You’re walking through a home with prospective buyers, and they seem impressed so far. They love the location, they raved about the yard, and now they’re admiring the spacious kitchen… Until someone opens a cabinet, and a dozen roaches, mice, or other vermin scurry to hide. Too late! The prospective buyers have spotted a sign of a serious pest control problem, and they’re looking a bit less impressed now. 

As uncomfortable as the above situation can be, sometimes it happens. If the home in question is one of your listings, you probably want to advise the current owners on steps they can take to remedy the problem and make the property more appealing to buyers. Share the following tips with them, to prevent a pest infestation:

  • Store all food in airtight containers
  • Keep a lid on the trash, and move bags to the outside can frequently (every night is ideal)
  • Focus on the kitchen and dining area: Sweep the floors and clean countertops daily
  • Don’t allow food outside of the kitchen and dining area (it’s just more crumbs to worry about)
  • Check around the outside of the home for potential entrances that could allow pests to invade, and seal them
  • Look for landscaping elements that are overgrown and touching the house (limbs from shrubbery, for example) and trim them back
  • Avoid using wood mulch in landscaping features that touch the house; many alternative exist
  • Fix any standing water issues, such as leaking pipes, standing water in the basement, or puddles near the home
  • Install window screens, if you don’t already have them
  • Vacuum frequently – every night while trying to sell the home is ideal
  • Get rid of any scrap wood lying around the home, garage, or storage buildings
  • Treat pets for flea issues before a problem occurs
  • Reduce clutter as much as possible

Of course, if an infestation is already ongoing, these methods can only slightly slow the spread of the problem. At that point you need to call a skilled pest control technician, who can diagnose the problem and treat the home.

If termites were the issue, a termite bond that is transferable to the new owners can make the property more appealing.

Give us a call if you have a home that needs a pest control inspection. We can help solve the problem, so the home can retain its value and appeal to prospective buyers.