My Pets Are Scaring Buyers Away! (Unsellable House Documentary)

A woman needs to sell her condo to be closer to work, but may have to give up her pets to make a sale.
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[@Joyce-id3dr]

We were house hunting several years ago and found a house that had the perfect location and loved the house. BUT noticed a strong pet odor as soon as we walked in. They had a cat that had peed in the family room and even though they had cleaned the carpet several times it was so strong!! Told the real estate agent we would buy it if it wasn't for the strong odor. We checked back months later as we were still looking for a house to buy and it had already sold but not before the owners had to rip up not only the carpet but the entire floor.

[@VelvetRedRoses]

I would have painted the wood under the carpet with Zinsser Odor Killing Interior Primer or Kilz 3. Each will block the odor so no problems with future pets smelling the spot.

[@Autism_Forever]

It is hilarious that she says "The carpets are clean..." @14:39, just as the camera shows dirt and stains on said carpets :))))))

[@gerlindelang]

the spray bottle! made my day

[@jannibal9273]

It never ceases to amaze me how blind people become to the obvious problems and shortcomings in their own home. Of course, I'm guilty of that too, but I did not have pet hair on every surface, I had clean carpets and no noticeable odors in my home. Wow.

[@jonnamakkonen]

It puzzles me how even today there are people who smoke indoors...

[@marywood8794]

You get a lot less cat odor in general if you clean the litter regularly and you get them fixed. There is no stinky hard to eliminate spray odor if you fix your cat. I've never had an animal that wasn't spayed or neutered. It does help with odors.

[@AlexandraLynch1]

And you CLEAN THE HOUSE on a regular basis. Every week I get up on a stepladder and I wipe the ceiling fan blades. Once a month I move all the furniture and get the hair and dust that has settled in behind it, and I have hardwood floors so I sweep it on a daily basis with a dust mop. Change the litterbox weekly, and there's one box per cat plus one extra so no one has any reason to go anywhere else. Our house doesn't smell like cats. My boyfriend smokes things that aren't tobacco, but he does that in one room, and before we sell this house, we'll repaint.

[@wildflowersmile3224]

But really, who could be scared away by Betsy the pug? She is AdOraBle!

[@angelabacker1177]

I think the reno was very good, but it is sad to think that folks live like that.

[@MrsEJV]

I don't care what they sprayed on that floor after they pulled up the rug. On a humid day, it will smell.

[@jannibal9273]

They should have probably sealed the underlayment so any smells would not come through, and I would also want some kind of water proof barrier put down before new carpet is laid. That way, if a pet does pee on the carpet it won't soak into the underlayment in the future.

[@MrsEJV]

@@jannibal9273 Personally (do I sound like the voice of experience?) I’d want it all ripped out. If the next owner has a pet I can guarantee it will seek out that spot and mark it. Pets seek these spots even if we think it doesn’t still have an odor. With pets AND tobacco from two smokers, that house has problems. Going outside to smoke for a month isn’t the answer. Neither is fresh paint unless every surface is scrubbed, primed and repainted. I bought a house where the previous owner smoked at the far end of the sunroom. Just treating a 10x19’ room was challenging.

[@VelvetRedRoses]

​@@MrsEJV Both my parents smoked. We ripped out the carpets and padding, got rid of the furniture, sealed every surface with KILZ oil-based paint (although thoroughly cleaned, the tobacco would soak through the finish paint without the primer). In addition, we had to replace the ductwork and heating/air system because it still smelled of tobacco. It was a monumental task but the only way we could prepare the house for sale after they were gone. No pets, but with all the work for the tobacco it wouldn't matter if they did have pets. It was a nightmare. Amazing as it sounds with parents that smoked, I recently discovered that I am allergic to tobacco so it was doubly tough to deal with it all. Our allergist told us that tobacco smoke binds to surfaces like paint, wood, cloth and cannot be washed off.

