Posted by Nate(DC) on June 11, 2003 at 20:23:40:
Rich,
I was wondering the same thing, so I did a www.google.com search for “Alpine air purifier” and turned up several…
NT
VERY SEVERE CAT DAMAGE-Please advise - Posted by jim
Posted by jim on June 11, 2003 at 10:47:15:
I don’t know why but many homes I’m coming across have dog/cat urine damage. However, last night would have made anyone cringe.
Basically the owner has been a hermit for 10-15 yrs. Used to be a dentist but quit working and now at the age of 55 has lost control of bodily functions and is now in a nursing home. Bottom line, there are about 15 crippled/diseased cats with half their hair missing that are urinating and everything else in the house. The guys stepdaughter is getting rid of the cats and having all the carpet removed. And yes the subfloor will be significantly damaged.
The mortgage is $50K and when repaired would bring around $115K. The sad thing is the house is really attractive except for the cat damage/smell. House was built in 1988. I currently own two duplexes less than a block away so I thought this could be a nice addition.
The basement is huge and has a bathroom/shower. Two additional bedrooms could easily be added. However, this is the scary part. The step daughter had never been downstairs. When I walked down there I noticed 3 seperate pools of a reddish/brown liquid coming from under the walls of two rooms. The lights were very dim and actually I was scared to open the doors to see what it was. Too at this time I have my two shirts over my nose and mouth. Fearing I might literally find something dead I used a broom to push one door open and found the glimpse of some cages made out of chicken wire. That was enough so I stayed out of the room.
The other door had to be opened connecting two broom handles together because I didn’t want to step in the liquid. Well this was the bathroom and the liquid was backed up sewage pipes.
Bottom line I ended up running out of the house due to gagging and left the door open. The stepdaughter hollered at me to close it before the cats got out. I think they were afraid of the light and wouldn’t have come outside if the house was burning down.
Is there any opportunity to clean this house and totally elleminate the smell? I know about Kilz, Zinser 123 primer, OdorX, etc. Regarding the basement, there are also vinyl tile squares on the floor so the smell is in the cracks, etc. This is more like a crime scene cleaning than typical rehab cleaning.
I think it would be hilarious to call someone like Molly Maid cleaning services to get a quote. It would be a good candid camera joke. Anyway, has anyone ever had a severe house like this that they were able to completely clean?
Sorry for the length—Jim
OdorXit - Posted by Kathi
Posted by Kathi on June 12, 2003 at 11:37:36:
available at odorxit.com. Use as dirrected. If you have any questions call Marty. His # is on the bottle and on the web site. The stuff really works.
Just think of the cat odor as the smell of money.
To everyone— I’m back to optimistic!!! - Posted by jim
Posted by jim on June 12, 2003 at 07:55:30:
I’ve spoken to the stepdaughter and after she has the carpet and household belongings gone (including the cats) we are going in for some quotes. She feels obligated to at least have the carpet out of there.
I’m telling you if this house can come out “clean smelling” the sky will be the limit with stinky properties.
Thanks again—I’ll be using everyone’s advice
jim
Our first house was a situation like that - Posted by Shawn J. Dostie
Posted by Shawn J. Dostie on June 11, 2003 at 19:57:58:
15 cats that were never allowed outside. My wife and I sat on the front lawn and wondered what h-e- double hockey sticks we had gotten ourselves into. We removed all the floor coverings, aired it out for a week, washed everything with a product called odo ban, kilzed the walls and subfloors, varnished the shoe rail and quarter round, put in new linoleum, carpet, and by the time we were done (30 days m/l) it was like new. Anyone ever heard of odoban or know a distributor?
Good Luck,
Shawn(OH)
Re: VERY SEVERE CAT DAMAGE-Please advise - Posted by Lyal
Posted by Lyal on June 11, 2003 at 11:47:06:
Jim,
As LeGrande says “I smell MONEY”. The worse it smells the better. All this stuff can be cleaned up (by someone else). I’ve bought places where people used the spare bedroom as a kennel for long weekends in the summer. Granted it’s not as extreme as your situation but similar. Hire someone to clean out the goo and rip out the flooring, have the floors coated with Kilz and have your handyman (not a “Flooring Installer”) put down new flooring. If necessary, also paint the walls with Kilz and a finish coat. Figure all this into your initial offer. Sell it and collect a check.
Lyal
Re: VERY SEVERE CAT DAMAGE-Please advise - Posted by Anne_ND
Posted by Anne_ND on June 11, 2003 at 11:23:51:
Jim,
If you solve these peoples’ problem you should get paid for it. Therefore, make your offer such that you can make money taking into account the work you will have to have done. Will you be taking over the mortgage sub 2?
I have sent Merry Maids into trailers with refrigerators that were seething with life. They don’t even flinch, and I happily pay them the $300 to clean the place (seemed cheap to me!).
Get a plumber and an inspector in there to tell you what needs to be done (after the cats are gone of course), and get some worst-case estimates.
With that many cats I suggest you plan on replacing subfloors and drywall as well as the tiles in the basement. Build that cost into your estimate.
You could also get an industrial strength ozone machine, after the cats are gone. Those things only work after you get rid of the source of the smell, but they do a good job.
There are professionals who clean up after crime scenes and fires- that’s who you should call to deal with this. Don’t try to get in there with your Kilz and do it your self.
Good luck,
Anne
I feel sorry for those poor cats.
Re: VERY SEVERE CAT DAMAGE-Please advise - Posted by Lisa
Posted by Lisa on June 11, 2003 at 10:55:17:
Well I know I’m not much help but I must tell you I got a real laugh imagining Molly Maid showing up for a quote!
My folks returned to their summer home in the mountains this spring and found out their basement toilet had some backed up sewage leakage. It had likely been that way for about four months (the time they were gone). The entire basement was condemend because of the mold/spores that had started growing everywhere.
It sounds like it would be a lot of work to make the place habitable again.
odo ban warning - Posted by jim
Posted by jim on June 12, 2003 at 08:00:41:
Shawn–
I did a search on odo ban and was greeted with a warning from another user. Although the user was a pet owner there supposedly was a warning to humans. Check it out. I used a product called odorx and it worked well. $50 for 16oz that you mix with water but it did the trick. I also sealed the floors with polyurthane afterwards.
Re: VERY SEVERE CAT DAMAGE-Please advise - Posted by Brian-ON
Posted by Brian-ON on June 11, 2003 at 11:15:34:
All I can comment on is getting rid of the smell. Get an Alpine air purifier. I have one and it will get rid of ANY smells. Hell the coroners use them to get rid of the smell of death. Guaranteed to work man! If you need any more info get back to me. Good Luck!
Shawn–Odoban - Posted by jim
Posted by jim on June 12, 2003 at 08:07:33:
Shawn–
Whether or not the Odoban has a ligitimate warning or not it sure receives a lot of positive praise for its users. I do think I’ll check into it at Sams Club
Thanks again
Re: VERY SEVERE CAT DAMAGE-Please advise - Posted by RichV(FL)
Posted by RichV(FL) on June 11, 2003 at 16:28:30:
Brian,
I have heard of those. Where do you find them?
Regards,
RichV(FL)
Re: VERY SEVERE CAT DAMAGE-Please advise - Posted by Brian-ON
Posted by Brian-ON on June 12, 2003 at 11:15:20:
The company is an MLM one. I’m a very part time dealer with them. I have one XL15 unit that typically wholesales for $360.00 on E Bay!
IF someone wants it, I’ll give it away for $250.00 USD