Pests in a rental property can cause all sorts of trouble. People don’t want a home overrun with creepy crawlies, not to mention the sanitation and health problems they bring. While pest control is usually the concern of the renters, keeping your single-family rental properties free of common pests should be a vital step in your regular maintenance plan and one that you should help your renters with conducting.
Spraying dangerous chemicals in and around the house is not the best option all of the time. Tenants might worry about pesticides affecting their pets and children, and tenants with specific health conditions might be at risk as well. If this is the case, then natural pest control remedies are for you. Many professional exterminators claim that they use natural products, and you should do additional research on these providers and provide a list to your tenants. However, there are natural, harmless things you and your tenants can do as well to keep your Tampa rental homes pest-free.
A natural way to manage points of entry for insects around the home is to use coffee grounds. Many household pests don’t like the smell, so scattering your used coffee grounds in spaces where you believe the bugs are coming through might be as effective as using spray.
If you have noticed aphids devouring the landscaping in your yard, try putting a banana peel in the ground next to the afflicted plant. The peel will enrich the soil while keeping your yard bug-free.
If fruit flies are becoming problematic in the kitchen, try using apple cider vinegar to get rid of them. Simply pour a bit of apple cider vinegar in a little bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and poke a couple of small holes in the top. The vinegar will draw them in, but then they will be caught under the plastic. No more fruit flies!
To get rid of other types of flies, consider keeping a pot of sweet basil next to your door. Rosemary and sage are two additional herbs that help keep mosquitos away, a small anti-pest herb garden in the making.
Ants are another common pest that is difficult to eliminate. Try pouring cornmeal in tiny mounds where you’ve observed ants, inside and out. The ants will devour the cornmeal. However, since they can’t digest it, they will die out eventually. Another cheap and effective remedy is to combine dish soap with water in a spray bottle and spray the ants and where they come through. Some people also include peppermint oil or leaves in the spray, which is useful in keeping mice away too.
Effective pest control doesn’t need to be expensive or detrimental to your health. However, if your Tampa rental property does get infested, you need a property management company that can help find the best solutions to eliminate unwelcome pests. At Real Property Management TradeWinds, we provide tailored and inclusive property maintenance that is sure to protect your real estate investment from pests or anything else that could cause your property value to drop. For more information, please contact us online or call us at 727-400-4722 today!