Why Professional Pest Control Is a Good Investment
As a homeowner, you want to do everything you can to protect the value of your home. Read more to learn why professional pest control is a smart financial move.
No one likes having pests in their home. They’re unhygienic, unpleasant to look at, and sometimes they can cause serious damage to your property. As the summer months warm up and pests start to repopulate the outdoors, you’ll find more of them inevitably entering your home.
When you start seeing more and more insects in and around your home, it’s time to take action by calling the experts. Professional pest control is always better than doing it yourself, and we’re here to tell you why. In this guide, Responsible Pest Control wants to equip you with the information and tools you need to protect your home’s property value from invasive pests.
How do pests decrease the value of your home, and what can you do to prevent that from happening?
How Do Pests Decrease the Value of Your Home?
Depending on the pest we’re talking about, the type of damage they can do to your home changes. Sometimes the effect they have is structural, health-related, or even cosmetic. Regardless, you shouldn’t allow any pests, no matter the size or type, to exercise free reign over your home.
Structural Damages
Several pests can cause structural damage to your home, but for our purposes, we’re going to focus on three of the biggest culprits: termites, carpenter ants, and powderpost beetles. These pests can cause damage to the wooden structure of your home, which can lead to weakened structural integrity and a decrease in the overall value of your household.
Termites
Termites feed on wood and other cellulose-based materials, which can cause the skeleton of your house to become compromised over time. If left untreated, termite damage can lead to serious structural problems, including sagging floors, warped ceilings, and even collapsed roofs.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants do not eat wood, but they do burrow into it to create nests. Over time, this can weaken the wooden structure of your home and lead to costly repairs.
Powderpost Beetles
Powderpost beetles are wood-burrowing insects that lay their eggs in hardwood. The larvae then dig into the wood, causing damage as they feed.
Health Hazards
One of the most glaring issues that emerges in discussions about the effect pests have on a home is the health risks they bring. There are countless diseases carried by different bugs and pests, from relatively minor bug bites that cause inflammation to potentially life-threatening ailments.
Cockroaches, for example, are known to carry bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens on their bodies, which can contaminate food and surfaces as they travel around your home. Exposure to cockroach droppings and saliva can also trigger allergies and asthma symptoms.
Rodents like rats and mice can also spread diseases through their droppings, urine, and saliva. Exposure to these materials can lead to serious health problems, including Hantavirus, Salmonella, and Rat Bite Fever. If you see droppings in your pantries, cupboards, or along the floor, you know you have a problem that needs to be addressed immediately.
Cosmetic Damage
If it wasn’t bad enough that pests can do actual, lasting damage to your household, they can also cause unsightly, visual disturbances that make your home an unpleasant place to visit, never mind live in yourself.
- Chewing. Some pests, such as rats, can chew on wires, furniture, and other materials in your home, even chewing holes in drywall. This can leave behind expensive damage and replacement costs.
- Holes and burrows. Certain pests, like the termites and carpenter ants we discussed before, can create holes and burrows in wooden structures. On top of the structural damage this creates, it can also create sagging and warping in your floors and ceilings.
- Droppings. Many pests leave behind droppings that can turn your stomach. The worst part? If left uncleaned, it will build up and become harder and harder to remove later on.
- Stains and discoloration. Some pests, such as bedbugs and carpet beetles, can cause stains and discoloration on fabrics and carpets. These can be difficult to remove and can make your home look poorly cared for.
- Odors. If left alone for too long, the presence of pests can lead to unpleasant odors in your home. These odors can be difficult to eliminate and can make your home less attractive to potential buyers or renters.
Prevent the Disintegration of Your Home Resale Value With Responsible Pest Control
Even though paying out of pocket for preventive pest control can be a nuisance, it’s much better than the alternative. Your average bedbug fumigation in Tucson or Phoenix is likely to run you upwards of $300. And cosmetic termite damage? The numbers are in the ballpark of $2,000.
With that in mind, is pest control worth it? We think so.
Responsible Pest Control would like to help you avoid the worst outcome. By investing in up front, preventive pest control, you can minimize the damage that termites, bedbugs, or other pests could have on your health and that of your household.
Don’t put off action any longer than necessary. Reach out to Responsible Pest Control for pest control support throughout Arizona and get the treatment you and your home deserve.
