For many first-time homebuyers, they are transitioning from living in an apartment building or a rental property. As a result, responsibilities that fell to a landlord now are under their purview. That can leave buyers scrambling and unsure of how to handle pest control. Here is a breakdown of new responsibilities homeowners have when transitioning out of an apartment:
Before you move into a new apartment, your landlord will likely be on the lookout for termites. But once you move into your own place, you'll need to be on guard against these pests. According to ABC Action News, the mild winter means that they will likely be out in greater numbers in spring and summer.
"All they need is about the space at the tip of a pen [to get in.] We're talking about an eight [sic] of an inch in diameter," said entomologist Tom Wisdo to ABC.
Once they're in, they can chew through the frame of your home - and they can be nearly impossible to get rid of without professional help.
If bed bugs get into an apartment, the landlord covers the cost to bring in a pest management company. As a homeowner, you may have to be more vigilant when looking for signs of a bed bug infestation. If you notice brown and red spots on your sheets or you wake up with small red bumps on your arms and legs, you may have bed bugs. You can minimize the risk of bed bugs by doing laundry at home and getting rid of extra clutter around the house.
The mild, wet winter can increase the likelihood of cockroaches. First-time homebuyers need to take extra precautions with the storage space they now have in their basement or attic. Cockroaches can make their home in unsecured boxes of damp newspaper or cardboard - and can be a nasty surprise when you go to unpack the summer lawn chairs! To keep them away, stow your extra items in hard plastic containers that can securely shut.
These are only three of the pests you'll need to keep an eye out for as a first-time homebuyer. Follow these tips and you'll feel confident in your new home.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
Not every creature that visits your property is a dangerous nuisance. Many animals actually offer a number of benefits that keep your yard healthy. Predatory animals, in particular, actually offer natural pest control. Here are five common suburban creatures that can help keep more difficult or annoying animals at bay:
The customer is always right, and this is especially true if he or she is complaining about seeing a mouse or cockroach. Pests have no place in your organization, as bugs and rodents will turn away potential business or even lead to a possible lawsuit. Keeping your company protected requires a proactive approach. Work with a pest removal specialist to identify the best ways to stop creatures from infesting your business. Here are just a few ideas for successfully mitigating and preventing any issues:
You might see an influx of rodents at this time of year, because as the weather cools mice and rats seek warmth anywhere they can find it. Unfortunately, that often means inside residential homes. Many homes may experience rodent infestations at this time of year more than any other. Whether they're getting into your garage, basement or kitchen, it's important to put a stop to them before the problem becomes too serious and requires the intervention of a professional pest control agency.
Summer is almost here and before you head out on a family trip or even if you travel for work, consider doing a little research so you become familiar with bed bugs. This will help you identify them quickly and it could keep you from bringing them home unknowingly!
With the promise of summer also comes the promise of bugs. Homeowners have to stay vigilant, lest they find ants - or worse - rifling through their food.
You might've heard that cockroaches can survive a nuclear blast. If the worst should happen and the world succumbs to nuclear war, the cockroaches would reign supreme as the one and only organism left on earth. This hardly seems fair - consider how much time humans have spent trying to control cockroach populations. You might've chased one of them out of the bathroom this morning! So, if they really can withstand a nuclear blast, what chance do we have of managing cockroach infestations at home?
