We all know how it feels when you put a great deal of money, time, and energy into the investment of a lifetime, your home. When it comes to reselling your home, you want the best value. However, pesky pests hold immense power to ruin your efforts and burn a hole in your wallet, as they can diminish the value of your property.
Pests are not just annoying but destructive. They can undermine the quality of your home, crashing its resale value. According to the National Pest Management Association, termites cause annual property damage of over $5 billion in the U.S alone.
Do not give up yet. Early detection of pest problems can preserve the marketability of your home. This blog discusses the top 7 places in your home that are vulnerable to pests, followed by the steps you can follow to stop these troublesome pests from eating your property value.
Let’s dig in.
- Deck: Installing a deck has forever remained the most popular project among homeowners who look forward to parties, barbecues, and lazy summer evenings. Moreover, the deck can raise the property resale value, making the deck even more attractive. But it doesn’t just attract humans. It is also a pest magnet. To fortify your deck against any infiltrations, refinish the deck at regular intervals, to ensure that no raw wood is left exposed.
- Basement: Every house has a basement that acts as a state-of-the-art “man cave” or a disorganized storage room and is most vulnerable to pest infestations. To safeguard your basement, inspect the basement meticulously for any cracks or gaps as they tend to be entry zones for pests. If you find any, seal them up immediately to your basement pest-free.
- Chimney: Chimneys are extremely popular whose presence can make any house highly appealing to home buyers. If you are installing a chimney in your newly constructed house, the stovepipe or flue that helps smoke exit can behave as an entry gate for pests. This can be avoided by installing chimney caps that keep the exhaust passage clear, allowing only the combustion by-products to escape outdoors. Chimney caps also block the entry of pests.
- Roof: A new roof or roof replacement is a serious task that involves multiple risks. In either case, roofs should be long-lasting. To ensure its longevity, it needs to be pest-proof. You can prevent your roof from pests by removing the branches that are close to your home roof. Overgrown branches often act as a bridge for pests. Trimming them will keep your roof problem-free over the long haul.
- Gutter: When did you last replace or repair the gutters of your house? If the answer is before Christmas, then the worst has happened. You may have given access to pests unintentionally. Gutters tend to be a perfect harbourage and become a breeding ground for many pests, including mosquitoes. If gutters are left unchecked, they can create clogs where the water begins to pool and stagnate. A simple chore or keeping the gutters clean at regular intervals can shoo pests away.
Did You Know? Homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover termite damage or the cost associated with its removal and damage repair.
Wrapping Up
A major pest infestation can cause health hazards and damages your property’s structural integrity. This results in a drastic decline in your property value. Therefore, it is essential to take necessary measures for pest prevention. We recommend you seek the help of a professional pest control company that can identify the vulnerable spots in your property and provide assistance to remove the uninvited guests.