[@VelvetRedRoses]

@@MrsEJV Zinsser Odor Killing Interior Primer or Kilz 3 works well and will stop this from happening with pet urine. It's magical! Animals have much wider array in their sense of smell, and this definitely does the job.

[@staceyy6064]

How embarrassing! "Yeah, your house hasn't sold because you stink and are dirty"🤷‍♀️

[@hmwjones]

The homeowner must be pretty tired of hearing about the smoke. " I know! I got it Sophie. It stinks!!!

[@goodfrequency8171]

They likely didn't clean the HVAC system. If that potential buyer brings her Husband back...I bet he has a reaction in that home.

[@anniehovsepian6173]

I have allergies to cats and spray doesn't do anything, they need something better, stronger and the HVAC definitely better get cleaned

[@katewade9992]

I really liked the comp home. Very stylish & red BR was really nice. Dark, but sophisticated stylish & comfy. Dark is good for sleeping.

[@AgentAO7]

What year was this? John looked like he came out of the 70’s show! Lol

[@animeangel1983]

2008 so 13 years ago.

[@marywood8794]

I like animals, but I've never had more than one at a time. It's a lot easier to keep the pet fur and odor under control with one pet. Even if she cleaned all the time, with all of those pets, it would still smell and there would still be too much fur.

[@tonibauer2949]

I moved from a house to a one bedroom in an over 55 apartment building with 2 cats and a 60 pound lab mix. We have inspections once or sometimes twice a year. Once when my place was being inspected one of the inspectors remarked that they wouldn’t have know I had animals if they hadn’t seen them. The cats, luckily, only use the litter box, which is cleaned regularly, and litter today is greatly improved for odor control. The dog is completely housebroken, isn’t a heavy shedder, and only smells a bit if she is wet from a walk in the rain. Cleaning the carpet often, along with other cleaning, can keep a place fresh and presentable, even with animals. And I am not the only one I know with a clean, fresh smelling house with animals, though some certainly aren’t.

[@terrielvwl]

One time we went to look at a house for sale where they left the dog running loose in the house. We had to push him away from the front door to get in and to get out. He was so old that he couldn't move. It was so sad.

[@Celtic_Amy]

This reminds me of a place I looked at before I purchased my current home. The real estate listing claimed "freshly painted." It looked like it wasn't painted since the place was built in the 90s and it was a horrible dark purple color on the vaulted ceelings with matching curtain and a shag rug in the bathroom. The sellers also tried to cover up the smoke smell with fabrize. I too turned right around after going into the place.

[@momof2momof2]

Animal owners can be so clueless. Pets can ruin a home How can she be surprised this dirty awful place hasn't sold? I would never buy this terrible place its awful inside and out.They all look like military housing. Zero curb appeal.

[@VelvetRedRoses]

Same goes for smokers. Buying a used car used to be a colossal challenge because many more people smoked and the vehicle would reek of the smell. Nowadays, most people do not smoke so it's a bit easier.

[@anagat11]

heh.. that is exactly why I would never buy a second hand house that was ''freshly painted and freshly re-carpeted'', just before the viewing. If people are stupid and buying with their eyes instead of using their imagination, they pay for it later on. The cat's pee odour will not be gone, that s for sure.

[@lisabevans8107]

Hes a leopard gecko. Move to an apartment if possible, clean and leave. Paint, hardware, new flooring and curtains and declutter. You dont have to get rid of anything you don't want to, just move out for now.

[@theajohnston761]

Spraying stuff on the sub floor will not eliminate the smell.

[@VelvetRedRoses]

Zinsser Odor Killing Interior Primer or Kilz 3 will do the job of sealing off the smell.

[@maxfitnesstraining1585]

When I saw the host, I was like she looks exactly like and sounds exactly like Location location location presenter Kirsty Allsop, then I saw the titles that this is Sophie Allsop. Clearly her sister.

