Your contractor is making this too complicated.

You want smooth walls, you should have one price to make the walls smooth.

Is level 3 sort of smooth, and level 4 a bit more smooth, and level 5 the smooth one?

What about moving and covering furniture and keeping drywall dust from going everywhere?

Do you have a painter lined up?

What do you have now? Post a picture. Is it in good condition?

@PPF moving furniture, etc. is included. I’m actually in the middle of a kitchen remodel, it just passed inspection and they are about to install the cabinets. I had the thought to do the smooth walls yesterday and my contractor said if I’m going to pull the trigger do it now before they put the kitchen in.

Included in my current contract is a full interior paint job. As I continue thinking about it, I think new paint will be a big improvement. I’m going with a brighter white than what I have now, china white (the ubiquitous china white).

@cat_ky I have orange peel texture. I’d say it’s in decent shape. I’ll post a picture tomorrow.