If your previous occupant had pets, the usual expectation is that they will leave unwanted pet odors behind. A foul-smelling rental property can be tricky to rent out, particularly if your new tenants don’t have pets or are very sensitive to pet odors. Eradicating pet odors from a rental property can be tough, specifically if the tenant lived there a long time or the pets triggered a lot of damage. To restore your property and get the pet odors out, here are a few tips from the pros that can help you.
Assess the Damage
The first step to the complete removal of pet odors is to try and figure out what is causing them. Look for areas where the previous tenant’s pets may have urinated or defecated, in the same way as on carpets, walls, or trim. You can also use a blacklight to help you find any urine stains. Just be aware that pet stains can often penetrate below the surface and may be coming from carpet padding or even the drywall. If there is any visible damage, such as urine stains or torn-up carpeting, these will need to be addressed.
Deep Cleaning and Odor Removal
Once you have identified where pet odors are coming from, it’s time to deep clean the entire house. Using a steam cleaner or hot water extraction method on carpets and upholstery can help remove any lingering smells. Use an enzymatic cleaner precisely configured for pet messes on hard surfaces such as tile or wood floors. These cleaners break down the bacteria that trigger off odors rather than merely a short-term fix for the odor.
If the pet odor problem is particularly stubborn, consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning or odor removal service. These professionals have specialized equipment and techniques that can effectively tackle tough odors.
However, bear in mind that even deep cleaning will generally just remove surface odors and it’s not likely to be able to wipe out deeper smells embedded in floors, walls, cabinets, or carpeting.
Repair and Replace
If the deep cleaning didn’t eliminate the pet odors, it might be necessary to replace heavily soiled materials such as carpets, pads, subfloor, or even drywall and trim. This can be costly but may be required if deep cleaning isn’t enough to get rid of the smell. For example, if pet stains have penetrated through the paint on a wall, repainting may or may not do anything to get rid of the smell. The same thing goes for flooring. If it’s really bad, you may need to replace sections of flooring, drywall, and trim to eliminate all pet odors.
Prevent Future Odors
When you’ve finally vanquished pet odors, it’s important for Emmett property managers to take steps to prevent them from coming back. For future tenants with pets, require them to use odor control measures such as pee pads or regularly clean up after their pets are outside. As a corollary, it’s wise to make it a habit to frequently deep clean carpets and upholstery, even if there are no pets in the rental property. This can help prevent odors from building up and becoming a problem in the future.
Overall, getting rid of pet odors in a rental property can be difficult. Still, with deep cleaning and potentially replacing heavily soiled materials, you can restore your property and make it more appealing to potential tenants.
If you’d rather not deal with issues like stinky rental properties and pet addendums on lease contracts, Real Property Management Nampa has your solution. We’re the local property management experts who can help your Emmett rental investment thrive. To learn more about our services, contact us online.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
