Need Advice About Purchasing A House That Smells of Cat Urine (Red Bank: hardwood floors, how much)

[njerzygrl]

I am thinking about buying a house that the owner has 3 or 4 cats. There is a definite odor...the current owner is not the cleanest individual either (I'll leave it at that)

We would absolutely pull up the carpeting and replace the hardwood floors, in addition to painting.

Would this take care of the problem? Or is this a more complex problem than I am realizing?

[mumra]

its good that you are ready to repair the floor because pet stains do a number on hardwood flooring. No matter how much you clean some people with keen sense of smell can still pick up the cat urine odor.
Another thing to look for are flees & ticks if they were out door cats.

[FBone]

Is it in Winding Brook?

[0706772]

DON'T buy it!

[exit82]

no way no how-I wouldn't have put one foot in that house-why would you put yourself thru that?

[myrab]

Originally Posted by njerzygrl

I am thinking about buying a house that the owner has 3 or 4 cats. There is a definite odor...the current owner is not the cleanest individual either (I'll leave it at that)

We would absolutely pull up the carpeting and replace the hardwood floors, in addition to painting.

Would this take care of the problem? Or is this a more complex problem than I am realizing?

FAR more complex. Cat urine is the most durable substance on the planet. It has a half life of a jillion years. Far far worse than dog pee. Far worse than anything in any horror movie you've ever seen.

I got a townhome in Red Bank with the same problem. And the problem was not resolved until all carpeting was removed, in addition to carpet pad, in addition to the wood flooring (not hardwood, plywood) under the carpet and pad. That did the trick.

Do not do this unless you're willing to rip out all flooring clear down to the bedrock, or lava, whichever comes first.

Also, if the cats were peeing on the walls--which male cats sometimes do--repainting will not even make a dent. If it's in the walls too then the walls would have to be replaced.

Can't you find a place that's not contaminated?

[luckyshoes]

Ugh. I wouldn't if there was another choice. Ditto for houses that have been smoked in for twenty years. It can get into the drywall.

Are you sure that it's not just the litter boxes you are smelling?

Another thing to think about is that the cat hair might be all through the vents. Not a big deal usually, unless you have someone who is very allergic who comes over.

[jog1151]

Originally Posted by FBone

Is it in Winding Brook?

Hey FB, no it isn't Winding Brook, although we are going to look at a few in Winding Brook this weekend.

Anything I should know about Winding Brook?

[jog1151]

Originally Posted by exit82

no way no how-I wouldn't have put one foot in that house-why would you put yourself thru that?

We love the complex, very small with a limited number of houses.

We lost out to a higher bid on another unit, and this one is also available for about 20k less.

Not our 1st choice for sure.

[jog1151]

Originally Posted by myrab

FAR more complex. Cat urine is the most durable substance on the planet. It has a half life of a jillion years. Far far worse than dog pee. Far worse than anything in any horror movie you've ever seen.

I got a townhome in Red Bank with the same problem. And the problem was not resolved until all carpeting was removed, in addition to carpet pad, in addition to the wood flooring (not hardwood, plywood) under the carpet and pad. That did the trick.

Do not do this unless you're willing to rip out all flooring clear down to the bedrock, or lava, whichever comes first.

Also, if the cats were peeing on the walls--which male cats sometimes do--repainting will not even make a dent. If it's in the walls too then the walls would have to be replaced.

Can't you find a place that's not contaminated?

We plan, if we go ahead and buy this unit, to take out and replace all flooring, carpets, pads, hardwoods, etc.

Is there any type of test, or something the house inspector can look for to see if the cate urine is in the walls also?

I'm guessing we would have to replace the sheet rock.

Also, I don't believe getting the vents cleaned would be too tough.

As I said before, we lost another home to a hiher bidder.

If we do go for this house, we might be able to get it for 20-30k less, which will certainly pay for the cleanup and replacement.

I've always been taught that you buy the worst house in the best location.


Any other info or opinions would be appreciated.