Another is how much do you/does anyone smoke?  

Many of those I worked with would say 'where did it all go' as they neared retirement & yet they always had the lease vehicle(s) (some 2 or 3 in the family), the various club memberships, 2 pack a day cigarettes & those nights at the bars that they cannot remember etc etc. 

Fill in all holes with fire retardant caulkInstall ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher in all kitchensInstall battery smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every apartment of sleeping areas and furnace roomInstall 110V interconnected smoke alarms in hallways and basement.

Our 6-plex has a commercial sized one (circa 1980's) that they finally upgraded after it overflowed several times when the 4 motors would randomly smoke & stall.

I’ve got a tenant in TX (who has breached the lease twice including smoking in the property) who’s lease ends on New Years Eve.

However, is there any way to help determine who is just blowing smoke vs. those who really know their stuff and can be trusted? 

The kind  of renter who won’t pay 3$ for a new smoke detector battery or a swap out a light bulb .my  black lab will leave our cool air conditioned house to go lay in the hot sun out on the deck !

Really couldn't tell because it looked like a place would look like after a fire, but no smoke or black wood.

Washington state is has banned smoking in public places.

Sounds like a typical one-story 1500-1800 sq ft rancher, so I would imagine at the very least it would require $2500 to paint the interior, $2000 for new carpet/vinyl, $1500 for faux stainless steel appliances and then another $500 for things like cleaning, new door knobs, smoke alarms, new registers/returns, new outlet/switch covers, etc.