[@jannibal9273]

Yes, they are sisters.

[@Spirits2000]

She has no idea what a menagerie is.

[@lunerwerewolf]

I have more animals in a 1 bedroom and less pet hair

[@jb6712]

I'd never look at any house that had any animals in it, and the combination of smoking plus animals....no way, I'd turn around right at the door and leave without so much as setting a foot inside!!! Too much stink to try and remove, and too much hair all over the place, no matter how much cleaning is done!

[@Kevin-sm8pn]

Joyce Blodgett Omg, yes. In fact, I wouldn't want a house that had people in it! Or furniture! Or anything at all! I just want it to be empty and new, oh but I do want a billion dollars! Omg,yes! Omg!

[@thescarecrow.8581]

You can have pets just keep on top of the day to day cleaning and also the care of the animals. What would put me of more is smoking and children bedroom with cartoon character on the walls or Barbie pink walls and loads of toys all around.

[@jannibal9273]

How would you know if the original owner had pets? The second owner? The third owner? You have no idea, actually, of how prior owners may have lived or what took place in the home. If you are so paranoid about NEVER stepping foot inside ANY real estate that MAY have had a pet inside of it at one time or other, build your own, please.

[@VelvetRedRoses]

@@Kevin-sm8pn Please, I love animals but cannot live with them inside the home. Having allergies myself and one of my kids has asthma. Asthma is now even more common in children. This could be a life and death consequence, so it is a serious matter for some people.

[@Kevin-sm8pn]

Rosemary McCammond Ok, then move to the country because if your health is that bad, you shouldn't be around people or pets. Just live in the middle of nowhere.

[@jennetteslade3444]

Disgusting, the pets rule the entire house, so if you must have them there has to be boundaries set even if you're not selling your house, just unexceptable no control, add smoke to the mix you really got a situation

[@lennysvibe]

Wow they did all that and it still didnt sell...I think this show needs not just a "contractor" but a designer...I understand that they are selling the homes, but the designs they choose are not very good...That kitchen looked terrible...these must be old shows from the 90's...I dont know?

[@minime7375]

From 2008

[@cookie234ful1]

I agree...the new decor is outdated

[@jannibal9273]

@@cookie234ful1, this episode is not from 2020 - it's from 12 years ago. Sophie Alsopp did what needed to be done to stage the property successfully - painted the walls lighter colors, cleaned up, decluttered and cut out the animal supplies, animals and animal smells. New carpeting and new paint should have gotten rid of the odors along with the animal odor neutralizer - professional stuff, not vinegar and water!

[@jannibal9273]

Do you know for a fact that this property did not sell? Not ALL houses sell at the first open house held. The market in 2008-2009 even in Canada, where this was filmed, was affected by the Great Recession although not quite as badly as the bubble market in the U.S. when it popped at the end of 2007. Folks, you need to remember WHEN this program was originally filmed and WHERE it was filmed. In Canada it was filmed primarily in Toronto and suburbs. There was a season or two filmed in the United States, but you could clearly tell the difference - for one thing, the accents, but in the states the areas were also usually identified so you knew they were filming in the U.S. and not in Canada.

[@poo2choo]

@@jannibal9273 clearly we aren't all from the US or from Canada. Surely you know, there are other countries in the world apart from the fact that not everyone would know when this program is from.

[@gerlindelang]

so, was the house sold? if not, they certainly have a better house now all for themselves

[@anidadron]

John looks like a Sonny Bono wannabe.

[@thescarecrow.8581]

Sorry but it's a nice house. I don't mind the smell of animals but the smell of cigarettes is a big turn off. I would also have to pull out the kitchen and open the ground floor. But I know that's just a personal taste thing.

[@jannibal9273]

This show isn't the Property Brothers where in the current seasons the homeowners spend $30,000 to $60,000 to "redo" the home so they can be sold. The $5,100 spent to clean up, update and stage this house was actually quite a bit of money for this program at the time. You may want to do a search here at KZbin for "Unsellables" and watch 3 seasons worth of what Sophie Alsopp and her contractors did to help homeowners with some - frankly - disgusting homes - get them ready for sale.

