In times of extreme weather conditions, unwanted pests such as rodents can become a crucial issue for rental homes. If, in fact, the weather gets cold, rodents desire and look for warmth and a stable food supply, making homes a terrific and attractive shelter. In reverse, during hot weather, rodents may invade residential areas in hopes of finding water, intensifying the infestation risk. Because of this, with their readily available food and water sources, our homes can be very appealing to rodents, namely mice, squirrels, rats, and other pests.
Eliminate items attractive to pests
Keeping your rental home free of pests can certainly be challenging, but on the other hand, a few basic actions can go a long way in maintaining a rodent-free space. It’s pertinent to take proactive schemes to eliminate potential food sources that might lure these unwanted guests. Properly storing and disposing of food and waste and keeping your living space clean and tidy are significant ways to prevent infestations.
Ascertain to swiftly remove or securely store pet food, bird seed, grass seed, and fallen fruit from fruit trees in sturdy plastic containers with thoroughly sealed lids to avoid attracting pests such as, in particular, rodents, insects, and other animals.
Seal entry points around the home
Another essential task to keep rodents out is to seal all potential entry points around the home’s foundation, eaves, and soffits. Any gaps or holes should be filled with steel mesh, caulk, or plaster and checked quite often to keep the seals intact.
Soaking cotton balls with peppermint oil and placing them where small bugs could possibly enter is a natural remedy that has been reported to work well (this operation supplementarily and happily leaves an exquisite smell).
If you are obligated to provide pest control to your residents (countless states do not require owners of single-family homes to provide pest control, so look to your local statutes) and natural methodologies aren’t keeping the pests out, you may need to have recourse to traps or hire an exterminator to handle the problem. Consequently, using traps, poisons, or other mediums pose significant risks to residents and their pets unless used selectively and appropriately well.
Maintain regular rodent-proofing
As a property owner, including rodent-proofing to your long list of weatherizing tasks may sound like one heavy responsibility too many. Although, take note, it’s critical to ascertain that regular maintenance is key to keeping your property rodent-free. It can be complicated to constantly put in mind to check the foundations and eaves of each property and monitor the home for its management of potential pest-attracting food sources, but as a matter of fact, it’s a task that just can’t be left unattended.
You could work on all these tasks yourself, or you could easily hand them to Real Property Management Instant Equity. Our comprehensive property management programs not only keep rodents out but also always ensure the overall integrity of your property, keeping your residents contented and your investment’s security guaranteed. Contact us online or call us at 843-898-5743 today to discover more in terms of our property management services.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.