It can be difficult to keep pests out of your own home. Despite the pest control industry being worth in excess of $18 million, studies suggest that84% of householdshave had an issue with pests in the last year.
The reason is simple, there are so many pests, it is nearly impossible to keep them all out. Unfortunately, if you live in a multifamily or multi-occupancy dwelling, the risk increases. Ideally, a property manager should deal with the local pest control company and get any issue sorted. But this is not always the case.
You’re going to need to know a goodexterminatorand keep vigilant.
Image by Thomas Breher from Pixabay
Why The Extra Risk?
The more families that live in one building, the more rubbish that is created. There is also a greater chance of one family being hoarders.
Unfortunately, it only takes one family to leave rubbish and clutter lying around, which makes your home more attractive to pests. Of course, once they’ve got into one apartment, it’s very easy to move between apartments.
It’s also very difficult to identify where they are coming from and deal with them effectively.
In short, you’re going to find it much harder to instigate defensive measures.
Many pests, such as flies, mice, rats, and even cockroaches, carry diseases, these can range from irritating to life-threatening. The fact that you have less ability to stop their invasion increases the risk to you and your family.
Pest Control Measures
It is essential to have good pest control measures in place as this will help you to deal with the issue.
Your building should have a property manager that can handle the issues for you. The first step is to identify anyone that leaves rubbish and clutter lying around, especially in the public hallways. The building manager will need to tell them to stop this and enforce it if necessary.
There should also be an easy way to report any issues or pest sightings. The easiest method for residents and the property manager is a board outside his office.
The property manager will then need to investigate and report on the findings. Ideally, this option should include regular inspections of the property for pest issues. A professional firm can help with this.
The property manager can also improve the pest issue in the building by having regular educational sessions. This will highlight the pests that are most likely to affect the building and what you should do to prevent them from being attracted to it.
Of course, it’s a good time to remind tenants what to do if they do see a pest issue.
Top Tip If You’re Moving
If you’re moving into a multifamily building it’s worth checking what procedures they have in place and what reputation they have for dealing with pest issues.
You should be able to find out by asking the residents and other people in the area. Social media can also be a good source of information. IF the building has a reputation for pests then you may want to find an alternative apartment.
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