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Post by angelinahedgehog on Sept 5, 2008 18:42:58 GMT -5
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Post by heylady1 on Sept 5, 2008 19:12:43 GMT -5
I can't help you with chat as I don't "do" chat. Sorry.  But, I understand about your cat...I really do! The thing is that since you have birds and guinea pigs, can't you blame any odor on them? I wouldn't mention anything about a smell but if the inspector does mention it then you could just say something about the guinea pigs and how hard it is to keep them clean. Which is true so you're not really lying you're just not telling him the whole truth.....  As for the furniture, if you got it off the streets well, sure, it was already damaged, still smells a bit too even though you've tried several things to remove stains and odors. Beggars can't be choosers right? Good luck with the inspection Mysmom!! Sending good thoughts your way  |
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Post by ivorytower on Sept 5, 2008 19:57:51 GMT -5
"Like I said another inspection from hell...Do any of you guys go through this. I am starting to panic I was doing so well. I know I am a perfectionist that is how got into the mess. What does housing look for? If they look under my sink I am screwed" I live in public housing but in the UK we don't have these mandatory inspections, certainly not in England. (I think it may be different in Scotland). We have to allow access for repairs etc but if someone refused then it would take a court order to force access. I think they will check first for safety - no obvious fire hazards or dangerous disrepair. They'll want to see that the plumbing and and heating/lighting systems work and that bathroom and kitchen fittings are OK. I'm sure they'll check for signs of vermin like mice. But it's important to remember that it's their responsibility to provide you with a safe, habitable home so if mice are getting in then it's the housing department's responsibility to do something about it. If everywhere's level one and you're working on it I don't think you need to worry. Level one is messy but not necessarily in any way that causes damage or unsafe conditions so it shouldn't be a problem for a housing department, I know exactly what you mean about wanting everything to be perfect but housing inspectors are used to seeing less than perfect homes. You've got some time before Monday, just do what you can and take care of yourself. |
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Post by anonymoose on Sept 5, 2008 21:56:31 GMT -5
Hi mysmom! First, the condition of the furniture shouldn't be of major concern. They don't know if it's new damage or old damage, even if they can tell it's animal related. As for the smell, maybe a while before you know they're coming, put some cinnamon in water out to boil? It should make the whole place smell like baking pie.
I can't speak to the inspections from personal experience, but my sister lives in public housing and I've talked to her during several inspections. She always gets freaked out, too. She said at her building, they flip the switches, check doors/windows, look for anything (their property) obviously damaged or poorly maintained, look at the fridge, check the oven, sinks/toilets, and sometimes (not every time) glance in the kitchen cabinets (I guess to check for insect activity or something). She always wigs out about laundry being backed up, but as far as I know no one has said anything to her about it.
Good luck with everything! There's no need to be ashamed, you aren't defined by your mess! The time I've spent talking to my sister, well, lets just say it gets my hackles up every time they inspect because I feel like it's such an intrusive, stressful thing. You can get through this, though - my thoughts are with you!
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Post by mouse on Sept 5, 2008 22:03:18 GMT -5
Hi!
When you click on chat, you should get a little dialogue box in the middle of the screen asking you to log in: it's the same username and password as the rest of this site. After that, the chat will open: on your right will be a scrolling menu of the people online and in chat, on the left will be the chat text, and at the very bottom will be the dialogue box where you can type in your text.
I have no good advice for inspections, but here's what I've found works for cat pee (more or less): 1) vinegar, 2) Nature's Miracle (though I'm told they recently changed the formula and it's less good), 3) once you've done 1) and 2) use nice-scented stuff overtop *right* before you expect people, 4) do a load of laundry right before and use the dryer: I find the smell of the dryer (which I like) masks pretty much anything temporarily.
If they ask about the damage to your furniture, say that you bought it second-hand and that it was always that way. "The people who had it before must have had pets."
~Mouse
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Post by Mystic Pegasus on Sept 6, 2008 2:18:20 GMT -5
Baking bread or cookies while they are there (if you know an approx. time) might add enough of a yummy smell to cover/divert attention from the cat smell. Carpet deodoriser powder with baking soda in it (if you have those over there) sprinkled very lightly- so it can't be seen- on carpet, or put in pots about the place, or on window sills with a breeze, can help. Pot pourri in little pots, here and there. Freshly wipe down any surfaces you can with an orange or other citrus cleaner. Lavender or other fragrant flowers.
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Post by BDG on Sept 6, 2008 7:04:55 GMT -5
If you are going to throw a spread or a sheet or have one of those covers for your loveseat, to keep the tucks in place, you know where you stuff the material down inside the love seat to give it shape, roll up some newspapers or a magazine and put several rubber bands around the magazine or newspaper to hold them in place.
The rubber bands are also important because they will help by clinging to the fabric and keep everything in place longer so that you are not having to straighten the cover constantly. So use plenty of rubber bands. Stuff it tightly and push it as far down as it will go. This works as my daughter used to have a cover that came loose constantly, I told her to do this, (read tip online somewhere) and it worked.
You could also take some safety pins and pin the bottom of the fabric up around the bottom of the love seat to make it look more fitted and to keep it off of the floor.
Also for odors, when you have the cat at home, put some baking soda in with the litter everytime you clean the litter pan, it helps neutralize and absorb odor. Good Luck!
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Post by brainjam on Sept 6, 2008 9:53:47 GMT -5
Best wishes.
Friends of mine also go through the inspections.
Brain Jam
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