7 Things to do Before Buying Your House to Keep it Pest-Free
When you buy your first home, you want to ensure everything is perfect. You’ll likely have visions of a white picket fence and a perfect lawn in your head. However, before you can worry about the aesthetics of your home, you need to ensure it’s free from pests.
Why Should You Make Sure Your House is Pest-Free?
To ensure a safe living environment for yourself and your family, preventing pests from taking over your property is essential. Pests can cause health hazards, damage structures and belongings, spread diseases and trigger allergies. If you don’t guarantee that your house is pest-free, you could invite serious problems into your home.
1. Have Your Soil Tested
If there are signs of pests around your property, have the soil tested to see what creatures live beneath the surface. This will help you realize if you need to address any issues before you move in.
2. Remove any standing water sources
Standing water is a breeding ground for pests and should be taken care of before you move in. Check around outside your house and inside the basement, attic, and other areas that may have moisture. Inspect windows, gutters, downspouts, and air conditioners for leaks or clogs.
3. Check your yard
Your yard is an integral part of keeping pests away from your homeā€“mainly because it can be a haven for wild animals. Check carefully for overgrown shrubs or trees that could provide shelter for small animals like rodents. Look at the base of trees and bushes for signs of activity; if you see symptoms such as holes or nests, have them removed.
4. Trim Your Yard
Tall grass and weeds provide an ideal habitat for pests, so keeping your lawn trimmed and groomed is essential. This will discourage pests from making their home in your yard and create an aesthetically pleasing outdoor space.
5. Seal any entry points
Make sure that all cracks, crevices, and other openings around your home’s foundation are sealed with caulking or weather stripping to keep out rodents and other pests. Check windows, doors, vents, air ducts and chimneys for gaps where pests can enter.
6. Get rid of clutter
Clutter in your basement or attic is like a hotel room to unwanted pests; they will be attracted to it as a place to hide. Clear out any old furniture or boxes the previous owners may have left behind. Also, ensure you have good ventilation and proper storage systems to keep away moisture.
7. Call a Pest Control Company
Pest infestations can be difficult to detect without the help of an experienced exterminator. Before you move in, call a professional pest control expert to inspect your home and provide advice on how best to keep pests away. They can also tell you what treatments are most effective for controlling any existing problems. This will give you peace of mind that your dream home is pest-free before moving in.
Final Thoughts
Following these steps will help ensure your home is pest-free before you move in. Not only will it provide peace of mind that your family is safe, but it can also save you money and time in the long run by preventing costly pest damage. So don’t forget to check for pests and call a pest control company for inspection before signing that agreementā€“it could save you a lot of trouble down the road!