Question from Susi Love
Hi Debra and community!
I have been offered a beautiful rental home at a REALLY good “friend discount” price, but it was newly built 3 years ago and I can still smell that “new home smell”. If I spent a month baking it, ozone-ating it, airing it out, do you think that would be enough to make it “safe” for me? I’m not sure, but I don’t think it was ever lived in, so it hasn’t been aired out much in that 3 years.
It was built with fermaldahyde-free insulation, and has a solar system on it, but all other materials (hard laminate flooring, regular paint, vinyl windows, fiberglass tub, and open beams that are stained with regular stain) are just the cheapest materials the builder could use. At least there isn’t any new carpet or linoleum…that’s the worst!
The kitchen cabinets are oak, recycled from an older home, so they should be fine and the counters are granite.
I would love to jump at this opportunity, but in it’s present condition it is definitely causing pretty intense symptoms in me.
Does anyone know how new is “too new” and if I slammed it with offgassing techniques if I could get it cleared out in a month or so? I would stay in my current home until it was cleared, but it’s only 3 doors down, so I could check in on it periodically.
Debra’s Answer
You could certainly try all the things you mentioned, but I wouldn’t agree to take the house until you’ve done those things and know it is safe for you. In this slow market, your friend may be willing to give you the time.
