Pest-Proof Your New Home Before You Move In

The adage “Your home is your castle” is absolutely true. But what happens when your castle must face outside invaders? Earlier this fall, in British Columbia,  the unseasonably warm weather has brought with it an invasion of stinkbugs and other insects not normally found this late in the year.

If you’re having problems with any of these insects, or you have a new home and you want to head them off before they become a problem, you’re in luck! There are a few steps you can take to protect your new home.

Take these 4 steps to pest-proof your home:

1. Start Fresh with a Bug Inspection/Fumigation If you’re moving into a new home, then you want to start with an inspection by an extermination expert. Your home should have already been inspected for termites to determine there is no damage to the home. But you also want to get someone who can look around for spider and roach infestations and even larger “critters” like squirrels or possums. If you can, hire an expert to fumigate the house before you move in so that is one less thing for you to worry about as you start living in your new home.
2. Clean Out the House
   Before you move in, make sure that you clean the new house from top to bottom. Insects and animals will come in looking for food and water. If there are leaks that might cause puddles to form or crumbs hidden in the corners of the baseboards, this could be a smorgasbord for ants and other bugs. Get all the cobwebs out as well.
3. Check Your Boxes and Toss them Out Quickly
   If you’re moving into a new home, you’ll be bringing a lot of boxes with you. What you may not realize is that pests can hitch a ride inside these boxes and you may actually be bringing them with you from your old home.
   As you are boxing things up for the move, make sure that you check them and seal them to ensure that nothing has gotten inside. If you are using a storage center temporarily while you wait to move in, make sure that it is reputable and has a good record for cleanliness, ie. being pest-free.
4. Finally, once you’ve moved in, empty those boxes and toss them out as quickly as possible. If an insect or critter did hitch a ride, you want to get rid of the box (and the pest) before they can move out and set up shop in your new home.

Clean Up the Yard and Trees

It’s the last area we think about when moving into a new home. The lawn and area surrounding the home. If you have high weeds surrounding the house, you’ll want to do a thorough inspection of everywhere you and your family will be spending time. Don’t forget your pets!

Depending on where you live, you could find anything from ticks, ants, snakes, or rabbits setting up home in the cover. Don’t put ant poison out for ant hills as they may move inside your home looking for food or shelter.

A good exterior inspection of the house is important here to look for any places where larger pests could possibly use to get inside. Finally, make sure your trees are trimmed so that the branches are not near your home. Not only will this protect you during storms, but it will keep squirrels from using the branches to get into your attic or crawlspaces.

An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure

Nobody wants a house overrun with pests. Unfortunately, the changes in weather have left some parts of the country with an unseasonably warm fall and early winter, which is making bugs more rampant. If you are moving into a new home, take these steps to ensure that you start things off with a pest-free abode.

Use Experienced, Professional Movers Who Know Your Area

Crescent Moving & Storage has been in business for over 40 years providing reliable, timely, and safe moving services for businesses and homeowners in the Vancouver area. Rain or shine, summer or fall, we’re there for you! Find out why so many trust Crescent Moving to care for their most valuable assets. Contact us for a FREE, no-obligation moving quote.