Maintaining a pest-free exterior for your rental property requires a comprehensive, ongoing strategy. This is especially true in areas where common pests can become a serious hazard. As a rental property owner, having one or more outdoor pest control strategies is essential for preventing pests outside and maintaining a safe and comfortable investment property. Since most pests enter the property from outside, focusing on the property’s exterior for pest control makes sense. The good news is that with the correct information and tools, you can protect your property, safeguard your tenants’ comfort, and avoid expensive damage down the road.
Know the Common Outdoor Pests
Before you can tackle a problem, it’s essential to know what you’re up against. Common outdoor pests for rental properties can create numerous headaches, as these unwelcome visitors can damage landscaping, deteriorate wood structures, destroy gardens, and eventually make their way indoors if left unchecked. While common pests will vary by location, here are a few of the usual suspects to watch for:
- Ants: Build nests in walls and under patios, invade kitchens for food, and can cause structural damage if they’re carpenter ants.
- Termites: Feed on wood and can cause severe structural damage that’s expensive to repair.
- Rodents (mice, rats, squirrels): Chew through wires, insulation, and stored items, and can carry diseases.
- Mosquitoes: Breed in standing water, making outdoor spaces uncomfortable and potentially spreading diseases.
- Wasps and Hornets: Build nests under eaves or in trees, creating a safety hazard for tenants.
- Raccoons and Opossums: Dig through garbage, damage gardens, and can be aggressive when cornered.
- Spiders: Often drawn to insects around exterior lighting, and can find their way indoors.
- Scorpions: Common in the southwestern US, they hide under rocks and in crevices and may sting tenants or pets if disturbed.
Pay close attention to the common pests in your area and plan accordingly. Understanding which common outdoor pests threaten your rental property will help you create an effective pest management plan.
Start with Smart Landscaping
One of the best ways to deter outside pests is to make your yard less attractive to them. Easy things you can do to reduce unwanted pests is keep bushes and shrubs trimmed at least a foot away from your property’s siding, remove dead leaves, fallen branches, and any clutter that could provide shelter for critters, and make sure there’s no standing water in pots, birdbaths, or gutters, since mosquitoes love to breed in stagnant water. If your property has a wood-burning stove or fire pit, be sure to store firewood neatly and at a safe distance from the building to prevent termites and rodents from infesting the area. In the end, good landscaping choices are a simple yet powerful way to avoid pests outside.
Fortify the Home’s Exterior
The next step after some proactive landscaping is to ensure that pests can’t easily enter the home. To get started, be sure to inspect your rental’s exterior regularly for cracks, gaps, or holes that could serve as entry points. Check around siding, vents, pipes, and under doors. If you find gaps or damage, repair them right away. Whenever possible, install tight-fitting screens on windows and vents, and use weatherstripping on doors to seal gaps. Finally, be sure to secure trash bins with tight lids to keep raccoons and rodents at bay. A bit of planning and upfront maintenance can make a significant difference when it comes to managing pests in rental properties.
Consider Outdoor Pest Control Rental Treatments
Sometimes, landscaping and sealing the property are not quite enough. If pests are still a bother outside or finding their way inside, consider applying an outdoor pest treatment. These treatments add an extra layer of protection and can help eradicate some of the more dangerous pests, such as spiders and scorpions. Safe treatment options include perimeter sprays, natural repellents, and traps for common outdoor pests. Please ensure you follow local regulations and always prioritize tenant safety.
For larger or more stubborn infestations, you may need to hire a licensed pest control professional who knows how to effectively manage pest issues in rental properties. Especially if pests have already taken hold of your property’s exterior, you may need the services of a professional to fully treat the problem.
Stay Proactive with Seasonal Checks
Finally, it’s important to incorporate outdoor pest control a regular part of your seasonal maintenance routine. Aim to inspect your property’s exterior in both spring and fall to spot any trouble early. Keep an eye for signs of nests, burrows, structural damage, or standing water. Staying ahead of pests reduces long term costs, and ensures a more comfortable living experience for your tenants.
Partner with Experts for a Pest-Free Exterior
Implementing an effective outdoor pest control strategy for your rental property can save you money and stress, while also protecting the value of your rental. If you’d like help managing your property and keeping pests outside where they belong, Real Property Management Majestic can help. We’re here to make rental property management in Tucker worry-free and straightforward! Get in touch with us online or call us at 470-563-1001.
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