Suspicious that tenants are smoking in your property?
Obviously, that can be a big problem. Consistent smoke inside your property will cause damage to the walls, carpet, furniture, and even some of the appliances. It’ll fog glass, leave residue on walls, and create a stubborn smell that’s difficult to get rid of.
We know… because we’ve worked with homeowners in Clark and Cowlitz County who’ve had just this problem.
Fortunately, all is not lost.
While smoke damage causes serious problems — and the longer it goes on, the worse it gets — there are solutions.
Here’s what we recommend…
Double-Check Your Lease Agreement — Check to see whether your lease agreement specifies that the tenant is not allowed to smoke in the property. If it does, then it’ll be a lot easier to move forward with reprimanding your tenants or working to evict them. But before you do that, just speak with them.
Talk With Your Tenants — The best thing you can do is have an honest conversation with your tenants. Tell them that it’s obvious they’re smoking in the home because of the smell. And if your lease agreement forbids it, then mention that as well. Try to get them to understand where you’re coming from and you might be able to settle this problem civilly.
Consider Eviction — If your tenants lie or disregard your demands, then it’s time to consider evicting them. You can either serve the eviction notice to them yourself or have someone else do it for you.
Get Rid of Smoke Damage — One way or another, to maintain the value of the home, you’ll need to get rid of the smoke damage. That probably means a new paint job, fresh flooring, and maybe even updated appliances.
Or Sell The Home As-Is — Maybe this all sounds like too much hassle and you’d rather just cut your losses and sell the home as-is for cash. At PineCone Properties, we buy homes like yours as-is for cash and we can close in as little as two weeks. We’ll even help you deal with evicting the tenants! Give us a call at (360)572-6669 to learn more.