QUESTION: We have lived in our town for the last few years and are in the process of buying a 10-year-old house. The problem is not the equity or the great price, it is the smoke damage that was not reported to the city or the fire department.

Most of the house has smoke damage where you can see the raised features of the nails and studs. I cannot find the sealant that I need.

While asking for free quotes on the work that needs to be done, I have found no one offers AARP or military discounts. Do you have any suggestions? — Ginny in Ohio

ANSWER: The product you are looking for is Kilz, a primer sealant often used in smoke-damaged buildings to reduce odors.

Just because a house has suffered fire and smoke damage is no reason to walk away from a good deal. Charcoaled wood can be almost as strong as the original wood and offers a protective layer of charcoal to prevent mold or fungi growth.

After a fire, when all the insurance work has been completed, the individual pieces of damaged wood that are left should be probed with a sharp screwdriver or awl to ensure the wood is structurally sound. After the inspection, the affected wood can be spray treated to suppress smoke odors.

Drywall and panels damaged by smoke need to be washed to remove as much staining as possible and then dried before sealing.

When asking for quotes from various contractors, make sure you inquire about any licensing requirements in your area and make sure the contractors carry liability insurance.

Also ask for a release of lien contract to make sure the suppliers the contractors use have been paid and will not seek payment from you once the work has been completed.

Be aware that the more successful contractors will ask for a fee to make an on-site visit for an estimate, but usually they will return the fee when they are assigned the contract for the work. No successful contractor can afford to work for free.

(Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home improvement questions at C. Dwight Barnett, Evansville Courier & Press, P.O. Box 286, Evansville, IN 47702.)