About the inspection
Ask these before accepting any proposal.
- Will someone visit the loft before proposing, or is the scope based on a phone description?
- What will be inspected: surfaces, ducts, soft goods, the source of smoke?
- How will the inspection results be written down?
- Is any testing involved, and what does it show?
About the proposed work
- Which surfaces will be treated, and by what approach?
- How are brick, raw wood and steel handled differently?
- What is excluded, and who handles it?
- What access equipment is planned for high ceilings?
- How will changes to scope be explained and recorded?
Reading answers well
Good answers are specific to your loft: they name surfaces, heights and the HVAC. Weak answers are general and repeat the same assurances for every home. Notice whether the provider asks you about the smoking history, how long ago it occurred and what has been tried.
Be cautious about any statement that promises complete removal in a fixed period. Smoke residue varies by material, and honest providers describe likely outcomes in terms of conditions and limits. Ask what would cause the work to need repeating.
Keep the list short enough to use. Pick the questions that matter most for your loft, such as access for high ceilings, ducts and soft goods, and ask each provider the same ones in the same order.
How to use the answers
Write down each answer as given, with the date and the person's name. When you compare, look for the same facts across providers, such as whether the ducts are included, whether access equipment is planned and whether exclusions are listed. Where one proposal is silent, ask directly.
Do not be rushed. A provider that wants an immediate decision before explaining scope is not helping you compare. Take time to read the written proposal and check that it matches what was said.
If you are unsure, ask a second provider to review the same loft with the same facts. Differences in scope often reveal what one of them assumed.
You may also ask the provider what would cause the work to change, and how you would be told. Good answers are concrete and come with a written record.
Compare providers side by side
| Question | Provider A | Provider B |
|---|---|---|
| Visited before proposing? | ||
| Surfaces named? | ||
| Ducts addressed? | ||
| Exclusions listed? | ||
| Documentation provided? |
Common questions
How many providers should I ask?
Several, so you can compare scopes and see where proposals differ.
General information for RiNo, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.