For example, depending on condition of kitchen cabinets etc i just stain or paint and put new fixtures.

If there are no water stains indicating a water leak then sealing the odor in the walls might be easier than tearing them apart looking for a minor air leak.

Paint not only eliminates stains and smells, but it makes a place look fresh and renewed.Termite treatment. 

This may ruffle a few feathers, but IMHO Zinnsser BIN2 or Zinnsser 123 are much better coverall primers than Kilz.However, if you do not have any bleed through stains or knots (on wood) Zinnsser BIN/BIN2 or Kilz stain covers are overkill.  

I know there is some animal damage / stains...Thanks for all the good info people!

Kitchen cabinets were ash and I was able to get a cabinet guy to drill for european hinges and I used GF Java gel stain with a final coat of poly.

Carpet the bedrooms.Is that a full sand with a stain and clear coats?

No expense was spared; 20 foot high turrets, stained glass windows, molding, etc.Although it is in a very nice suburban borough, it is no longer the type of neighborhood that would support a home of this magnitude.

I screwed up the staining on some cabinets.

If you do anything with the drive, scrub it and treat or stain it (if concrete) or roll a sealant coat on it (if asphalt).