A few months ago I bought a house that had really been let go by the owner. Four college kids had been renting the house and neglected to do any maintenance. Fast forward to the present and I am still dealing with issues that take time to remedy – mainly the lawn and pest control. They both will take awhile to get back into shape. If you are buying a house, it’s great to know that the owner has had a quarterly pest control contract on your new house. Little critters can start to overwhelm your house if you don’t maintain it properly!
Make sure your landscape is trimmed routinely and that any trees or bushes are off the house. When we moved in we had a mango tree that rested over the side of the house. A steady stream of black ants was crawling from the tree into the house. Tree branches and bushes make it very easy for them to crawl onto your house! Most bug companies only spray a couple feet above the ground on the side of your house, so if you have a tree branch 4 feet high and on your house, the bugs will just crawl up and over the chemical spray.
Termites are more common down here than you might think as well. It’s smart to get your house treated for them. Many can enter your house from the cracks in the concrete under the earth, work their way into your house and start eating away at whatever they can sink their teeth into. Even if your house is concrete block, you should get your home treated- it’s well worth it. Almost all homeowners’ insurance companies do not cover damage from termites, so it can be scary. Most companies that treat for them will only charge a couple hundred dollars a year and insure your home independently in case there is damage.
Your lawn can just as easily get out of control with ants, termites and chinch bugs as it can with weeds. Many pest control companies will help to get your lawn into shape and pest free. Please contact me if you want a good recommendation for a bug company. Even if you buy a house like I did, you will easily be able to get it under control within a couple of months – so don’t worry. Just make sure you keep up with it moving forward and you’ll enjoy a bug free home!
Gabe Mellein was voted a Top Real Estate Agent – Exceptional in Service and Overall Satisfaction by Gulfshore Life Magazine in 2012. He is the broker of Gulf Pointe Properties, Inc and has over 8 years experience in the SW Florida Real Estate Market. He is a member of The Naples Area Board of Realtors, Bonita Springs – Estero Association of Realtors, Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach, The Florida Association of Realtors, The National Association of Realtors, and is nationally certified in Feng Shui for Real Estate. Need real estate help? Please contact Gabe at: 239.825.2234, Gabe@GulfPointeProperties.com or www.GulfPointeProperties.com
