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"In the future, some experts believe sellers will have to disclose on home condition reports if there was smoking in the house. Others in the antismoking camp believe it's only a matter of time before a buyer sues to try to force a seller to cover the cost of a major cleanup."

This is the only part that upsets me. I am sure that a buyer has the knowledge of the condition of the home when they buy it. They also get home inspections and are very knowledgeable concerning the condition of all aspects of the home. To try to come back later because it took to long to clean is pure BS.

Otherwise, if someone wants to by my home they will make an offer. If they don't like the smell, they will try to low ball me. If I accept the low ball offer then we have an agreement! If they want to pay me the value (appraised) minus some premium related to the smoke smell and I accept it is a contractual agreement, don't come back and try to renegotiate the deal through the courts.

Many people have a lot of work when they buy a new home. They have to clean, do landscape, paint, lay carpet, fix roofs, fix furnaces and a/c, etc. Another case of the non smoker's laziness.

Home inspections do not investigate or report anything related to cigarette smoking.... I agree rather foolish for a buyer to buy a home and then sue to get it cleaned up... but it happens all the time with buyers suing for all sorts of things... that they should know about or are obvious after they move in.

The disclosure stuff bothers me as well. If, as they so-called "experts" including many posting on this thread are correct - there will be no grounds for suit, because if it is so bad, they will immediately know it is a smokers house.

Many people have a lot of work when they buy a new home. They have to clean, do landscape, paint, lay carpet, fix roofs, fix furnaces and a/c, etc. Another case of the non smoker's laziness.

You are correct. when I first bought the place in dover we spent untold hours and money on all of those things. The place had been a rental unit, and while the tenants didn't smoke - they sure as heck were pigs.

But the way I looked at it was that I would be paying less in mortgage than I had been paying in rent, so I put in some sweat equity. I lived there for just about 11 years and more than made all the money back when I sold it for what I was asking for it.