Real Estate Allergies

Allergies may not be the first subject one considers when purchasing a home, but for some homebuyers who suffer from severe allergic reactions, checking for possible allergy irritants is front and center when looking to purchase a new home.

These irritants can translate into hundreds of different articles that a person with non-allergic tendencies might never think twice about, such as dust mites (microscopic insects that live in bedding, carpets, and furniture), mold spores from fungi that grow in damp areas, such as bathrooms and basements, pet dander from cats and dogs, and pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds that enter the home through open windows. There is also an issue of some household chemicals that linger in the air from perfumes, cleaning products, and other chemicals that release irritants into the house.

Helping buyers who suffer from allergies takes on a whole new category when searching for a new home. So many factors must be taken into account even before actually showing them homes for sale that might suit them. I have been in situations with people who have loved a home, only to have to pass on it due to the allergens existing in the house that could not be fixed. When a buyer is allergic to animals, for instance, such as a dog or a cat, even removing the animals from the house and any affected carpets or furniture can sometimes be insufficient for a person who is highly allergic. Because of the dander, those tiny flakes of skin that are shed by animals and are spread around the house, many allergic people need to consider replacing all the existing sheetrock in those homes if they choose to purchase them, as well as repainting all surfaces to rid them of any remaining particles which may not be visible to the naked eye, but can cause dangerous allergic reactions if left unattended.

Old carpeting as well as the old padding beneath it can be a cause of allergic irritation that might not occur to the rest of us. The carpeting and padding may release certain chemical properties into the atmosphere of a room that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye, but can cause troublesome side effects to an allergic person with sensitivities to those properties.

It is not uncommon today for buyers with children to prioritize looking for homes with wood floors as opposed to carpeting and central air conditioning as opposed to window units to safeguard against irritating an individual with a tendency towards allergic reactions. Wood flooring seems to be the recommendation from allergy specialists to create a healthier environment for allergy sufferers. In the case where carpeting exists, it’s not uncommon for a potential buyer to check if there are wood floors under the carpeting so that they may consider a home even if they have to take into consideration removing the carpeting from the floors.

Central air conditioning, also a priority amongst allergy sufferers, has shown itself to create a less troublesome atmosphere with more efficient filtering qualities for allergic people as opposed to window units, and as such I have had many a customer with allergies within their families tell me to show them homes only with central air conditioning, even if the other homes are fabulous.

Of course, the worst allergy that all buyers seem to suffer from is to the price of some homes. But that’s a topic for another day as the solution for this still eludes me! n

Anessa Cohen lives in Cedarhurst and is a Licensed Real Estate Broker (Anessa V Cohen Realty with over 20 years of experience offering full service real estate residential, commercial, and management services. She can be reached at 516-569-5007. Readers are encouraged to send any questions or scenarios by email to [email protected].