Skip to Content

Keeping Pests Out: Rodent-Proofing Your Smith Mountain Lake Rental Home

Home inspector checking the foundation for openings to avoid rodents.
Throughout extreme weather conditions, unwanted pests such as rodents can become a considerable issue for rental homes. If the weather gets cold, rodents search for warmth and a stable food supply, making homes an alluring shelter. On the contrary, during hot weather, rodents may invade residential areas to seek for water, spiraling up the infestation risk. For this reason, with their immediate and constantly available food and water sources, our homes can be very appealing to rodents, for example mice, squirrels, rats, and other pests.

Eliminate items attractive to pests

Keeping your rental home free of pests can be taxing and greatly challenging, nonetheless, a few basic actions can go a long way in maintaining a rodent-free space. It’s necessary to take proactive methods to eliminate potential food sources that might entice these undesirable guests. Properly storing and disposing of food and waste and keeping your living space clean and tidy are relevant ways to prevent infestations.

 

Make abosolutely sure to hastily remove or securely store pet food, bird seed, grass seed, and fallen fruit from fruit trees in sturdy plastic containers with closely sealed lids to avoid attracting pests, for example rodents, insects, and other animals.

Seal entry points around the home

Another main task to keep rodents out is to seal all potential entry points around the home’s foundation, eaves, and soffits. Any gaps or holes should be filled with steel mesh, caulk, or plaster and assessed often to keep the seals intact.

 

Soaking cotton balls with peppermint oil and placing them where small bugs can seemingly enter is a natural remedy that has been reported to work well (this tactic also leaves a wonderful smell).

 

If you are accountable to provide pest control to your residents (some states do not require owners of single-family homes to provide pest control, so look to your local statutes) and natural ways aren’t keeping the pests out, you may need to avail yourself of traps or hire an exterminator to handle the problem. Certainly, using traps, poisons, or other action plans pose significant risks to residents and their pets unless used selectively and properly well.

Maintain regular rodent-proofing

As a property owner, adding rodent-proofing to your long list of weatherizing tasks may resemble like one heavy responsibility too many. Having said that, it’s very important to take into account that regular maintenance is key to keeping your property rodent-free. It can be complex to always remember to check the foundations and eaves of each property and monitor the home for its management of potential pest-attracting food sources, but really, it’s a responsibility that can’t be left unattended to.

 

You could take charge of all these tasks yourself, or you could delegate them to Real Property Management Cairn. Our comprehensive property management programs not only keep rodents out but also warrant the overall integrity of your property, keeping your residents blissfully contented and your investment properly guarded. Contact us online or call us at 434-215-3028 today to find out more in connection with our property management services.

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.

The Neighborly Done Right Promise

The Neighborly Done Right Promise ® delivered by Real Property Management, a proud Neighborly company

When it comes to finding the right property manager for your investment property, you want to know that they stand behind their work and get the job done right – the first time. At Real Property Management we have the expertise, technology, and systems to manage your property the right way. We work hard to optimize your return on investment while preserving your asset and giving you peace of mind. Our highly trained and skilled team works hard so you can be sure your property's management will be Done Right.

Canada excluded. Services performed by independently owned and operated franchises.

See Full Details