Single family home with severe cigarette damage, great price

Single family home with severe cigarette damage, great price

Member since 2025 · 4 posts · 3 votes

I recently became aware of a very cheap property (roughly half of after repair value) and upon looking at it in person I found out why it was so cheap: there is severe cigarette damage throughout the 1st floor (basement less so, but not entirely without damage); there is visible dripping tar on every wall and the smell is awful. I am considering buying the property in cash then hiring Servpro to fix the cigarette damage. After that, I'd paint and put a new kitchen in (likely do these myself, which I have done before). I have arranged for Servpro to take a look at the property in person to give me a quote for this job. Based on what my real estate agent thinks that this quote will be, roughly, and the after repair value, it looks like I could buy this property in cash, spend a month or two fixing the damage, and then put a mortgage for roughly 1.6x what I paid for it and thus have a cash flowing property at a few hundred dollars per month and a little more money in my bank account ready for a down payment on the next deal. There's currently a tenant in the house (who I presume caused the smoke damage), but the seller promises that this tenant will be gone before closing. I would refuse to close if this turned out to not be the case. This house is in a neighborhood that will not significantly appreciate according to my real estate agent.

When I think about this, I don't see many downsides, so it seems a little too good to be true. So, I'd like to discuss it — am I missing some downsides here? Does this sound like a good deal? 

1Reply
53 views

Most Popular Reply

Jake BakerBusiness Member
Flipper/Rehabber · San Diego, CA · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 695 votes
1y

@David Robert

Severe nicotine damage can require extensive cleaning, sealing, and even replacing drywall or HVAC ductwork. Get a firm quote before committing.

If appreciation is low, ensure rents are strong enough to justify the effort. Market Appreciation is the least predictable, but historically, where you will make the most money. So I prefer to have more of that in the deal.

BookkeepingRE - Bookkeeping for Real Estate & Service-Based Businesses52 Reviews
See this reply in the discussion

6 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Jaycee GreenePro Member
    Real Estate Consultant · St. Louis MSA · Member since 2024 · 3k+ posts · 727 votes
    1y
    Quote from @David Robert:

    I recently became aware of a very cheap property (roughly half of after repair value) and upon looking at it in person I found out why it was so cheap: there is severe cigarette damage throughout the 1st floor (basement less so, but not entirely without damage); there is visible dripping tar on every wall and the smell is awful. I am considering buying the property in cash then hiring Servpro to fix the cigarette damage. After that, I'd paint and put a new kitchen in (likely do these myself, which I have done before). I have arranged for Servpro to take a look at the property in person to give me a quote for this job. Based on what my real estate agent thinks that this quote will be, roughly, and the after repair value, it looks like I could buy this property in cash, spend a month or two fixing the damage, and then put a mortgage for roughly 1.6x what I paid for it and thus have a cash flowing property at a few hundred dollars per month and a little more money in my bank account ready for a down payment on the next deal. There's currently a tenant in the house (who I presume caused the smoke damage), but the seller promises that this tenant will be gone before closing. I would refuse to close if this turned out to not be the case. This house is in a neighborhood that will not significantly appreciate according to my real estate agent.

    When I think about this, I don't see many downsides, so it seems a little too good to be true. So, I'd like to discuss it — am I missing some downsides here? Does this sound like a good deal? 

    Hey @David Robert, welcome to the BP Forum! Do you mind providing some more specific numbers on your opportunity? Asking price, cost of rehab (plus time to complete), ARV, and rent once rehab is complete.

  • Member since 2025 · 4 posts · 3 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Jaycee Greene:
    Quote from @David Robert:

    I recently became aware of a very cheap property (roughly half of after repair value) and upon looking at it in person I found out why it was so cheap: there is severe cigarette damage throughout the 1st floor (basement less so, but not entirely without damage); there is visible dripping tar on every wall and the smell is awful. I am considering buying the property in cash then hiring Servpro to fix the cigarette damage. After that, I'd paint and put a new kitchen in (likely do these myself, which I have done before). I have arranged for Servpro to take a look at the property in person to give me a quote for this job. Based on what my real estate agent thinks that this quote will be, roughly, and the after repair value, it looks like I could buy this property in cash, spend a month or two fixing the damage, and then put a mortgage for roughly 1.6x what I paid for it and thus have a cash flowing property at a few hundred dollars per month and a little more money in my bank account ready for a down payment on the next deal. There's currently a tenant in the house (who I presume caused the smoke damage), but the seller promises that this tenant will be gone before closing. I would refuse to close if this turned out to not be the case. This house is in a neighborhood that will not significantly appreciate according to my real estate agent.

