Smoke damage cleanup: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering smoke damage cleanup

You remove soot residue and smoke odor from walls, ceilings, contents and HVAC systems, using specialized cleaners, air scrubbers and deodorizing treatments. Customers hire you for a thorough cleanup that reaches the wall cavities and the ductwork, and for a result they can measure.

What customers ask

  • Will the smell be gone after the cleaning?
  • Which items can you save, and which should I replace?
  • Do you clean the HVAC and the ductwork?
  • How will you treat the wall cavities?
  • Will you re-test the odor after the work?
  • Are you licensed and insured?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the type of fire or smoke event, the rooms affected, whether the HVAC was running and the contents at risk, then say how you will assess the residue
  • Test the surfaces and the contents before you quote, and note the cleaning method for each in the proposal
  • Put the HVAC and duct cleaning, the air scrubbing and the deodorizing on separate lines, with the number of treatments
  • Show the wall cavity plan, including where you will open or treat the walls and where you will not
  • Explain that some contents will not clean to a usable state, and offer the replacement list with the reasons
  • Include a post-treatment odor check in the proposal, with the method and the date

What to put on your profile

  • Post before and after photos of smoke-cleaned walls, ceilings and contents, with the surface labeled
  • List the cleaners, scrubbers and deodorizing treatments you use, and the smoke types you have handled
  • Show a sample test report with the surface tests and the odor readings
  • State your license, your insurance and your HVAC cleaning certifications

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer an HVAC filter change and a duct check at the first season after the work
  • Suggest a sealing check on the walls and the windows, since residue can return if the wall cavities are not sealed
  • Offer to keep the test records and the contents list on file for the owner's insurance claim

Licenses and permits

Smoke restoration contractors commonly need a general contractor license or registration for repair work, and HVAC cleaning may need a licensed technician. Check with your state and local licensing agencies and your local building department for the rules that apply to the cleaning and any repairs.

Questions

What do I do if the owner refuses the HVAC cleaning?

Explain that the ductwork can keep releasing residue and odor into the rebuilt rooms. Record the owner's decision in writing, and recommend a re-test after the cleaning is complete.

How do I handle a customer who expects the odor to be gone in one visit?

Explain the steps, the time each one takes and the re-test. Show the readings after each treatment, so the customer can see the progress.

How do requests reach me on infinibell?

Customers describe the job and pick the pros they want by name, and only the pros they picked see the request. Joining is free. You pay only for the leads you accept, and you can decline a request for free. Every pro is reviewed before going live.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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