How to Prevent Pests From Taking Over Your Property

Pests are always going to be present in your properties, and they are not always a bad thing to have around. However, it is important to make sure the amount of pests in your property does not get out of hand, which can happen a lot quicker than you think.

In this blog we will be going over some of the most common pest related problems property managers run into, and how to deal with them quickly so you don't find yourself in trouble.

Why is pest control important?

Making sure you deal with any pest problem quickly is essential since they can get out of hand very quickly. Two mice can turn into 100 shockingly fast, so it is very important that you take action at the first sign of any pest problem before it turns into an infestation.

Keeping pests to a minimum is also important for the health and safety of your tenants. Pest problems lead to unsanitary living conditions and put your tenants at risk of disease.

Another reason why keeping pests to a minimum is important is that it limits the damage they can cause to your property. Depending on the pest, letting them get out of control could have very expensive consequences that leave your property unrentable for some time, hurting your bottom line.

What kind of pests should you expect to find in your property?

First, let's take a look at the most common pests that are found in properties in North America to know what we are dealing with:

• Mice
• Ants
• Spiders
• Rats
• Cockroaches
• House flies
• Fruit flies
• Bed bugs
• Fleas

These are the pests you are most likely going to run into a problem with at one point or another. Luckily, these pests are quite manageable if you can get to them early.

Signs that you have a pest problem

Pests can easily hide and make it tough for you to know if you have an infestation or not. Luckily, there are some things the pests leave behind that you can keep an eye out for.

Droppings

Droppings are the easiest way to find evidence of pests in your property. Common places to find them are along walls or in bedding/couches for things like cockroaches and bed bugs. Mouse droppings are most likely to be found in your pantry or closets.

Nests

Rodents tend to make nests in protected areas in your property like closets, crawl spaces, or anywhere else they can find that is warm and protected. Rodents make their nests out of anything they can. Things like couch cushions, paper, and household fibers are common materials they use.

It is important to check likely nesting areas for any evidence of rodent activity. If you have had rodent problems in the past, check those areas they were previously living in often as they are likely to be there again if they return.

Property Damage

Another way pests leave their mark is by chewing on things and leaving property damage behind. If your tenants report unexplained property damage, there is a good chance that pests are to blame.

Are there bugs that are good to have around?

Most pests are unwelcome in your property as they cause damage and health concerns for your tenants. However, there are some bugs that are actually good to have around as long as their numbers aren't too high.

The main bugs that you want to try and keep around are spiders and centipedes. This is because these are predatory insects that actually help to keep the numbers of unwanted pests down, so they are on your team.

Now we know that for most people, these two bugs are the ones they want out of their home the most. However, keeping a few of them around will help you to keep the amount of pests that can do real damage to your property to a minimum.

How to keep pest numbers down

Now is the time to make sure you have an annual pest control plan in place since during the winter months many unwanted house guests flock to homes to get away from the cold. This leads to many pests entering your home that you may not run into during other months of the year, so making sure you have the right plan in place to prevent and deal with pest problems is essential.

Regular inspections

Inspections are when you are most likely to find evidence of pest activity. Therefore it is important to do inspections yourself every so often, and make sure to bring in an expect every few months to go through the property to check for any signs of pests. This ensures you can catch any problems quickly and deal with them before they get out of hand.

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Regular communication with tenants

Your tenants will be the first ones to notice if there are any pest related problems or activities occurring on the property. This is why it is important to be in regular communication with your tenants so they can bring up these issues quickly and have them dealt with before they turn into an infestation.

Building solid relationships with your tenants will also make them feel comfortable with bringing problems to your attention. The last thing you want is a tenant waiting to inform you of a pest problem because they could not get a hold of you.

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Have vendors ready

It is important to build relationships with vendors for all your properties needs, however it is especially important to have a good pest control expert you can trust.

This is because if a pest problem comes up, you want it to be taken care of quickly and effectively. You do not want to waste time looking for a vendor to do the work, comparing quotes, then praying they do a good job.

It is instead much better to be able to call a vendor right away that you know will get the job done right the first time. VendorPM can help you find the extermination and prevention vendors you need! Visit vendorpm.com to get started!