    When I think about this, I don't see many downsides, so it seems a little too good to be true. So, I'd like to discuss it — am I missing some downsides here? Does this sound like a good deal? 

    Hey @David Robert, welcome to the BP Forum! Do you mind providing some more specific numbers on your opportunity? Asking price, cost of rehab (plus time to complete), ARV, and rent once rehab is complete.

    Asking price $50k. Cost of rehab is a few months and around $10k I think — I'm waiting for contractors to look at the property to verify this for the things that I don't already have a good handle on the cost for. After repair value is $100k-$170k (based on comps in the neighborhood, the range is large since the layout is a bit weird where the primary bathroom is in a bedroom). Safe rent after rehab is $900 per month, maybe higher if I get lucky and/or rehab it to a very nice condition.

  • Travis TimmonsPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Ellsworth, ME · Member since 2021 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    1y

    Your margin for error on a house that is valued under $100k is so tight. It costs the same amount to replace a roof or furnace whether the house is worth $300k or $30k (assuming a similar size). Without the upside of a good neighborhood and/or quality property, I don't love it. 

    I would only recommend moving on this if you are comfortable owning it for the long term. Weird layout houses in a questionable neighborhood (making an assumption there) don't sell for appraised value. I think the numbers work better for a refinance than for a sale. You also just don't fully know what problems you are up against until you own it. And end of year actuals never pencil out like the spreadsheet...I'm not saying that it's a bad idea; I would just urge you to proceed with extreme caution. It's also okay to walk away. Many of the best investments are the ones you don't buy.

  • Jaycee GreenePro Member
    Real Estate Consultant · St. Louis MSA · Member since 2024 · 3k+ posts · 727 votes
    1y
    Quote from @David Robert:
    Quote from @Jaycee Greene:
    Quote from @David Robert:

    I recently became aware of a very cheap property (roughly half of after repair value) and upon looking at it in person I found out why it was so cheap: there is severe cigarette damage throughout the 1st floor (basement less so, but not entirely without damage); there is visible dripping tar on every wall and the smell is awful. I am considering buying the property in cash then hiring Servpro to fix the cigarette damage. After that, I'd paint and put a new kitchen in (likely do these myself, which I have done before). I have arranged for Servpro to take a look at the property in person to give me a quote for this job. Based on what my real estate agent thinks that this quote will be, roughly, and the after repair value, it looks like I could buy this property in cash, spend a month or two fixing the damage, and then put a mortgage for roughly 1.6x what I paid for it and thus have a cash flowing property at a few hundred dollars per month and a little more money in my bank account ready for a down payment on the next deal. There's currently a tenant in the house (who I presume caused the smoke damage), but the seller promises that this tenant will be gone before closing. I would refuse to close if this turned out to not be the case. This house is in a neighborhood that will not significantly appreciate according to my real estate agent.

    When I think about this, I don't see many downsides, so it seems a little too good to be true. So, I'd like to discuss it — am I missing some downsides here? Does this sound like a good deal? 

    Hey @David Robert, welcome to the BP Forum! Do you mind providing some more specific numbers on your opportunity? Asking price, cost of rehab (plus time to complete), ARV, and rent once rehab is complete.

    Asking price $50k. Cost of rehab is a few months and around $10k I think — I'm waiting for contractors to look at the property to verify this for the things that I don't already have a good handle on the cost for. After repair value is $100k-$170k (based on comps in the neighborhood, the range is large since the layout is a bit weird where the primary bathroom is in a bedroom). Safe rent after rehab is $900 per month, maybe higher if I get lucky and/or rehab it to a very nice condition.

     @David Robert Have you done this type of rehab before? A big challenge given the value is getting financing - this is too small for most HMLs I know. But if you have the capital or access to an investor, this sounds like it could be a good deal, but at $900/month, I'd estimate your ARV will max out around $85k.

  • Jake BakerBusiness Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · San Diego, CA · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 695 votes
    1y

    @David Robert

    Severe nicotine damage can require extensive cleaning, sealing, and even replacing drywall or HVAC ductwork. Get a firm quote before committing.

    If appreciation is low, ensure rents are strong enough to justify the effort. Market Appreciation is the least predictable, but historically, where you will make the most money. So I prefer to have more of that in the deal.

    BookkeepingRE - Bookkeeping for Real Estate & Service-Based Businesses52 Reviews
  • Rental Property Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2021 · 774 posts · 501 votes
    1y

    @David Robert - Based on what you're saying it sounds like certain sections of drywall/wall are better off coming out and replacing then trying to repair. I would also have a general contractor take a look at the damage and get an estimate from them. Good Luck!

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.