Dog poop and urine - dirty property with potential

[Matt Simkins]

Deal showed up next door! Can acquire for $85,000. Comps in area are going for $230,000. approx 1,200 ft cape cod, brick. Owners have been served health hazard notice for hoarding garbage, and three dogs inside for months on end. There is feces everywhere and urine to add the pleasant "new home" aroma.

Anyone have experience getting SERIOUS PET SMELLS out of a house? Since I have a wide margin, I was planning to take out all plaster walls and ceilings, as well as rip our floors all the way through the subfloors. Any further tips or cautions I should be aware of before putting on my HAZMAT suit and doing this deal?

I arranging a private sale with owner - he needs full-time medical care, and he likes me, so he is willing to part with property if I pay off his mortgage and slide some cash his way. However, I could reserve capital for improvements if I take over his mortgage. Any tips on TAKING OVER a mortgage?

Thanks!

[Chris Sellers]

Matt,

Congratulations on finding that smoking hot deal.  When looking at investment property, pet odors smell like money.

I bought one of these a few years back and was prepared for chemical warfare.  After we pulled out the carpet and pad, left the windows open with fans blowing and let the place sit a few days, I realized it wasn't as bad as I feared.  Mine was on a slab, so this might have helped (I just cleaned the slab with a mild bleach and water solution).  Smell was gone, so I didn't need to pull out the sheet rock or do anything crazy.

I put in new flooring, painted and rented it out.  Smell never returned.

Good Luck!

Chris