Pest control during home staging is vital to make a good impression on buyers. Insects, rodents and stray animals can all spell doom for any home sale endeavor. It is amazing to me that some sellers spend a fortune enhancing their home in many ways, yet neglect to inspect for and treat various types of pest problems before marketing their homes.
No buyer wants to purchase a property that has pest issues. In fact, many real estate deals fall apart because sellers fail to prepare their homes for pest inspections that are inherent parts of the closing process. When it comes to pest problems, a bit a preventative proactivity goes a long way.
This important essay examines the importance of pest control during the real estate sales process. We will discuss the need for preventative and maintenance measures, as well as detail some fixes for the most common pest concerns raised by prospective buyers.
Preventative Pest Control During Home Staging
Sellers rarely take the time to hire exterminators before placing their home on the market for sale. They will stage the home, clean it and do other things to make it more appealing, but the idea of hiring a pest control company to inspect virtually always is missing from their sales plan.
I can not tell you how shocked people are to find out during home inspections that their residence has termites, carpenter ants or some other type of common pest. I have seen this concern kill many deals, especially involving tentative first-time buyers. Even once the problem is eradicated, the value of the home has been diminished, often leading to a lower final closing price.
I always advise making absolutely sure that there are no pest problems before listing any property for sale. Simply hire an exterminator to check the home itself, as well as the property, and treat any evidence of infestation as required. This way, the seller is the only one who knows of the pest problem and there will be no nasty surprises when a potential buyer brings in their own pest control company to inspect later on. Be sure to get a certificate showing a clean bill of health when it comes to pests on the property.
Maintenance Pest Control During Home Staging
Besides inspecting for pests before the home is marketed, it is vital to maintain the home is perfect condition during the sales process so that buyers will always see it in top form. This step includes preventing ongoing pest activity in and around the home.
It is well known that many people wait until pleasant weather to market their homes on the real estate market. This patience facilitates better buyer response, but also plays into pest season for most areas of the world. Warm weather brings bugs; be prepared.
Interior infestation is not the only deterrent that buyers will have when considering pests. Simply seeing lots of bugs, mice or stray animals on or around the property can be reason enough to look elsewhere for a better dream home. Therefore, be sure to thoroughly inspect the interior and exterior of the residence before any preemptive buyer comes to view the home. A ten minute walk-around goes a long way towards preventing unpleasant surprises for the prospective buyer. If pest activity is found, it can be quickly dealt with before it sends out any red flags that may impede the sale of the property.
Additionally, if preventative measures are necessary, please try to be discreet and not place traps, baits and poisons in obvious locations that will be noticed by buyers. This is almost as bad as seeing pests themselves, since the problem will be announced loudly and clearly for all to see.
Pest Control During Home Staging Tips
The following tips will help any seller to control pests inside and out and will certainly help facilitate a quicker and more profitable sale by removing any pest-related impediments to closing the sale of the residence:
As mentioned above, be sure to have the property professionally inspected for animal and insect activity prior to listing the home on the competitive marketplace. If treatment is needed, complete it before listing the property, as well.
Maintain the exterior of the house properly to avoid pest problems. Spray and bait areas of insect activity. Do not allow food or garbage to remain on the grounds of the properly. Be sure to keep garbage bins covered and in areas that animals can not access. If you have pets, be sure to clean up the yard after them as well, since domestic animals can pose a liability to some buyers in much the same manner as unwanted wild critters.
Be sure that pests have no methods of accessing the interior of the home, by sealing cracks and monitoring door and window activity.
Maintain the interior of the home in spotless condition. Always keep food preparation areas clean and free from scraps and debris. These temptations will attract pests into the interior of the home. Likewise, keep bathrooms exceptionally clean and do not allow moisture to remain if at all possible.
Be especially vigilant to regularly examine dark and quiet areas of the home, such as the basement, crawlspace and attic. These are the preferred areas for pest infestation. If a pest problem is discovered during an inspection, be honest and transparent about your efforts to properly resolve the issue. Do not look for a fast fix and pass the problem along to your buyer. This is karmic suicide, for sure.