[@thescarecrow.8581]

@@jannibal9273 I do understand what you are saying. That's one of the things I like about this series that they don't thow loads of money at a project. The comments I made are about the space and the kitchen is personal taste. The kitchen was totally poorly designed it's a totally impractical space. It would be a total nightmare to cook a meal in it. I'm currently having this work done on my new home so this constantly on my mind. Don't get me wrong I am not an anti smoker I have no problems with people killing themselves through smoking. When people know the risks of passive smoking on others I really don't get it. Just go outside or buy a shed. At least that way you're just harming yourself.

[@poo2choo]

How old is this program? I do like it but the people look like they might be from the 80s or 90s?

[@carylhalfwassen8555]

2008 but it is Canada and not known for fashion.

[@AgentAO7]

😂😂 I was thinking the same especially when I saw the hairstyles of the husband & real estate agent, and the owner’s Ginger Spice-inspired hair.

[@joanbrate]

I thought she dislike vertical blinds....

[@shastac1396]

I love Betsy 😍

[@heyjude1101]

I hope she doesn't bring those animals back into that beautiful, clean place. Once animals get in the habit of urinating and defecating on the floor, it turns into a lifelong problem. There such a thing as good pet parenting,

[@abundantlyhealthyforever1419]

Get rid of the bf.

[@guitardee1]

So you’re going to be on tv. The elegant Sophie Allsopp is coming with the cameras. And you don’t wash your hair? Even her agent looked shabby

[@QUEENESTHER345]

Maybe she can rent it out?

[@marywood8794]

@@nomomaga7866 Oh God...don't get Kevin and Rosemary arguing again! Lol

[@mamasitaelbueno658]

I can't help, I cannot stand animals at home.

[@bookmouse2719]

I get having cats and a dog but the thing must go. b......

[@futuredog1084]

Rude at least geckos don't smell bad like cats

[@vaderladyl]

@@futuredog1084 Not all cats smell you know.

[@futuredog1084]

@@vaderladyl I'm aware of that, I was just saying its rude to be like the gecko has to go when its the only one not adding allergens or smell to the place.. plus all cat urine has a bad smell but leopard gecko poop doesn't have any odour what so ever ( they dont pee but produce urites). Even birds poop has a smell to it... You can manage or eliminate cat urine smell of course

[@vaderladyl]

@@futuredog1084 I agree with your second comment but they way you wrote the first comment came out sounding wrong.

[@futuredog1084]

@@vaderladyl i guess I got defensive because I have a geckos but I worded my first comment alittle rude against cat owners as I actually do like cats even though I don't own one

[@joannschlicker6995]

She doesn't like animals either.

[@MillieonaVespa]

She actually owns and lives with Cats ….

[@terrielvwl]

Any house with animals has hair that gets on everything, urine that gets in the base flooring and food scraps that are hidden in who knows where and the smells that get into the walls. I hate going to homes where they have pets to visit much less want to live there.

[@minime7375]

That is not true, if as an owner you maintain the litterboxes, clean them at least every other day and take your dog out at least twice a day there’s absolutely no reason for urine to get anywhere. Food scraps and hair...that’s why we have vacuum cleaners. My home is cleaner than many homes that don’t have indoor pets.

[@silvergirl2847]

Excuse me we have a dog and you would ever know .he's washed regularly doesn't shed because of his breed.not all people who have animals live like pigs in the same way yypucant assume everyone without animals is spotless.far.from it.

[@gerlindelang]

we have two absolutely non-stinky cats

[@terrielvwl]

@@gerlindelang Some people can pull it off, but most just get used to the smell.

[@mamasitaelbueno658]

Lady T I feel the same about animals at home.