Ever wonder what insects, rodents and other pests might be hiding in your home? Brittany Frey – a young professional, dog owner and proud new homeowner in Amherst, NY – recently put her house through an in-depth inspection by pest management professional John Zimmerman, general manager of Buffalo Exterminating.
Buffalo has a much different climate than St. Petersburg, Fla., where a similar “debugging” took place, but both homeowners made similar realizations. While the long winter in Buffalo lessens the activity of many pests for many months, potentially costly problems still exist. Exploring her kitchen, John found carpenter ants crawling through the cupboards, around the faucet and under the sink. Susan Foster, licensed Realtor® from Hunt Real Estate who also joined the inspection, pointed out this is a common problem in New York and, if left untreated, carpenter ants can do as much damage to the value of a home as termites.
Here are a few things Brittany learned:
-Carpenter ants can be tricky to get rid of. Some of them respond to a certain pesticide product, while others do not. It’s best to try different products (sprays/traps) and see what works.
-Evidence of silverfish may mean there is an extra source of moisture in the home. To stop this problem, make sure that all pipes are sealed correctly and cracks in the walls and roof are eliminated.
-Leaving a pet’s food dish on the ground can draw many different kinds of insects. It’s important to wash the dish with soap and water when not being used, just like other dishes.
-Pests are not just dangerous in your home; they can also cause major problems in your yard. Susan showed Brittany where weeds have begun to sprout and talked about the importance of treating them with the proper herbicide to ensure they do not spread.
With more than 20 years in the real estate business, Susan understands the emphasis prospective homebuyers put on a healthy lawn. In fact, she said that many of her clients have refused to consider a home simply because of the disappointing appearance of the landscape.
With the help of local experts, Brittany knows how to detect pests in and around her home, how to control them with the proper products and who to call if she needs professional help.
Want to see the whole inspection? Check out her video!
