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Article
THE JAMES MADALONE REALTY GROUP

Lions, Tigers and Fleas, Oh My!

Hi Friends!!!
 
I am a great lover of animals.  Three dogs and still counting....Owen, a springer spaniel age 9, Stanley, a cocker spaniel, age 4, and baby Lilly another adorable sharp little (5 month old) springer spaniel.  Anyway, I will not continue to speak about them - a hard habit to break; rather, I will discuss a more important issue surrounding home sales and animals.
 
IL start by sharing an experience that has occurred more frequently then it should.  John was a home seller that I represented on many occasions.  After his divorce he had accumulated 8 cats to fulfill the void in his life.  Understandable- pets offer so much love.  However he adopted a serious flee problem which presented problems on listing and showing this home. This problem coupled with that distinct cat urine odor was enhanced in the heat of the summer.  I discovered these issues during my first open house.  As the temperature rose, the fabreze aroma was withering quickly. Fortunately for me my allergies had kicked in; so that muted my sense of smell
 
The first family rang the doorbell and proceeded in.  As they were signing the guest book login I noticed them sniffing , recognizing the odor immediately and if that wasn't bad enough, the younger kid kept itching his left leg.  At that point I didn't put two +two together.  But by 2 PM I watched a family run out of there scratching their limbs and at that point I was itchy too.  The house was infested with flees!
 
I came home that evening after speaking with my client ( "Mr. Smith....we have a problem that I need to discuss, but nothing that's not fixable!", I assured him. I crossed my fingers hoping that when I got home a little "GOOGLE.COM would give me the answers and suggestions I needed to pass along to my dear client. Funny thing is,   I had just told a realtor the day before to "knock em dead" when she inquired about bringing her relocation clients for a showing of this home - Gosh, had she known in advance that these words precisely fit this situation. 
 
Christine, my girlfriend and marketing specialist for my team, was anxiously awaiting my arrival home, as  I had promised her dinner at one of favorite outdoor restaurants  in Jersey City.  My search would be put on hold temporarily as we jumped on the turnpike heading towards the Holland tunnel.  As she spoke to me I noticed that she too had begun to furiously scratch her neck and arms.  Oh boy I thought, we had made a pact a long time ago to leave our troubles at the office.  That evening Christine helped me research.  Below are some resourceful answers.  After relaying this advise to my seller, and even helping him scrub...the house sold 6 weeks later!
 
Enjoy Your Summer Itch Free!!!
 
The James Madalone Realty Group
 

 

How to Get Rid of Cat Urine Odors

How to Clean Cat Urine Odors - http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com
Cat urine has earned a reputation for being one of the most formidable of all pet odors. It not only smells horrible, but has a very persistent odor that must be removed entirely. Leaving any trace of it is an invitation for your kitty to re-mark the same area over and over again. Most commercially available pet-odor removers are expensive and also unnecessary unless you're dealing with an aged urine stain or a fragile fabric.

You will need:

Removing Cat Urine from Carpet

Caution: Test this method on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn't cause damage or discoloration.
  1. Remove as much of the urine as possible by blotting the stain with a dry towel, re-wetting it with warm water, and repeating. A shampooer, wetvac, or steamer can make this step much easier.
  2. Once you've removed as much urine as you are willing (or able) to, re-saturate the area with a 50/50 water/white vinegar solution and allow it to air dry (use a fan if you're in a rush).
  3. Completely cover the area with baking soda - use lots! (For more uses of baking soda, read 75 extraordinary uses for baking soda)
  4. Fill a container with enough water to saturate the stained area and add a drop of regular dish detergent. Pour the solution on top of the baking soda.
  5. Using either your hands, towels, or a scrub brush, work the baking soda, water and detergent paste into the carpet - work it in good and deep, then allow it to air dry.
  6. Once the area has dried completely and the baking soda has returned to powder form, vacuum it up. If the vacuum isn't cutting it, it can be blotted up using water and towels.
  7. Repeat steps 3-6 as needed to remove any remaining odor.

Removing Cat Urine from Upholstery

Caution: Test this method on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn't cause damage or discoloration.
  1. Remove as much of the urine as possible by flushing the article/area with clean water and then removing as much of it as possible with either towels of a wet-vac
  2. Once you've removed as much urine as you are willing (or able) to, re-saturate the area with a 50/50 water/white vinegar solution and allow it to air dry (use a fan if you're in a rush).
  3. Cover the area liberally with baking soda - use lots!
  4. Fill a container with enough water to saturate the stained area and add a drop of regular dish detergent. Pour the solution on top of the baking soda.
  5. Using either your hands, towels, or a scrub brush, work the baking soda/water/detergent paste into the fabric - work it in good and deep, then allow it to air dry.
  6. Once the area has dried completely and the baking soda has returned to powder form, vacuum it up. If the vacuum isn't cutting it, it can be blotted up using water and towels.
  7. Repeat steps 3-6 as needed to remove any remaining odor.

Commercial Cat Urine Removers

If the steps outlined above just weren't enough to kill the odor, the next logical step is either to try an odor-removal product, or call in a professional cleaner to contend with the problem. There are TONS of pet odor cleaners currently on the market, and they tend to be expensive so it's a good idea to do some pre-purchase research. Also make sure you check the bottom of this page for tips submitted by other users.

How to Select a Cat Urine Remover

Epinions is a good place to start your search for a product that fits your needs. Different cleaners tend to work better in different situations so search for success stories with circumstances that match your own (Old stains, kittens, fabric types, etc). Once you've found a few that look good, perform some searches using the product name
RE/MAX Premier - Warren
James Madalone
Mailing Address
RE/MAX Premier - Warren
60 Mountain Boulevard
Warren, NJ 07059
Phone Number
Office Phone: (908) 754-1500 x117
Cell: (908) 963-8470
Office Fax: (908) 754-1588
Direct: (908) 754-1587
Assistant: 908-754-1500 X150
Email Address
jamestm6@hotmail.com
Web Site
http://www.jmadalone.remax-nj.com

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James Madalone

Phone
(908) 754-1500 x117
Fax
(908) 462-6066

Email Me

RE/MAX Premier

60 Mountian Blvd.
Warren, NJ 07059



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