you are blessed if that is your main concern, issue, problem with your home buying reality............i will get all the smoke smell for you. i'm in merchantville

and i'll be less than anyone else you get quotes from

email me

Chris,
I agree with Shar. My husband and I have used these machines and they are great! Just make sure that you are not in the room(s) when treatments are being done. You can simply google for cigarette smoke removal and you'll find companies who either sell the machines or provide the service.

Even with that said, I would still suggest removing and replacing any carpet and padding and all "soft" or fabric surfaces. i.e. If they offer to leave window treatments, etc..tell then "No Thanks!" Washing walls and re-painting (use a sealer, like Kilz, before re-painting) and having the air ducts professionally cleaned and sanitized, as well as changing all filters may still be required. Also eliminate from the home any personal belongings that they may leave behind.

If I were your Realtor, I would also request an escrow for the remediation of the problem. You shouldn't be solely responsible for fixing a problem that they've created through years of careless neglect.
Kim

Kimberly Thomas, Broker-Salesperson
Realty Executives
Voorhees, NJ
856-308-5989 http://www.KimCanHelp.com

Chris,

Before you do anything find someone in your area who does ozone treatment!

My husband and I purchased a home 3 years ago that we ruled out initially because we had to cover our noses with our shirts when we walked into the house just to stay in it for very long. The cigarette odor was overpowering. Someone recommended these ozone machines and I thought there was no way it would touch the odor but figured for $200 it was worth a shot before we had to do all the other stuff that everyone has mentioned. The guy brought in 4 of these machines and sealed up the house for 4 days (you can't go in). It was amazing!!! We didn't have to paint or wash walls or re-carpet or anything and haven't noticed it since.

I know I sound like some over-excited whack-job but it truly was the best recommendation I've ever seen.

Best of Luck!

With Your Success in Mind,

Shar Rundio
Keller Williams Integrity First Realty
Mesa, AZ
480.560.7255
shar@speakingofphoenixrealestate.com
Twitter: @SharRundio

Hello Chris and thanks for your question!

If the previous owners were heavy or regular smokers, as the others have pointed out, you'll need to do the following:

1. Remove and replace carpet and pad
2. Lightly scrub down (with a solution of 1/2 water to 1/2 vinegar) the walls and ceiling of the home and repaint all surfaces including, door, door jambs, crown moulding and floor or base boards.
3. Lightly spray and scrub with a wire brush to clean any stone masonry or brickwork with a solution of 1 part bleach to 4 parts water
4. Remove and replace window coverings
5. Clean windows (you can use the same solution of vinegar and water here too)
6. Replace the heater filter (as this is where most of the "smells" get trapped) and vacuum the inside of the heater and the heater intake box
7. Wiping down all cabinet surfaces (inside and out) with an appropriate cleaning product and remove and replace all shelf liners.
8. Scrub tile and other hard surfaces with cleansers appropriate for the materials.

As our sage Bill pointed out, even after taking these actions, there may still be an odor of smoke in the home, which will need to be ferreted out and resolved.

If the smokers were only light smokers who primarily smoked outside or if the smell of smoke is not heavy when you take possession of the home, you can often eliminate odors by steam cleaning the drapes and carpets and using a service that applies the industrial strength version of Frebreeze in the air to remove any residual odors. Here in San Jose, we have a company called Diversified Environmental that will set up deodorizing equipment in the home that can remove all smells--smoke, cooking, mildew--from the home in about 2 hours using a system of jets that apply a deodorizer in the home.

Good luck!

Sincerely,
Grace Morioka, SRES, e-Pro
Area Pro Realty
San Jose, CA

Eliminating the smell of smoking can be a challenging undertaking that involves, painting, replacing carpet, cleaning window treatments and air ducts etc. The process is ongoing and truly one that requires a committment to resolve the problem.

Don't forget about adjacent areas: attic, cellar, garage, closets, cupboards, etc.

Good luck

Don't forget to have the air ducts and vents cleaned.

Honestly the best odor destroyer is vinegar. Will kill all odors. At first you'll think the place smells like a salad, shortly after all odors are gone. Hour or less. depending how much you use.

I have bought many houses and one I bought had cats in it and I mean lots of them too! I will never get the odor out of my senses, ever! Of course I went to the pet stores, supermarkets home depot and internet. My cousin told me a story, so I tried it. Gone in days. I mean cat odor embedded in woodwork and I saturated the wood with vinegar and it was gone. Not even a hint! Thought I was going to have to rip up the wood and replace. But never did....

So that is my best most cost effective solution.

Hope that helps



Larry Sarlo
Weichert Realtors
609-868-1171 http://www.LSarlo@comcast.net

I just finished a remodel of a house that had a heavy smoker. We repainted everything, walls, ceilings, doors, jams, etc and replaced all the carpet. Their was still an odor lingering and I figured out it was the fireplace rock. I sprayed it with Heavy Duty Febreze and that took care of any remaining odor. The smoke adheres to any porous surface and any non-porous surface needs to be cleaned or painted but for us it worked.

Good Luck
Marlene Macbeth e-PRO, GRI
Santa Ynez Valley, CA

Chris,
There are several solutions for odors in the home. The most expensive would probably be PuroClean or ServePro. A trip to Home Depot for sprays and scrubs would be a less expensive solution. Once you have the home inspection you could also ask the seller to escrow money to have the odors removed when they move out.

Good Luck
Marilyn Geiger
Weichert Realtors
609-238-0465

Chris
It is all going to depend on how long they lived there, how much they smoked and your level of sensitivity.

The best bet is to get a contractor in to give you some type of idea. But if they smoked alot in the house and for many years, there is a real chance you may have to get rid of drywall insulation and everything; because that is where it lingers.
start with removing carpeting, and the window treatments, then wipe down the walls.

good luck!