…whoops! Many of the agents in my office refused to show the home again. The home was not smoked in regularly and it was a weird occurrence.”
Your Story
- If you are an agent, respond to this post with your smoking story.
- Has anyone ever reacted badly after smelling tobacco on your clothes or breath?
- Have you got any tips for other smokers on how to hide your habit? Do you feel you SHOULD hide your habit?
- Are smokers misunderstood?
- Should agents have to disclose on realestate.com.au if a property has been occupied by a smoker? (NOTE: I’m just wondering. There haven’t been any suggestions that we require such a thing and I don’t even think it could be enforced.)
Don’t Smoke?
- If you are a non-smoker, do you feel your saintliness gives you an advantage over smoking competitors?
- If you’re an ex-smoker, why did you quit? How? Did quitting affect your business in a positive or negative way?
- Post your answers below. Share as much detail as you can, but feel free to remain anonymous.
PS: By the way, does anyone smoke a pipe any more?