Twenty-minute showing checklist

None of these proves anything alone; three or four together are a strong signal.

  • Smell the inside of two or three closets, especially in bedrooms.
  • Open kitchen upper cabinets and the cabinet above the refrigerator.
  • Look at the ceiling around light fixtures and above the main seating area for tint or a ring.
  • Check light switch plates and outlet covers for a yellow cast compared with new ones nearby.
  • Look behind a picture or mirror for a lighter rectangle on the wall.
  • Run a finger across a window blind or window glass for an oily film.
  • Ask to see the furnace filter, or look at the return grille for tan dust.
  • Notice fresh paint on ceilings only, or in just one or two rooms.
  • Count fragrance devices, candles and air fresheners.
  • Check the garage and any detached workshop, common smoking spots.
  • In a condo, smell the hallway outside the unit and the stairwell.

Turning what you found into a plan

  • IfNo signs at allThenProceed normally, and still ask the seller in writing whether anyone smoked in the home.
  • IfA few mild signs in one area, such as the garage or one roomThenFactor in targeted cleaning and priming of that space.
  • IfSigns in most rooms, closets and the filterThenAssume ceilings, ducts, carpet and pad will all need work, and talk with your agent about how that affects your offer and timeline.
  • IfOdor in the hallway or neighbors who smoke in a condo buildingThenAsk the HOA about smoking rules and complaints before you commit; this may not be fixable inside your unit.

Questions to send through your agent

  1. Did anyone smoke tobacco or anything else inside the home, garage or on the balcony?
  2. When was the HVAC system last serviced, and were the ducts ever cleaned?
  3. Were any rooms painted or carpets replaced in the last year, and why?
  4. For condos: does the association have smoking rules, and have there been complaints about smoke drift?
  5. Can the buyer's inspection period include a visit with the windows closed and heat or air running?

Common questions

Is a smoke smell a reason to walk away?

Not necessarily. Tobacco odor is fixable in most homes, but it takes time and money. The question is whether the price and your timeline leave room for the work, and in a condo, whether smoke is still arriving from elsewhere.

General information for Cherry Creek, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.