Musty Smell in House

I would get out of the contract now.

That issue waves big red flags in my mind and you have to think about potential re-sale someday. Don't start off with a bad deal that you may never be able to sell unless you practically give it away.

You are aware of leaks and said owner says he had them fixed but something is not fixed. Run away from the deal.

There are many things to keep in mind when running a house that cost you extra money... keeping AC/Heating up to date, windows, flooring, appliances, yard, etc... You have no idea what this issue could cost you on top of the routine cost of upkeep. Plus, you would smell like the house when you go out... ugh

It depends on the source of the smell. If the house has been vacant for a while, it will develop a smell, just because is has been closed up. Lack of water in the toilets or drains can mean some sewer gases leaked up (not a big issue). But you will need to air out the house and likely shampoo carpets and wash all the surfaces as these will linger.

But if the source is water related, you need to know where the issue is. Look for signs of water damage, in the attic, on walls near water fixtures, and under sinks. Just remember, just because there is damage, does not mean it was (or not) repaired. Look for areas that were recently painted (to cover damage) and ask of there was any recent plumbing issues. If it has a concrete foundation, look for foundation problems (as that could indicate sewage issues). If it is pier and beam, make sure they check under the house and the soil under the house is not wet. If it has a basement, look for signs that it floods.

When you find the problem, you can decide if it would cost too much to fix to be worth it.

There is moisture somewhere in the house that is why it smells. I would find a highly rated inspector and have them inspect the home before purchasing. Most often things like this can be fixed, but you should find out where the moisture is coming from so you will know the cost of repairs.

I would not purchase a home without an inspection, even a home being sold "as is".

I've always had a good sniffer, so I smell things that other people can't. I've lived in my house for 13 years now and I still catch a whiff of "nursing home" from the previous elderly occupants.

When we first bought the house, it smelled strongly of old cigarette smoke and cat pee. Nothing a good cleaning and floor replacement couldn't rectify. We got a good deal because it was offputting to other buyers who could not get past the superficiality.

Our finished basement can smell musty in the summer if we don't run the dehumidifier. Does the house currently have one? Humidity can release all kinds of smells from various materials.

If you love the house then have it professionally inspected and you add a clause to the contract stating you want the smell remedied to your satisfaction, if not, then the contract is null and void and you back out.

There are way too many reasons to list here as to what is causing the smell. But if that is the only drawback, then have it fixed, that this issue is contingent on your purchase. Be clear. Be concise. Don't be worried you'll lose the deal over this.

I bought a home in Phoenix many years ago the the owner was a heavy smoker and I'm super allergic to smoke and I couldn't tell she smoked during any of the walk throughs as she had the house professionally bombed, and they used the smoke bomb used to rid homes of that fire smell. Those bombs are chemically designed to deactivate the smoke molecule. So it stands to reason there is a similar cure for musty smells.

II recently found that mice and rats had invaded a couple of places in my house, and left droppings and urine that had gone undetected. Hopefully that has taken care of the unidentified musty smell in my house. If there are no furnishings in the house, but there is a stove, check inside the workings of the stove. Mice can infest stoves, dishwashers, etc. If there is carpeting that could also be a source of stench.

But if you can't figure it out, don't buy it. I wouldn't personally buy a house with a musty smell.

well, obviously you get it professionally inspected, right?
vacant houses DO often smell musty, but if the smell is so pervasive that it lingers in your hair, that sounds like a dampness issue.
i don't understand why you'd get the 'air quality' checked but not just pay for an inspection. they're what.....$200? wouldn't that be a more sensible thing to do than check on the internet?
khairete
S.

Hi! I'm caring for a house built in '75 complete with shag carpet and paneled walls. It sits on a slab and we have no water issues. Like every '70's house is hermetically sealed. My mother never opened a window and I swear we breathed the same air for years. It smells, it's better now but it smells when it has been closed up for a week or two. We've shampooed the rugs but can not afford to rip the paneling off and my dh and I are sure that we need to eliminate both those things to rectify the smell. It is a million times better, the first thing I do when I get there is open all the windows if I can. We purchased a really good air filter which we leave on high all the time and it has made a world of difference. If the inspector found leaks that could well be your issue but also look at the previous tenants and the materials in the home to get a better clue. If you truly love it see what you can work out about trying to air out the house or check for smells in strange places. Yes, mice smell. Ugh, houses go on forever with their drama. Good luck!

is there a basement? is there a dehumidifer running all the time?

When we bought our house, it had been empty. it had a smell. It quickly went away when we got a dehumidifer and we started living in it.

Maybe a good deep clean will fix the problem. Do you love the space? if yes,then go for it. if this is giving you second thoughts, call the lawyer.

We were in inspection on a house last Oct. We called the lawyer. No regrets here. Something didn't feel right. if it doesn't feel right, call the lawyer. Otherwise, a musty smell can be fixed.

Did your inspector look for the source of the smell? Personally I would not buy a home until I knew the source of the odor and if it was fixable, and really I wouldn't buy it until it was taken care of. Do you want to have to deal with this the moment you buy it?

If it smells like rotting leaves/earthy/dirt smell - it's typically mold. Mold can be within the walls, ceiling tiles and under carpet. I'm guessing the air quality test would have detected it as you say, but hopefully your inspector pushed on the walls and around the leaks to make sure that the ceiling tiles/drywall etc. were ok.

Some people describe the damage that termites leave behind as musty. I've never smelled it myself, and not sure if it's because water gets in the tunnels they leave or if the pulp smells. I would think your inspector would have checked for that also.

Just damp can make a house smell. Our basement does if I don't use a dehumidifier. Of course humidity and heat can bring smells out.

What did the home inspector, air quality tester and your realtor think was the cause? Surely they would have some idea where they deal with houses. Protect yourself - if it's from water damage, it could be costly.

Good luck :)

I am wonernig if there could be something other than the moist mold smell mentioned by others. I have survived floods and I distinctly know that smell and then there are a lot of lingering spice smells in homes, also. We cook a lot with a lot of different spices and after coming home after a week of vacation there was a smell even though we emptied all garbage.Another thought, look for (sorry) mouse poopies....eeuuu. And then get a cat if you still love it. Plus is the home on a septic tank? well water? those all have certain smells,too

Musty smells are caused by moisture. I absolutely would not purchase a home in which the musty smell is so strong that I can smell it in my hair after I leave. No WAY. If you simply cannot live without it, have an inspector come in and do a full inspection of the property, find the sources of the smell and repair it. But it's very likely that the damage is extensive.

Mum4ever gave a great answer. Follower her excellent advice.

The first home I bought reaked from day 1. It brought tears to my eyes the smell that is. I had to have every wall and ceiling painted. The wood panelliing removed and sheet rock put up. The floors had to be sanded and stained, while other floors had to be replaced all together.

I didn't mind doing the work because I knew we would live in this house for a long time. It was worth it.

Smells can be eliminated you just have to determine if you are willing to put forth the money and the effort.

We had looked at a house about 4 yrs ago. It also had a musty smell. We never got to the point of inspection but when some investor bought it, they tore up the front lawn to fix the pipes coming into the house. There was a leak in that area, You may want to have that inspected. It supposedly can be done without digging. It can be an expensive fix and not all home owner insurance covers it.

Other than that, if the owner has not done a big clean up, the smell can get into the wood and other materials and remain for some time.