Find out how often you should be checking your house for pests!
Photo: Milieu Landscaping
It is a fantastic feeling when you finally finish building your home. You’ve complied with all the regulations, dotted all the ‘I’s’ and passed the final inspection. You’re ready to live in your house and make it a home!
But, your work is not completely done! There are pieces of maintenance that need to be completed on a regular basis if you want your house to stay looking and feeling good. Having just built your home you might think that pests will not be an issue. While you hopefully won’t have any at the start; there is always the risk that they will arrive. After all your new home may look very appealing to them too! Pests are known to cause millions of dollars worth of damage every year; keeping them away from your home should be a priority. But the question is how often should you have pest control done?
Photo: Historical Concepts
There are several things you should do:
Book An Inspection
You need to select a reputable and professional firm in your vicinity. To do this it is advisable to speak to family and friends. You can also check social media and even compare prices after talking to the firms. Try googling something like “termite treatment near me” to find a reputable company that is in your neighbourhood. Once you have selected a firm they will be the one you use for inspections and if you ever have a pest issue.
You need to book a pest control inspection as soon as you finish your home. The reason for this is that they will be able to evaluate any weak points in your new property; allowing you to correct them before the pests move in. They will also be able to advise you regarding the most common pests in your area and what symptoms to look out for.
Photo: Historical Concepts
Decide The Regularity
It is a good idea to book in your next appointment straight away so that you don’t need to remember and it doesn’t get postponed. You have two choices:
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The Annual Plan
This is a yearly visit to check for pests and to advise regarding any potential access points on your property. For most new builds this should be sufficient. However, you may also wish to consider the second option.
Photo: Milieu Landscaping
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The Bi-Annual Plan
This is the same visit as option one but you have two per year. You can usually get a discounted rate if you book these in advance. Two visits may seem extreme but if termites move in just after your annual visit they can do a lot of damage in one year. This is the better option if you are in an area known to suffer from termites or other invasive pests. It is also a good option if you have ever had an issue with pests; it is much easier to defend against them than to get rid of them and repair the damage. Of course, if you ever see signs of a pest problem you should contact your chosen firm immediately to get the problem sorted quickly.
