I have a rental property that I lease out. Occasionally I get calls to
fix different things - plumbing, electric etc... and I normally just
call someone to go out there to fix it and have them deduct the cost
from the rent check. I live over an hour away to go there myself to
check things out.

Now today I got a call from the tenant and this is a new one. She said
I need to fix a "smell" problem. I said what? They said there is a
very strong odor and they traced it to the attic. The odor smells like
some dead animal up there. The husband said he tried to open the
garage hatch and the odor was so bad he cannot enter the attic and they
demand I go "fix it". I asked whether it could be sewer gas smell and
they said no, it smells like a dead animal and they cannot live in that
side of the house.

I am not sure how I can fix it. This is not a mechanical or electrical
failure, the lease does not specifically cover things of this nature.
Regardless whether it is my responsibility to fix it, I guess I need to
address it since if I don't, the smell will get worse and worse and it
may be more and more difficult to rid the smell later the longer I
wait. But this is not something for an exterminator? or is this
another profession altogether?

Any suggestions? This is NOT a joke!

MC

MiamiCuse wrote:
I have a rental property that I lease out. Occasionally I get calls to
fix different things - plumbing, electric etc... and I normally just
call someone to go out there to fix it and have them deduct the cost
from the rent check. I live over an hour away to go there myself to
check things out.

Now today I got a call from the tenant and this is a new one. She said
I need to fix a "smell" problem. I said what? They said there is a
very strong odor and they traced it to the attic. The odor smells like
some dead animal up there. The husband said he tried to open the
garage hatch and the odor was so bad he cannot enter the attic and they
demand I go "fix it". I asked whether it could be sewer gas smell and
they said no, it smells like a dead animal and they cannot live in that
side of the house.

I am not sure how I can fix it. This is not a mechanical or electrical
failure, the lease does not specifically cover things of this nature.
Regardless whether it is my responsibility to fix it, I guess I need to
address it since if I don't, the smell will get worse and worse and it
may be more and more difficult to rid the smell later the longer I
wait. But this is not something for an exterminator? or is this
another profession altogether?

Any suggestions? This is NOT a joke!

MC


Mmmmm, best bet is to ventilate the heck out of things (fans, fans,
fans) and then observe where the smell appears first.

Dave

On 2 Jan 2007 09:27:39 -0800, MiamiCuse wrote:

I have a rental property that I lease out. Occasionally I get calls to
fix different things - plumbing, electric etc... and I normally just
call someone to go out there to fix it and have them deduct the cost
from the rent check. I live over an hour away to go there myself to
check things out.

Now today I got a call from the tenant and this is a new one. She said
I need to fix a "smell" problem. I said what? They said there is a
very strong odor and they traced it to the attic. The odor smells like
some dead animal up there. The husband said he tried to open the
garage hatch and the odor was so bad he cannot enter the attic and they
demand I go "fix it". I asked whether it could be sewer gas smell and
they said no, it smells like a dead animal and they cannot live in that
side of the house.

I am not sure how I can fix it. This is not a mechanical or electrical
failure, the lease does not specifically cover things of this nature.
Regardless whether it is my responsibility to fix it, I guess I need to
address it since if I don't, the smell will get worse and worse and it
may be more and more difficult to rid the smell later the longer I
wait. But this is not something for an exterminator? or is this
another profession altogether?

Any suggestions? This is NOT a joke!

MC

Go to the zoo and borrow a buzzard or a Komodo dragon and put it in the
attic for a few days.

HANDYMAN WITH GOOD FILTER MASK AFTER VENTLATING AS BEST YOU CAN.

stupid cap lock

HANDYMAN WITH GOOD FILTER MASK AFTER VENTLATING AS BEST YOU CAN.

stupid cap lock

MiamiCuse wrote:
....
very strong odor ... attic...like some dead animal ...
I am not sure how I can fix it. ...
... is not something for an exterminator? or is this
another profession altogether?

Undoubtedly got a squirrel, 'possum or some other critter or bird, and
yes, you had best take care of it as promptly as possible.

Some extermination companies may be willing to tackle it, that would
probably be best place to start if you're not up to taking care of it
yourself. Might call local animal control office and ask for
suggestions -- they probably won't do it, but likely can tell you who
could/would.

As an aside, near here at the local knacker's, the sign includes the
message

"Your used cow dealer".

OBTW, once you've gotten the particular problem resolved, look
carefully for signs of where it made entrance and for other signs of
long-term habitation/infestation and resolve any such issues or the
problem is likely to recur.

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a rental property that I lease out. Occasionally I get calls to
fix different things - plumbing, electric etc... and I normally just
call someone to go out there to fix it and have them deduct the cost
from the rent check. I live over an hour away to go there myself to
check things out.

