When it comes to having extreme weather conditions, unwanted pests such as rodents can become an integral issue for rental homes. Whenever the weather gets cold, rodents would like warmth and a stable food supply, making homes an irresistible shelter. By comparison, during hot weather, rodents may invade residential areas looking for water, hugely increasing the infestation risk. In these instances, with their freely available food and water sources, our homes can be very appealing to rodents, particularly mice, squirrels, rats, and other pests.
Eliminate items attractive to pests
Keeping your rental home free of pests can be stressful, nevertheless, a few basic actions can go a long way in maintaining a rodent-free space. It’s relevant to take proactive means to eliminate potential food sources that might entice these undesired guests. Properly storing and disposing of food and waste and keeping your living space clean and tidy are important ways to prevent infestations.
Never forget to swiftly remove or securely store pet food, bird seed, grass seed, and fallen fruit from fruit trees in sturdy plastic containers with closely sealed lids to avoid attracting pests for example rodents, insects, and other animals.
Seal entry points around the home
Another key 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 monitored very regularly to keep the seals intact.
Soaking cotton balls with peppermint oil and placing them where small bugs, in all likelihood, may enter is a natural remedy that has been reported to work well (this action, moreover, leaves an incredible smell).
If you are compelled to provide pest control to your residents (some states do not require owners of single-family homes to provide pest control, so look to your local statutes) and natural practices aren’t keeping the pests out, you may need to utilize traps or hire an exterminator to handle the problem. Clearly, using traps, poisons, or other activities poses significant risks to residents and their pets unless used selectively and properly well.
Maintain regular rodent-proofing
As a property owner, including rodent-proofing to your long list of weatherizing tasks may seem like one heavy responsibility too many. Yet, it’s focal to bring to mind that regular maintenance is key to keeping your property rodent-free. It can be formidable to always keep in mind to check the foundations and eaves of each property and monitor the home for its addressing and handling of potential pest-attracting food sources, yet it’s a responsibility that can’t really be overlooked.
You could attend to all these tasks yourself, or you could delegate them to Real Property Management Apex. Our comprehensive property management programs not only keep rodents out but also safeguard the overall integrity of your property, keeping your residents delighted and your investment unharmed. Contact us online or call us at 254-732-1599 today and learn about all of our property management services.
Originally Published on September 28, 2018
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.
