Factors and how they push the scope
| Factor | Smaller scope | Larger scope |
|---|---|---|
| How long smoking went on | A year or two, or occasional | Decades of daily indoor smoking |
| Where smoking happened | One room, garage or porch | Every room, including bedrooms |
| What was smoked | Occasional cigarettes | Heavy cigarette, cigar or pipe use |
| Ceiling height and type | Standard flat drywall | Vaulted, coffered, textured or popcorn ceilings |
| Absorbent finishes | Hard floors, painted walls | Carpet throughout, wallpaper, raw wood, cellular shades |
| Air system | Ducts recently cleaned or replaced | Original ductwork, humidifier, never cleaned |
| Contents | Empty home | Fully furnished, estate contents still in place |
| Building logistics | Single-family with driveway access | Condo with elevator booking, work hours, insurance paperwork |
| Timeline | Flexible | Tight closing, move-in or listing date |
| Follow-on work | Light touch-up | Full priming, painting and new flooring |
Reading two proposals side by side
When proposals for the same home differ widely, the reason is usually scope rather than pricing alone. One provider may plan to hand-clean every ceiling and closet and coordinate duct cleaning; another may plan a single machine treatment. Put the scopes in the left column of a sheet and line up what each includes. The gaps are often more telling than the totals.
Some factors are under your control. Clearing contents before work starts, deciding early which carpet and window treatments are going, and booking the condo elevator in advance all shrink the job. Others, like ceiling height or decades of smoking, are what they are.
Remember that odor work sits inside a larger project. Painting, flooring and duct cleaning are often separate trades, and the cheapest odor scope can become expensive if it forces repainting or a second treatment later.
Where to trim and where not to
- IfBudget is tightDo the rooms with the highest worksheet scores, the ducts and the ceilings thoroughly; defer cosmetic work in low-score rooms.
- IfCarpet is old anywayReplace it rather than paying to clean it, and seal the subfloor.
- IfTempted to skip the ductsDo not; an untreated system can spread residue back into cleaned rooms.
- IfTempted to skip primerSkipping it in heavy rooms often means repainting later.
General information for Cherry Creek, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.