Now today I got a call from the tenant and this is a new one. She said
I need to fix a "smell" problem. I said what? They said there is a
very strong odor and they traced it to the attic. The odor smells like
some dead animal up there. The husband said he tried to open the
garage hatch and the odor was so bad he cannot enter the attic and they
demand I go "fix it". I asked whether it could be sewer gas smell and
they said no, it smells like a dead animal and they cannot live in that
side of the house.

I am not sure how I can fix it. This is not a mechanical or electrical
failure, the lease does not specifically cover things of this nature.
Regardless whether it is my responsibility to fix it, I guess I need to
address it since if I don't, the smell will get worse and worse and it
may be more and more difficult to rid the smell later the longer I
wait. But this is not something for an exterminator? or is this
another profession altogether?

Any suggestions? This is NOT a joke!

An exterminator would take care of it but it would probably cost over $100.
I'd put on some old clothes and gloves and check it out myself. If dead
animal, it's probably larger than a mouse.

MiamiCuse wrote:
I have a rental property that I lease out. Occasionally I get calls
to fix different things - plumbing, electric etc... and I normally
just call someone to go out there to fix it and have them deduct the
cost from the rent check. I live over an hour away to go there
myself to check things out.

Now today I got a call from the tenant and this is a new one. She
said I need to fix a "smell" problem. I said what? They said there
is a very strong odor and they traced it to the attic. The odor
smells like some dead animal up there. The husband said he tried to
open the garage hatch and the odor was so bad he cannot enter the
attic and they demand I go "fix it". I asked whether it could be
sewer gas smell and they said no, it smells like a dead animal and
they cannot live in that side of the house.

I am not sure how I can fix it. This is not a mechanical or
electrical failure, the lease does not specifically cover things of
this nature. Regardless whether it is my responsibility to fix it, I
guess I need to address it since if I don't, the smell will get worse
and worse and it may be more and more difficult to rid the smell
later the longer I wait. But this is not something for an
exterminator? or is this another profession altogether?

Any suggestions? This is NOT a joke!

MC

You really have two problems. First is to get any live critters out and
second to clean up the mess remaining.

I suggest an animal control company and they may do both. If not then
contact one of the fire recovery companies as they are likely to take on the
job. Likely not the first time for them doing it either.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

Karl S wrote:

Go to the zoo and borrow a buzzard or a Komodo dragon and put it in the
attic for a few days.

Of course then you'll need to hire an expert to remove the buzzard or
Komodo dragon from the attic. Look in the Yellow Pages under Buzzard
and Komodo Dragon Removal. You sometimes have to schedule an
appointment weeks in advance.

To the OP -- tie a towel around your mouth and nose and look in the
attic. If it smells that bad, the problem is probably obvious. Scoop
it up in a plastic bag and take it home for dinner. Then raise the rent
$100/month to get those complainers out, since this is something they
should have done themselves.

On 2 Jan 2007 09:27:39 -0800, "MiamiCuse"
wrote:

I have a rental property that I lease out. Occasionally I get calls to
fix different things - plumbing, electric etc... and I normally just
call someone to go out there to fix it and have them deduct the cost
from the rent check. I live over an hour away to go there myself to
check things out.

Now today I got a call from the tenant and this is a new one. She said
I need to fix a "smell" problem. I said what? They said there is a
very strong odor and they traced it to the attic. The odor smells like
some dead animal up there. The husband said he tried to open the
garage hatch and the odor was so bad he cannot enter the attic and they
demand I go "fix it". I asked whether it could be sewer gas smell and
they said no, it smells like a dead animal and they cannot live in that
side of the house.

I am not sure how I can fix it. This is not a mechanical or electrical
failure, the lease does not specifically cover things of this nature.
Regardless whether it is my responsibility to fix it, I guess I need to
address it since if I don't, the smell will get worse and worse and it
may be more and more difficult to rid the smell later the longer I
wait. But this is not something for an exterminator? or is this
another profession altogether?

Any suggestions? This is NOT a joke!

MC

An hour drive, entry into the attic, smell out and remove the dead
pigeon. Close any future entry areas.

Oh, live snakes can smell like rotten meat.

--
Oren

"My doctor says I have a malformed public-duty gland
and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore
excused from saving Universes."

On Tue, 2 Jan 2007 16:23:32 -0500, "frank.logullo"
wrote:


"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
roups.com...
I have a rental property that I lease out. Occasionally I get calls to
fix different things - plumbing, electric etc... and I normally just
call someone to go out there to fix it and have them deduct the cost
from the rent check. I live over an hour away to go there myself to
check things out.

