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Looks like a home for sale -- Smells Like a Litter-Box?!

By
Real Estate Agent with Premiere Property Group, LLC - Vancouver Washington 88349

Looks like a house, smells like a litter-box?!

Are air fresheners the key to clean healthy air?

I attended a training awhile ago where the speaker talked of how some agents will "name" a house when showing as it is much easier to remember than 123 Main Street or 456 Mockingbird Street.  The names selected for each house was based on what the buyers could remember most about the house when referencing it, for example "Pretty Red Door", "Tuscan Style Kitchen"...and while they can't all be that positive there was also names like "the Cat Pee" house; the point was you didn't want YOUR listing to be known as the house with the negative name!

As a real estate agent, we enter people's homes daily, showing homes to our clients.  In doing so we encounter many things, the one I am writing about today is what your nose will notice...the smells/scents of a house when you enter.  Some are so strong that I cannot even enter the house. Recently while previewing (thank goodness my client was NOT present) the odor was extremely offensive and so overwhelming that I could not and would not enter...luckily it was VACANT, so I simply tossed my card inside, shut the door and locked up.

We've all been in the houses that smell like pets, smoke, strong spices, dirty laundry, mold, you name it!  I am sure many real estate agents have run into houses with worse, and I personally don't want to know...I do have a weak stomach so keep those scary stories to yourself, thank you.

I recently was touring through homes when one home in particular had so much air freshener coming from it, you could smell it when you opened the front door.  Now although it was not offensive to me, the scent was really strong and another agent reacted to the strong scent...or rather his lungs did and he was left breathless reaching for his inhaler. 

After researching air fresheners on the internet, I found an article in the Seattle PI about Toxic Fragrances.  I honestly didn't realize that air fresheners could have TOXIC ingredients and still be approved for sale!  Silly me!

While researching for this blog I mentioned my research to my husband John and he let me know about Just a Drop...if you haven't seen this...click on the link and take a peek, it's John's contribution to my blog submission.

I then wanted to find natural air fresheners, you know simple solutions to freshen up a place without toxins, and I found several but this one had recipes for homemade air fresheners...which I liked.  Also check out Orangemate (bad name, but good product...at least according to the link). 

Please consider the effects of those air fresheners on not just the environment, but on your health and look for natural solutions and essential oils to add scent without the harmful side affects!  Here's to being healthy and green!

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More posts on Home-owner Tips:

Vancouver WA Homeowner Tips - Got "stinky" paint?
If These Walls Could Talk!
The Terminator in Bambi's Skin?! (aka - Deer Gone Bad?)
Neighborhood GAS Saving Tips!
Vancouver WA Home Owner Tips: Have Your HVAC System Serviced!

Clark County WA Parade of Homes 2008 in Felida Washington

Contact Kathryn Alexander and John Slocum, Alexander ~ Slocum Team Realtors®, RE/MAX equity group, inc. Licensed Real Estate Agents and Realtors® in the State of Washington at 888-525-5528 ext 81 to list your property for sale or, to purchase a property in Vancouver, Camas - Washougal, Felida, Salmon Creek and the rest of Clark County Washington We're your friendly referable RE/MAX Realtors® in Vancouver Washington!

To View all Vancouver WA Homes & Real Estate For Sale click here and then click on the Vancouver Home Search options of your choice!  Our Expertise is knowing Vancouver and Clark County Washington and will help you get your home properly on the market and Sold if you need to Sell your home.  We'll help You Buy Your Vancouver Home!

Disclaimer: The information provided is from various sources and deemed reliable but subject to change without notice. 

PS -- Are you in a Must-Sell situation for your home in Vancouver Washington or Camas Washington?  Make certain you hire an agent team that will get your home priced right, work with you to get it Prepped and Staged, and deliver world-class marketing to get it Sold.  We are delivering successful Express Sale Packages.  Call us today at 360-281-4150 to find out more about your Vancouver Express Home Sale options.

Anonymous
Brittany

Great post, Alexander! One of my 2 cats (both neutered males) had taken to painting all of my walls, furniture, and anything else he could reach. I was horrified when I got a UV light. He never did that in all of the 9 years I've had him and didn't when I got him a buddy (they love each other and did so right away) but when a strange black cat started showing up outside both of my cats went nuts and the older one (9) started his wall painting, as well as the curtains out in the kitty room. I couldn't keep up with it.

My cats are indoor cats so it's not like the stray is actually going to get in here but they both hate him (and he is weird...my neighbor's cats hate him too). I've tried cleaning with a pet urine enzyme and then spraying some "No More Spraying" but that hasn't worked.

He's a sneaky little bugger too; he waits until he thinks I'm not looking and then does it. He's learned that the minute I see him backing his butt up to something he gets yelled at. It wasn't until I found "Cat Spraying No More" that I was able to finally get rid of this tiresome behavior. Now my house doesn't smell like a litter box anymore :)

Here's a link the their site if you're interested in checking it out, I highly recommend this: NoMoreCatPee.com

Brittany

Oct 16, 2019 11:53 PM
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