There are special primers for the walls to encase the cat (or dog) smell from this--which is an option.With a floor like this, with about a million high heel divots from 1890 until yesterday, and a finish that has reached the end of its service life, the discoloration is not such a problem, if you intend to put in pet resistant carpet and padding, it will be covered.An alternative would be to sand it down and refinish it to look like a refinished floor...they never look like new because they use chemical clear coats now vs Varnish or shellac like the olden days.Even with sanding the dog stains may need to be bleached out, and may still have trace shadow that they were there.Why is it a computer nook, well it doesn't have to be.

Along with native grasses, you could also look at synthetic turf backyards which are growing in popularity.

I feel your pain.I’m a female and new to REI as a business.However, I’ve always handled contractors for my primary residence, and I’ve worked in several industries - industrial chemical sales, bartending/waitressing, and I’m now I am a chemist with a PhD.All that to tell you that male chauvinism is rampant anywhere you go.

Try some of these threads:http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/84/topics/45246-mold-questionhttp://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/88/topics/41433-mold-http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/67/topics/31237-mold-and-rehabbing-simple-or-complex-http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/103/topics/28752-short-sale-house-has-mold-would-you-use-to-offer-low-If you insist on a DIY effort, then get the proper chemicals; believe it or not, the local big box hardware stores have a number of these in stock, and by reading the labels you can figure out which one might be the best fir for your situation.

The new finish will wear off, especially if they use a harsh chemical cleaner.

If a parcel was owned by a company that manufactured anything, especially metal things or used chemicals, you can bet there is some level of contamination. 

Also decide how to handle proper upkeep of the pool as tenants prob. are not going to keep up on the cleaning and chemicals as well as you would.

@Ishan Puri  Get pre-approved with a lender first.....I'm in the Bay Area but I used Shawn Huss at Chemical Bank to get pre-approved for what I bought in Cleveland.....you can google him . ou can also look up @chrismason    He's here in the Bay Area ....Generally speaking, nobody will take you serious until they know you are pre-approved. 

Prefinished flooring offers advantages over onsite finished flooring, such as the ability to walk on the floors soon after installation and the absence of sanding and harsh chemicals in the home.

Chemical rep and type of chemicals used.