Chandler Properties Blog

This past weekend I worked my tail off on my apartments.  However, it was a successful weekend. I hired a day laborer for Saturday and Sunday and we each put 20 hours of work in on Saturday and Sunday for a total of 40 man hours.  Below is a checklist of things we accomplished.

1. Spray the weeds on two of the apartments
2. Mow three yards
3. Paint the interior of Sharon Drive
4. Pressure wash exterior of Sharon Drive
5. Sand exterior of Sharon Drive
6. Put a coat of Kilz on exterior of Sharon Drive
7. Picked out and paid for linoleum for Sharon Drive
8. Clean the major appliances
9. Put a move-out letter together for a tenant that is moving out of Landmark

Overview 

I recently had an elderly tenant move out of my duplex and into a nursing home.  This is the first time I’ve been in that unit in three years.  The tenant suffered from dementia and I spent about the last year trying to get her family to get her into a nursing home.  She had disassociated herself from all her family, because she believed everyone was trying to steal from her.  Well they finally got her into a nursing home 2 weeks ago. 

The Smell

I had noticed the last 6 months or so that when I picked up rent that there was a strong smell of urine coming from the apartment.  My assumption was that it was due to lack of cleanliness or soiled diapers.  After getting the apartment cleaned out, (This is a whole story in itself.) I noticed the smell was still in the apartment.  It turned out that water heater had been slowly leaking for about a year.  The kitchen floor on the apartment is particle board.  When particle board gets soaking wet it breaks down causing a chemical reaction that gives off an odor-like smell.  It also expands and breaks down losing strength.  Since the leak had been going on for some time it has spread throughout most of the kitchen floor.  This is a good lesson for any landlord to recognize the signs of wet particle board.

Solution

To solve the problem I’m going to have to replace the entire kitchen floor.  This means the kitchen counters, new water heater, stove, refrigerator all have to be removed so that the floor can be replaced.  I will also have to put down new linoleum.  I’ve had a couple contractors come by and quote the job.  I’m thinking it’s going to be about $1,200 to get it all replaced.

The Lesson Learned

If I ever smell a “urine like” smell coming from one of my apartments I am going to be sure to immediately check it for leaks.  Since I did not take immediate action, it is going to take more effort and money to fix the problem.