i wouldnt bother with small claims as your costs in labor will max the amount you can get in small claims. Small claims have a max $$ amount the judge can award you.. for Kansas, it is only $4000....
Small Claims Court Links to Each State
if you are going to go the route of having someone coming in and doing all the repairs, might as well bring in a professional who will do a top notched job, and turn around and sue then for that amount.. as well as court and laywer fees in regular court.
then again.. you are assuming these people have any $$ and or could even pay even if ordered too....
hell, i know for just a plumber to come out and do some work.. you can easily spend $2500 in just one visit... electrician is another $1.5k...
couple hundred for drywall..
not sure if your going carpet.. but i spend 5k on hardwood floor for my dining room and front room alone... thats on top of 5k i spent for master bedroom and bathroom and hallway... this is just on my 2nd floor too...( been renovating my house for the last 3 years with a 1 year deployment in there too.. i just got back and going to start on the flooring tomorrow)
for a whole house.. i wouldnt be suprised if you spent about 15k to 25k for clean up, repairs, and renovating..thats with you doing some work too.. maybe rates are cheaper there..
check home depot.. If there are alot of illegals hanging out... hire a few and have them clean that bish out and bring in the material for repairs.. that should save you a few $k
and document EVERYTHING, and take lots of pics for the courts