Nobody likes the creepy, crawly, and downright frightening pests that invade our homes. Getting your home inspected and treated for unwanted pests each year should be at the top of any homeowner’s to-do list.
At some point in the life of every home owner,
it’s a virtual guarantee that some unexpected visitors are likely to drop by, and they’ll be received with anything but a warm welcome. Pest control is an unavoidable aspect of maintaining your place, and one of the few parts of the house upkeep that simply isn’t do-it-yourself.
Failing to have your home properly treated for termites, water bugs, roaches, ants--and other common pests that seem determined to invade your personal space-can significantly lower your property value and cause long-term damage to the structure of your house. Additionally, the presence of these unwanted creatures can be more than just a little disturbing, particularly if one scurries by your feet in the middle of the night.
If you rent a place, apartment, condominium, or vacation house, be sure that the terms of your contract state that your landlord is liable for any issues with pest control. Both preventative and responsive measures should be taken to deal with proper extermination, since dealing with an insect problem before it even starts is the best solution.
In most cases, this involves spraying your baseboards, windows, wall crevices, and ceilings with a chemical designed to repel any creepy, crawly intruders. These chemicals are generally not toxic to humans and pets, but may be a less than ideal solution if you have a dog or cat that’s likely to mistake the chemical for food and lick the sprayed areas.
If you live in a pet-free environment, ant and roach traps are fairly effective ways to catch any intruders that were brave enough to find their way inside the house. Those who have pets should never use these store-bought remedies, as traps and sprays are often mistaken for food and may cause your pet a visit to the emergency room.
Deciding to own a house, however, means that you’re responsible for the issue of pest control. Before even moving into your new home, make sure part of the home inspection involves a thorough scan for issues of all kinds, including problems with ants, nests of bees, roaches, or even mice and rats.
It is also essential that the house is treated for termites and carpenter ants, problems that can severely damage your home’s structure and cost you thousands of dollars in extermination fees once a colony has taken over. In general, you should have an exterminator do a thorough inspection of your property at least once a year, and consider signing a long-term contract for treatment of termites if you own a home.