Now today I got a call from the tenant and this is a new one. She said
I need to fix a "smell" problem. I said what? They said there is a
very strong odor and they traced it to the attic. The odor smells like
some dead animal up there. The husband said he tried to open the
garage hatch and the odor was so bad he cannot enter the attic and they
demand I go "fix it". I asked whether it could be sewer gas smell and
they said no, it smells like a dead animal and they cannot live in that
side of the house.

I am not sure how I can fix it. This is not a mechanical or electrical
failure, the lease does not specifically cover things of this nature.
Regardless whether it is my responsibility to fix it, I guess I need to
address it since if I don't, the smell will get worse and worse and it
may be more and more difficult to rid the smell later the longer I
wait. But this is not something for an exterminator? or is this
another profession altogether?

Any suggestions? This is NOT a joke!

An exterminator would take care of it but it would probably cost over $100.
I'd put on some old clothes and gloves and check it out myself. If dead
animal, it's probably larger than a mouse.


I would do this (inspect and fix) for my tenants in the past. By
taking the time to actually check things out and talk with the tenant
in person I could, secondly inspect the property.

Maybe they felt better having the landlord there for the problem.

--
Oren

"My doctor says I have a malformed public-duty gland
and a natural deficiency in moral fiber, and that I am therefore
excused from saving Universes."

landlord in buffalo ny: it is your problem, posibly a dead attic
squirrel. there are expensive companies who do cleanup after a fire and
its odors. get the critter yourself. look for evidence of how it chewed
its way into the house. look for its friends. repair the hole. trim
back the tree branches. hire an exterminator if there is a family of
creatures.
remember that finding a good replacement tenant is expensive.

MiamiCuse wrote:
I have a rental property that I lease out. Occasionally I get calls to
fix different things - plumbing, electric etc... and I normally just
call someone to go out there to fix it and have them deduct the cost
from the rent check. I live over an hour away to go there myself to
check things out.

Now today I got a call from the tenant and this is a new one. She said
I need to fix a "smell" problem. I said what? They said there is a
very strong odor and they traced it to the attic. The odor smells like
some dead animal up there. The husband said he tried to open the
garage hatch and the odor was so bad he cannot enter the attic and they
demand I go "fix it". I asked whether it could be sewer gas smell and
they said no, it smells like a dead animal and they cannot live in that
side of the house.

I am not sure how I can fix it. This is not a mechanical or electrical
failure, the lease does not specifically cover things of this nature.
Regardless whether it is my responsibility to fix it, I guess I need to
address it since if I don't, the smell will get worse and worse and it
may be more and more difficult to rid the smell later the longer I
wait. But this is not something for an exterminator? or is this
another profession altogether?

Any suggestions? This is NOT a joke!

MC

On Tue, 02 Jan 2007 16:08:09 -0800, Oren wrote:

On Tue, 2 Jan 2007 16:23:32 -0500, "frank.logullo"
wrote:


"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
groups.com...
I have a rental property that I lease out. Occasionally I get calls to
fix different things - plumbing, electric etc... and I normally just
call someone to go out there to fix it and have them deduct the cost
from the rent check. I live over an hour away to go there myself to
check things out.

Now today I got a call from the tenant and this is a new one. She said
I need to fix a "smell" problem. I said what? They said there is a
very strong odor and they traced it to the attic. The odor smells like
some dead animal up there. The husband said he tried to open the
garage hatch and the odor was so bad he cannot enter the attic and they
demand I go "fix it". I asked whether it could be sewer gas smell and
they said no, it smells like a dead animal and they cannot live in that
side of the house.

I am not sure how I can fix it. This is not a mechanical or electrical
failure, the lease does not specifically cover things of this nature.
Regardless whether it is my responsibility to fix it, I guess I need to
address it since if I don't, the smell will get worse and worse and it
may be more and more difficult to rid the smell later the longer I
wait. But this is not something for an exterminator? or is this
another profession altogether?

Any suggestions? This is NOT a joke!

An exterminator would take care of it but it would probably cost over $100.
I'd put on some old clothes and gloves and check it out myself. If dead
animal, it's probably larger than a mouse.


I would do this (inspect and fix) for my tenants in the past. By
taking the time to actually check things out and talk with the tenant
in person I could, secondly inspect the property.

Maybe they felt better having the landlord there for the problem.

Note: Bring some peppermint extract, and wipe it on your
upper lip before trying to enter the attic. That will
help keep you from puking.

replying to MiamiCuse, Dujorg wrote:
I have the same issue Thought we found the culprit a dead boney kitten.
Winter came mo smell. Summer is here and so is smell. One room. We keep
doors closed. It is awful

--
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