Moving into your new NYC house is supposed to be a joyous event. However, it can be spoiled due to various reasons, one of the most common being house pests. Even though this is something that should be researched before buying the place, sometimes it happens that pests show up after a while. Nevertheless, that should not bring you down, as there are multiple ways to tackle this tedious problem. With that in mind, let’s talk about common house pests in NYC and how to deal with them before moving in!
Ants
One of the most common house pests not only in the US but across the globe is ants. These pesky little insects can appear out of nowhere and are usually drawn in by food leftovers. If you spill something and fail to clean up on time, you will see these hardworking insects showing in groups. I myself had to deal with them, and I spent an entire day in order to stop them from swarming into my home.
Even though they won’t cause any structural damage (unless we talk about carpenter ants), the biggest issue with ants is that they may contaminate your food and crawl all over the place.
With that being said, there are a couple of ways you can deal with them. First of all, find the location from which they are coming from. Wall paste is a good way to seal up that hole. However, you will soon discover that they find other ways to penetrate your home. If we take poisonous repellants out of the equation, you can quickly get rid of ants by using salt or vinegar. Of course, keeping the house clean is the number one priority.
Cockroaches
With this Coronavirus outbreak, many families do not wish to go outside. With kids not being able to play in parks, parents came up with clever ideas about how to create a kids’ park at home. However, if there is one thing that can ruin your kids’ playtime, it’s cockroaches. If you ever had to encounter one, you know that they can grow to unimaginable sizes, and are pretty gross to look at. Furthermore, cockroaches are filthy and harmful to your health.
If you are moving to a new home, you most certainly don’t want problems with a roach infestation. As with any other pest problem, the number one step is to find the source. The best way is to use a flashlight or glue strips so you can catch them easily. Furthermore, you can use caulk or glue to seal up the holes.
When it comes to ways to deal with roaches, good old boot stomp is what most people resort to. However, by using gel bait or boric acid, you will dispose of them quickly and without noise or making a mess. Cockroaches are most certainly one of the most common house pests in NYC, so deal with them on time.
Termites
Here is where insects step up their game a bit. While termites do not cause health issues, they can cause major structural damage to your home. If you have spent a substantial amount of money to buy a house, you don’t need additional expenses repairing the damage caused by termites. Worst of all, you might even not notice them until it is too late.
If you truly want to move house without any stress, you must make sure termites are not the issue. So, here are the signs you have termites in your place:
- you will find winged termites around the windows or doors, trying to escape from the house
- they can also be found in cabinets, usually away from the colony
- the first signs of termites happen at the beginning of Spring
With that being said, you don’t have to wait for Spring in order to find termites. Since termites feed on the interior of your home, you might notice house paint having cracks or bubbling up. Furthermore, if you notice that solid wood sounds hollow, you don’t need to guess twice what the reason is. Finally, termites, unlike wasps or hornets, like to spread all over the exterior walls in mud tubes.
The best way to deal with termites is by using pesticides. However, there are also solutions like building materials infused with termite pesticides. Finally, if needed, there are different wood treatments you can apply.
The best advice is to hire professionals to deal with termites.
Bed bugs
Bed bugs are annoying pests you don’t want to find in your company. If you’ve spent time and money to design your luxury living room or cozy bedroom, the last thing you want is bed bugs messing with that flawless layout.
Once they show up, bed bugs are surprisingly difficult to get rid of. Throwing away your mattress or bed will not fix the issue. And since bed bugs feed on our blood during the night, it is imperative to deal with them as soon as possible.
Besides keeping your beds clean and cleaning them with hot water and steam, always inspect your clothes upon returning from a day in nature. However, since the eggs of bedbugs can survive almost all conditions, the best solution is to reach out to a professional exterminator.
Make a move into your place a pleasant experience
Even though these common house pests in NYC may make your life a living hell, there are ways to achieve balance and keep the stress levels low. Hire Park Slope specialists to deal with your relocation, so you have one less thing to think about. And, as mentioned above, make sure to get a full seller’s disclosure before you actually buy the place.
Make common house pests in NYC a problem of the past
After all is said, never exclude pest exterminators as the ultimate solution. Sure, there are DIY ways to deal with common house pests in NYC, but hiring a professional is the most efficient way to deal with them before moving in. They cost money, but for a reason. And if hiring them means you will never have pest issues again, that’s exactly what you should do!
Author Bio
Susan Wilkins is an interior designer and a passionate blogger. She usually likes to write about useful advice to keep your home tidy and presentable. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, sports, and a good cup of coffee while she relaxes!
