Running a Rental Business

Pest Control Made Simple for Homeowners

We’ve all experienced it – the little creature that haunts your nightmares scuttles across the floor into a before unseen crevice that leads to eternal darkness. Every attempt is made from then on out to stay away from that section of the house. A pest like this can cause major problems for homeowners, and in […]

By The Turno Team

Last updated: November 16, 2023

We’ve all experienced it – the little creature that haunts your nightmares scuttles across the floor into a before unseen crevice that leads to eternal darkness. Every attempt is made from then on out to stay away from that section of the house. A pest like this can cause major problems for homeowners, and in turn property managers seeking to provide guests with the highest quality experience, they can get. There are experienced professionals out there who do pristine work if the infestation gets too far out of control. In this situation, linking up with a cleaner may be the best bet. However, you may be a frugal homeowner looking to curb some of the premiums these services charge. There are ways you can learn to manage these pest problems on your own properly. Here are the basic tips for the most common pests homeowners run into.

DIY pest control

Pest #1: Ants

This pest is the most common one a homeowner will run into as they are the smallest, with the highest population and most accessible access to what they want. As such, they are the most simple to deal with. Most ants are drawn to the carelessness that we may tend to exhibit. The best thing you can do is to keep all areas of your property clean. First and foremost, the kitchen. Open food and water sources are the biggest attractors of ants, so make sure to clean the dishes, countertops, refrigerator, and floor periodically. Identify where the ants will congregate and cut off their routes to entry.

Fortunately, these tasks don’t need to be done alone. Find the best cleaner who is right for your property. You can easily prevent a visit from the most common pest around the world.

Pest #2: Mice and Rats

Usually, when one thinks of a pest, they think “rodent.” And which are the first two that come to mind when reading the word? Mice and rats. There are several steps needed to follow when dealing with these critters, and each is as important as the preceding.

Evaluate the situation – identify where the rats are coming from, where the access points to the building are, and any areas they may like to frequent. This is important because mindlessly setting up removal tools will likely end up in failure. The animals will be smarter than you think

Trapping and removal – once all the appropriate locations are identified, traps or lures should be put into place. YOU MUST EVALUATE ALL OF YOUR OPTIONS. Use the right tool that will be right for the situation. Misplaced rat traps can prove to be a fatally bad decision for a child or pet. This step must be done with care.

*As a recommendation, do not use glue boards, rat poisonings, or any other tools that will prolong the elimination process of the pest. It takes more of your time, can cause critical health risks to your family and pets, and inhuman.

Monitor the situation – periodically check the traps you have laid. If you do not see signs of recent activity, make sure that the area is repaired, cleaned, and free of any lingering smells or physical ailments caused by the rats.

Cleaning – if you do not see any more signs of problems, thoroughly clean the property to ensure no residual problems will occur. Again, you can link up with a cleaner to accomplish this task. If renting the property to guests, this task is especially important.

Pest #3: Cockroaches

The difficulty with cockroaches lies in the approaches used to try to eliminate them. They undoubtedly one of the hardest pests to deal with (and I am speaking from personal experience). There are two major classes of roaches that you may have to deal with, depending on the region you live in.

[Small] German/Brown-Banded: Live in kitchens and bathrooms; behind and underneath sinks, refrigerators, stoves. They find their way into a living area by stowing away on some items being carried in. However, they will breed indoors and can travel between units through electrical and plumbing systems. Use baits and insect growth regulators for treatment.

[Large] American/Australian/Oriental/Wood: About 1.5” in size, they usually live in warmer climates and during warmer parts of the year. They will come inside for water and food however, they typically live and breed outdoors. They are not as difficult to eradicate as the smaller roaches. If needed, insecticides and granular baits would be required.

*Again, make sure you educate yourself about the tools you are using for eradication. Boric acid has been known to combat roaches effectively however, it is often misused.

Pest #4: Termites

Compared to the previous three, a homeowner will have less of a chance running into these bugs. However, if they are present, they are the most destructive pests known to homeowners. As such, it may be too difficult to go it alone. Proper education of construction and buildings may be required to identify access areas and points of interest for the termites, in addition to using specialized equipment.

Therefore, it is important to select the best termite exterminator that suits your needs. Although the longer you wait, the more the termites will work, they are small, so don’t feel obliged to a company if they are pressuring you or using scare tactics for a contract.

These are just a few of many basic steps one can take to deal with a pest on the property. The most effective measure you can take is to prevent any one of them from arriving in the first place. Keep your property clean, find one of the many qualified cleaners, and work together to make the living experience exceptional for you or your guests.

The Turno Team Avatar
The Turno Team , The Turno Team researches and publishes articles designed to provide short-term rental Hosts, Property Managers, and Airbnb Cleaners with insightful, useful resources. Articles written by the Turno Team cover a wide range of STR interests, from the latest industry data and best practices to real-world, practical advice on running efficient, revenue-generating vacation rental businesses in an ever-changing market. Here at Turno, we’re always looking for original ideas and hot new topics. Have something you’re curious to learn more about? Interested in authoring a guest blog? Drop us a line at [email protected].