Tell me I can get the whole place walloped in a weekend...

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

Long and boring- sorry.

We've been on the council list for a while now. Yesterday, we were offered a place. It's PERFECT.

The officer than came back to check ours. That's when we came back down to earth with a bump...

She's told us that, as the place is ready now, we may not be able to do the work in time (I asked for a week). That's painting the place magnolia, and a deep clean (we have cats).

She's going back to the office on Monday, and it would put us in good stead, I think, to be able to tell her that we've already painted, nd the deep clean is booked (it is- first thing I did)

Give me hope, please? I spent last night sobbing my heart out (unlike me- I'm one tough mf).

On a side note, we feel we should have been told what was expected of us BEFORE we viewed...we could have done it way before now!

It's mainly just me and DH. My DB will give us a few hours this afternoon, and I've had tentative offers of help from a friend- but she has so much on that I wouldn't be surprised if she cried off. (She's lovely- she's just going through a berevement)

I can see the hall being an issue, it's Noddy Hat Blue!

Please give me hope? I'm going to make a start now before the DC wake up, and I have to start working around them!

[GeorgeTheHamster]

Follow it up with a second text asking for confirmation that you can rent the one you want?

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

Going to potter for a while, just in case the response is "I'm coming to inspect, I'll be there in five minutes" 😅😅

[Spudlet]

Just read this whole thread - am rooting for you! I really hope it works out for you [shakes cheerleading Pom-poms]

[Sunshineandshopping]

Good luck op, great achievement with the painting!

[Ohb0llocks]

Good luck!!

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

Text sent...15 minutes to wait before I can call the office.

[blueskyinmarch]

It looks fab. Good luck today.

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

I've had to stop to sob my heart out over the Very advert...here comes the PMS! 😀

[FlouncyDoves]

Good effort! And the paint looks good!

I’d take photos post-floor clean though to send if required. Good luck!

[Coldhandscoldheart]

Oh and add Mabel’s question about next steps to secure the new house when you speak to her, don’t let her leave you hanging.
And then follow up with an email to her personal address (copy in generic address) to c9nfirm what was discussed. And when you can pick up the keys.

[glenthebattleostrich]

Fingers crossed for you today

[Yahdayah]

You’ve given me the kick up the rear and inspiration that I needed to realise we can definitely paint the rooms we need to before we move out. I had envisaged weekends and weekends of painting! Thank you and massive amounts of luck for today, I shall keep my fingers crossed for you and your family.

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

RIGHT.

So I spoke to Cruella. She's now coming out on Wednesday to reassess. By then, I have to apparantly get rid of all the "cat smell".

Any tips?

We have a closed in the hallway, which contains their litter boxes, etc.

Will the deep clean help?

Impossible to put the litter box on the balcony etc, as there's no access at night.

(I could leave my lounge door open I guess, which has the balcony door in it... feasible?)

[Ecureuil]

The paint will probably mask some of the cat smell.
Have you got any carpets? If so, the Rug Doctor carpet cleaners that you can hire from all sorts of places (about £35) are fab.
Otherwise just give everywhere a clean and open the windows!

[Kannet]

I have heard that cutting a lemon in half and leaving it in the room helps absorb smells. I painter and decorator friend recommended it

[AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley]

No carpets. Laminate evrrywhere but the bedrooms, which the cats don't go into.

[Gingernaut]

Unless the cats are utterly incontinent and they've pissed everywhere, the deep clean will get rid of the smell. Fingers crossed.

[Coldhandscoldheart]

If you can either board the cats out or at least get their trays outside it will help. Open all doors & windows as much as possible for fresh air. Burn candles. They don’t need to be scented, just the burning helps. A clean tray of clean litter in that closet will help,* also possibly a dish of vinegar. Spray the cupboard with febreze?
Have you repainted the inside of the closet? If not and If you can bear it, wash the walls & fresh paint them.
I really want you to get this new house now! She sounds awful!

• assuming the cats can’t get in & make free with it!

[Coldhandscoldheart]

I think you said the deep clean isn’t till Thursday? The other thing you could do is wash all the laminate with dilute vinegar or lemon juice? But quite dilute.

[JenniferYellowHat1980]

Can you buy a load of top quality litter and change it several times a day to keep on top of that? Is there a smell ingrained into any fabrics? It might be worth getting a non-cat owner to come and do a sniff test - someone you can rely on to be honest. I had a friend who had a three cats and was oblivious to the smell, but it was there.

[JenniferYellowHat1980]

Febreze? (Never used it)

[JenniferYellowHat1980]

What about getting started on the cleaning with Zoflora which is so scented it might mask any smell?

[fairylightseverywhere]

Oil burners with essential oils in? Maybe peppermint? Bake something, polish the day before (squirt a bit on the radiators and turn the heating on), make some fresh coffee before she gets there.

[fairylightseverywhere]

Oh yes if you have soft furnishings that are washable, chuck them all through the wash with some of the scented fabric conditioner.

[fairylightseverywhere]

Also any coats or jumpers etc that may be hanging near the door, put them through the wash too.