“Not every homebuyer knows how important it is to check the condition of carpeting in a previously owned home before making any offer to buy. Many unsuspecting homebuyers discover carpet damage too late, often weeks after moving in”, says Alan Fletcher, author of a new e-book “The Complete Carpet Buying Guide“. “The main problem is the highly potent odor and severe damage caused to carpet and padding by pet urine, which is often difficult to detect and almost impossible to eliminate. For many homebuyers, the problem could take weeks or even months before it is fully realized” Fletcher says.“When touring a home for sale, homebuyers may not immediately notice the odor from pet urine if the carpet has been recently cleaned and might therefore assume that the carpet is in good condition. Similarly, if a homebuyer tours a home while it is unheated or when doors or windows are wide open, odors from pet urine can be much less noticeable. Pet urine odor will be easiest to detect in the winter months while the heat is on, and also when air circulation is limited during hot summer days.” Fletcher also warns homebuyers to be aware that central air conditioning can also help mask pet odors.
Fletcher goes on to say, “Homebuyers with pets may be surprised to find fresh pet “accidents” in their newly purchased home. Most dogs and cats will urinate or “spray” indoors to overpower the scent of pets that previously inhabited the residence, causing the pet odor and carpet damage problem to
escalate. It’s natural for dogs and cats to mark their territory and will do so if they feel threatened or to establish or define boundaries. Cats use several methods to mark their territory including spraying, scratching, rubbing against furniture, and leaving feces uncovered. Dogs use urine marking to show dominance or to make claim to something they feel belongs to them. Female dogs may urinate over any spot where another dog has previously urinated.”
“Even pets that have never had “accidents” previously may begin urinating or spraying if they detect the scent or markings of other animals. When this happens, complete carpet and pad replacement may be the only hope of solving the problem. It may also be necessary to have the wood or concrete subfloor sealed to prevent urine odor from seeping up through the new carpet because animals have sense of smell many times better than humans” Fletcher added.
“Pet urine is very difficult to completely remove from carpet because it often soaks through the surface fibers into the carpet backing and may even become embedded into the padding and flooring below. Having the carpets professionally cleaned may help temporarily but the underlying damage caused from pet urine will not be solved and the urine odor may quickly return. Carpet that becomes urine-soaked will quickly deteriorate and further cleaning will only worsen the problem” says Fletcher
“It’s not enough just to ask the seller if there is or has ever been a pet urine problem in the home because people who have pets can become so accustomed the odor from pet urine that they may be unaware of the severity of the problem. In order for homebuyers to know for sure if there is a pet urine problem they will need to conduct their own investigation. The best way to determine the presence of pet urine damage would be to pull up the carpet in a corner of the room and look for signs of urine stains. Another effective, but less popular method, is to just get right down on the floor and smell the carpet in suspected areas. Cat urine glows under a black light and that may also be a method that may be used, but the room must be dark in order to see the urine stains. Cats tend to prefer urinating in a quiet corner or in closets, while dogs will usually urinate in the middle areas of a room or lift their leg on furniture or other objects. A thorough room by room search may be necessary to discover the scope and severity of the problem” Says Fletcher.
“If it is determined that the carpet has significant pet urine damage, the total cost of replacing the carpet should be considered prior to making an offer to purchase the home. In some cases, urine soaked wood subflooring may need to be completely removed and have new wood installed. A qualified flooring contractor should be able to provide a reasonable repair estimate” Fletcher says.
“New carpet and padding prices have been on the rise for the past few years due to rising crude oil and fuel prices. Replacing carpet in a typical 2-bedroom home could easily cost more than $2500 for a medium grade style. Prices for carpet vary widely depending on the quality, face weight, type of fiber, and style selected. There are other expenses to consider including carpet padding, moving furniture, removing the old carpet and pad, and professional installation. Some carpet retailers include some of these items in their carpet prices but homeowners are often charged extra if the job requires more than what is considered to be a simple or “basic” installation”, Fletcher warns.
Potential carpet buyers can visit Mr. Fletcher’s website at www.carpetsupersite.com to learn more smart ways to save time, money and learn how to avoid common carpet buying problems.
