All Topics / Value Adding / Awful smell in house??

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  • Profile photo of KCVardsKCVards
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    @kcvards
    Join Date: 2009
    Post Count: 6

    Hi Guys,
    I viewed a house at open inspection last weekend & am very interested in purchasing.  My problem is that I am unsure what the hugely strong odour in the deceased estate is.
    I suspect that some of it could be a urine smell & am unsure whether this will leave the floorboards needing to be replaced.

    Does anyone have any ideas about this & what i may be able to do?

    Thanks,
    K

    Profile photo of gibbo1gibbo1
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    @gibbo1
    Join Date: 2008
    Post Count: 152

    Mmm, smells in a house.

    Having been a volunteer ambo I have been in houses thinking its going to take alot of work to get rid of that smell.

    As you suggested it could be urine, it could of had a body left in the house for weeks or simply a dead rat in the roof.  I would first check the roof cavity to elimante that posibility.  If the house isn't on a slab it could be a dead animal under the house.  Something inside a wall cavity.  You will need to have to house openned up and aired out to try and find what areas the smell is strongest.

    Profile photo of LinarLinar
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    @linar
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 567
    gibbo1 wrote:
    Mmm, smells in a house.

    Having been a volunteer ambo I have been in houses thinking its going to take alot of work to get rid of that smell.

    As you suggested it could be urine, it could of had a body left in the house for weeks or simply a dead rat in the roof.  I would first check the roof cavity to elimante that posibility.  If the house isn't on a slab it could be a dead animal under the house.  Something inside a wall cavity.  You will need to have to house openned up and aired out to try and find what areas the smell is strongest.

    Better yet, you could pay someone to check it all out for you.  Yuck!!

    Profile photo of ducksterduckster
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    @duckster
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 1,674

    It could be faulty plumbing in the sewerage under the floor.
    It could be incontinence of the previous owner. I have heard lime is good for getting rid of odor in floor boards
    Could be possums in the roof they poop and wee all over the ceilings and are active at night time.

    Profile photo of v8ghiav8ghia
    Member
    @v8ghia
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 871

    Has the deceased been removed from the house? Yech – sorry, I know that was in poor taste.
    Seriously though, if it is carpeted, you will likely need that replaced, and you would be amazed how much new paing absorbs smells.
    We had a tennant that had dogs wizzing pon the carpet in one of the rooms – and no amoutn of cleaning could get rid of it.

    If it is a good deal, and nothing is under the house, negotiate and allow for paint and carpet.

    All the best.

    Profile photo of maree_bradrossmaree_bradross
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    @maree_bradross
    Join Date: 2007
    Post Count: 401

    what did the agent say about it? Sound like it could be in the carpet underlay – so probably new carpet needed

    Profile photo of KCVardsKCVards
    Member
    @kcvards
    Join Date: 2009
    Post Count: 6

    Although the smell seemed to be urine based, it was worse in the area of the house where the kitchen and bathroom are.  I was thinking it was just be the old carpets in which case i wanted to rip them up and polish the boards.  I am now worried that there may be urine in the boards themselves, or even worse – a serious problem with the plumbing :(
    I did not ask the REA as i wouldn't trust his answer.
    I will have another look this weekend.

    Thanks for your advice guys, more advice is always welcome!!

    Profile photo of madelizabethanmadelizabethan
    Member
    @madelizabethan
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 28

    If the smell is coming mostly from the kitchen and bathroom, it's possible that the water in the drains is stagnating. This happens even after a house has been vacant for two or three weeks (as it did with our place – 50 years old and original bathroom with dead seals didn't help!) and it's quite nasty.

    Stick some Draino down all the drains (sinks, floor wastes, the lot) and flush with water for 5-10 minutes. You can look elsewhere if it doesn't go away after that

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