Making the Most of Your Real Estate Agent's Expertise

Although you try to keep your vacation rental home in tip-top shape, there are certain things that may be out of your control. A careless renter could, for example, accidentally kick an open bag of chips under your bed that your cleaning service somehow misses. This then attracts mice who decide that they really like living in your rental house. Or you might have a guest bring in a suitcase that has been infected with bedbugs. These pests, unfortunately, are more than a nuisance. They can be a huge problem that could end up costing you a lot of money if angry and disgruntled renters demand their money back after facing the pests or if these pests cause expensive damage your home. Your best bet? Stay one step ahead of these pests with early detection and treatment. 

Bed Bugs

According to the Huffington Post, bed bugs have become a national epidemic, so it probably shouldn't be too surprising if your vacation rental should become infested with these pesky insects. Not only are bed bugs master hitchhikers, but they are also very difficult to kill. They are also elusive, so you may not even know that your house has an infestation until a guest complains of being bitten -- or worse, sues you, which has happened. In 2015, for example, a jury in Prince George's County in Maryland awarded a woman $100,000 because of bed bug bites she suffered at a Red Roof Inn. So if you suspect that your rental property has bed bugs, do the following:

1. Check the bed and upholstered furniture carefully for dark spots, which are excrement from the bed bugs. Also look for red spots, which may be blood from crushed bed bugs, and the pale skin that bedbugs shed as they grow. 
2. Look carefully for eggs and empty bed bug egg shells. These are very small but are visible to the naked eye. However, you may want to use a magnifying glass to help you in your search. 
3. Sniff around. If you have a large infestation of bed bugs, you may detect an unpleasant odor that some describe as sweet.  
4. Hire a professional pest control company. Bed bugs can be difficult to detect, so if you suspect you have an infestation, hire a professional who will know what to look for. And because bed bugs are also difficult to kill, a professional service may be your best bet for getting rid of these disgusting pests for good.  

Mice 

Arguably, mice are cuter than bed bugs, but they can wreck just as much -- if not more -- havoc in your vacation rental. Mice will urinate and leave their nasty droppings everywhere and will also destroy your items in search of nesting material. They can also spread diseases. In fact, it is important not to sweep or vacuum up mouse droppings because they could cause you to become ill. For example, deer mice can be carriers of the dangerous hantavirus, which can be found in their droppings. If you vacuum or sweep the droppings, the virus particles could become airborne and you could end up inhaling them. And, believe it or not, mice can even cause fires by chewing through wires. So if you believe that your rental property may have a mouse problem, you should: 

1. Look for long, dark, thin rice-shaped droppings. You might also smell the urine left by the mice, which has an ammonia-like odor.
2. Listen for noises at night. If you can, spend the night in your rental property. You may be able to hear scurrying or scratching noises. 
3. Call in a professional service to help you get rid of the mice and also help you discover where the rodents may be entering your home. A professional service will also know which means of extermination would work best with your particular infestation. 

If you want to keep your guests happy, it's important to deal with any suspected pest problem as quickly as possible. Call a mice extermination and pest control company near you.