Eliminating Pests Before Selling Your Home

As spring weather warms the air and melts snow, revealing nicely landscaped homes, many people will take the opportunity to relocate to new residences. Just as these people begin to actively seek to sell their property on the housing market, another activity is also spurred by warmer weather – pest activity.

Insects such as termites, ants, mosquitoes and bees as well as nuisance wildlife such as mice, rats and squirrels will become more mobile creatures during the spring and summer months. These warmer seasons are peak breeding periods and the time at which your pest problems will not only multiply in number but become busy building additional nests, feed more often and spread from their original habitat through other zones of your property.

Eliminating pest risks or existing issues prior to selling your home is critically important to maintaining the property’s value. Here are a few steps you can take to prevent pest issues from ruining your next open house:

Seal all baseboards and chair rails, and check for other cracks and crevices. Eliminating any gaps and cracks near the floorboards and around your rooms’ perimeters will lessen pests’ ability to enter the interior of your house from within the walls of your property or from the outdoors. Examine all cabinetry and ensure that sink splashboards are flush against the wall. Whether these cracks or gaps have previously provided pest entryways or may present future issues, don’t allow this easily-remedied issue to become a reason your potential buyers question their purchase.

Make sure to screen each of your windows and doors. As people enter and leave your open house events or other showings, you may wish to prop the front and back doors open to present an inviting atmosphere. Screened doors will provide a more open, airy entryway while still protecting your interior from insects and critters.

Eliminate all potential sources of standing water. Ensure that water drains away from the house. If the ground is pitched toward your house, water can seep into your basement and be the perfect habitat for a budding mosquito population. Check for damp areas in your basement, closets and corners behind laundry room and kitchen appliances. In addition, clean out all gutters to eliminate leaves and debris that can create pools of standing water or cause water to seep into your roof walls. Should water cause your roofing material to soften, it will be much easier for carpenter ants to attack the exterior and then interior of your house.

Minimize pest risks while sprucing up your landscaping prior to selling. Trim any tree limbs that provide a path to your roof so squirrels, rats, mice and insects cannot have easy access to your building. Place all flowering plants and additional landscaping at least three to four feet from the perimeter of the house. A gravel or stone border between the landscaping and house rather than vegetation will deter rodents from seeking to get inside.

While taking these steps to eliminate pest risks, you will have the opportunity to closely examine your property for any previously undiscovered pest issues. Should you find signs of pest entry or damage, contact your local pest control company immediately for more information on the best steps to take care of your pest problem before it decreases the value of your house.

About Catseye Pest Control:
Catseye Pest Control is a family-owned business servicing residential and commercial institutions. Protecting homes and families for more than 25 years, Catseye is one of the few elite companies in the nation to receive the Quality Pro Badge, the Mark of Excellence in Pest Management for meeting and exceeding superior industry standards. The Catseye team is committed to providing exceptional service so residents and business owners may enjoy pest free living at its best. For more information, visit www.catseyepest.com.

Tags: termites, Window Screens, Eliminating Pests, ants, bees, landscaping, Pest Control, Catseye Pest Control, mosquitoes, Door Screens