Pest control is a big issue for many property managers. Nobody wants to think about an insect, rodent, or bird infestation in their building, but where people gather (and eat), it might start to feel inevitable.
Fortunately, it’s not. Taking a more proactive approach to pest control can stop an infestation before it starts. Read on for more information about the importance of prioritizing pest control in your building.
When Is Pest Control Contacted?
Usually, the topic of pest control doesn’t come up until definitive signs of pests have been spotted. Whether it’s a line of ants marching across the counter of the breakroom or rodent droppings on the floor, the first hint of an infestation typically results in a call to the property manager, who in turn calls a pest control company. Problem solved, right? Well, maybe not.
While the immediate issue is resolved, the reason behind the unwelcome guests isn’t. How did the pests get in? What’s enticing them? Is there a way to prevent future visitations? If your pest control company is only treating the immediate problem, they’re missing the big picture altogether.
Most Common Pest Issues
There are three common pest infestation: rodents, insects, and birds.
Unfortunately, rodents are a fact of life. Not even the White House is exempt from rodent activity. Mice and rats can be particularly insidious, chewing through cords and fabric as well as nibbling on any food that’s left unsecured.
In addition to rodents, insects make their presence known as well. The most common insects found in an office setting are cockroaches, ants, and bedbugs. While cockroaches and ants enter the building to seek food and water, bedbugs are eager to feed on humans. Unfortunately, bedbugs have made the move from homes and hotels to the office setting by traveling on personal possessions, such as clothing, bags, and briefcases.
Birds can cause a great deal of trouble to any building they decide to call home. Their droppings can be destructive to just about any building material, from wood to iron, and the droppings also spread more than 60 diseases and parasitic organisms. Birds can make do damage to your building as well as the people within it.
Regardless of the pest that infests your building, it’s important to ensure that the pests that have been seen are eliminated and that preventative measures are taken to keep them from coming back again.
Why Proactive Pest Control is Key
Beyond the health factor of a pest infestation, why is it important to be proactive to prevent further pest activity? Well, the sight of cockroaches skittering across the floor as soon as the lights go on is off-putting to even the most laid-back tenants. Soon, word will spread that the building has a pest problem, and you might find it difficult to rent units in the building once tenants have moved out.
Appearance is important in the world of real estate. You and your cleaning company might work hard to maintain the building, but if there’s any sign of a pest infestation, it leaves an impression that the building is not clean. No one wants to share space with pests, so it’s important to be proactive in your pest control efforts.
American Maintenance offers pest control services to customers in New York City and the greater New Jersey area. We utilize an Integrated Pest Management approach; this means that we focus on prevention, only using pesticides as strictly necessary. Instead, we utilize multiple methods, including inspection and monitoring, to keep your building pest-free in the most environmentally-friendly manner possible.
Contact us today to learn more about our pest control services.