Don't Let Pests Come Between You and Your Home Sale

By Keith Loria

Whether you’re in the process of selling your home or not, pests can be a real nuisance. But when a home sale is on the line, the last thing you want to do is give buyers any reason to scurry. 

You might think that discovering ants, roaches or mice in your home is the worst thing in the world, but generally, they don’t do much damage. And there’s usually a somewhat simple solution for disposing of these pests. (Termites, of course, are another issue).

For those who may be having problems with these more prolific pests, the most practical solution is to call an exterminator as soon as possible. 

And remember, when it comes to pests, keep in mind that as the seller, you’re required to disclose “all known facts that materially affect the value of the property,” which means you can’t just let these problems slide and hope the inspector doesn’t pick up on them.

Taking the mice example from above, there are humane ways to solve the problem—either with traps or by hiring a special company. But if you want to be sure you’re getting rid of the mice forever, you may want to bring in a specialist who can determine where they’re coming from and fix the problem, removing their access to the house. 

Carpenter ants are another nuisance and a good exterminator will know how to treat and eliminate this type of infestation. Remember, carpenter ants can only survive on wet, rotting wood, so these ants are a telltale sign that your home has a water problem that’s causing rot. By solving the water problem, the ants will not survive. 

If you’re having problems with larger varmint, be it raccoons, birds or squirrels entering the home, it’s important to do a perimeter search of the home, listening for rattling in the chimney, gutters and/or attic. Several wildlife organizations are available to help with their removal, but you also might need to invest some money in hiring someone who can come in and plug up any holes and entrances and spray a deterrent.

And last but not least, if termites are the problem, it’s crucial that you have them exterminated as soon as they’re discovered since they can cause major damage to the wood within your home. If you’re looking for total peace of mind, you may want to schedule a termite inspection before you sell your home so that no surprises pop up along the way.

Unfortunately, bugs and rodents are a part of life and there’s no end-all solution that will ensure that a home is pest free. The best you can do before putting your home on the market is to eliminate all you can and deal with any in-your-face issues. Nature will have to take care of the rest.

For more information about ridding your home of pests, contact our office today.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.