Don't let a bug running across the floor scare your buyers out the door!
If Dead bugs make you quesy don't scroll down!!
Roaches found in a home for sale... at least they were dead!
When you are selling your home whether vacant or occupied, dead bugs are a major turnoff and signal the buyer that there may be an infestation. What buyer wants to deal with that? I don't know of one!
Yes, they were in the overhead lighting too!
As they say, "Where there's smoke there's fire", and it's usually true. If you see one roach or ant, there are usually more hiding out or on the way. Granted, almost everyone has had to deal with bugs, and in some parts of the country it is unavoidable.
But you can take the precaution and have a professional spray for all nuisance insects. Don't forget about the yard either, have it sprayed too. If you don't like the idea of pesticides, look for an exterminator that has alternative natural sprays.
If you are a DIY'er use a spray from a local hardware store that works for several months like Raid Max Bug Barrier. I also recommend spraying your yard with Cutter Bug Free Backyard Spray for mosquitoes, it works really well. I can say that this is an amazing product and it lasts for weeks, even through the rain! Buyers can actually linger and enjoy looking at your yard and pool without getting biten by mosquitoes or flies.
You can also find safe pesticides from EcoSmart, they have a wide array of products for the inside and outside of your home.
If your house is vacant, keep the dead bugs swept up and out of sight. You might have to do this often until the problem is under control, but worth the effort. If you're not around get a very nice neighbor or relative to do it for you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
© Redesign Etc.,Inc. 2006-2012. All Rights Reserved.
Redesign Etc. of Houston is a Full-Service real estate staging company. We stage vacant, occupied, builders specs, condos, townhomes, vacation rentals and commercial property. We offer furniture & accessory rentals at competitive rates. Insured & Incorporated with the State of TX.
Owner, Cindy Bryant has earned the RESA-PROTM designation, holding professional home stagers to the highest industry standards, ethics, integrity and proficiency in staging techniques while protecting Homeowners and Real Estate Agents.
Please visit our portfolio of before and afters and website for more information. Check out our profile page too! Check out our sister sites for the Houston Bay Area League City Home Staging and Galveston Home Staging. Please contact Cindy Bryant for more information or call 281-748-2170.
Areas Served: Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood. And all areas down to Galveston Island.
Had to this with a listing last year. Good job pointing out the products
Cindy:
Did and Open House Today, lots of flies alive, stuck between the screens and the window panes. They were definately unsightly, I just open the window and they flew out, but it seems your case was a bit more severe.
Stephen
Fortunate for us in New England, we don't see too many such cases.
Stan, good for you, thanks these products work well.
Stephen, flies are another bother insect, unfortunately it's too hot here to open the windows.
Praful, that is a great advantage the NE has.
Cindy ~ this is an important reminder for sellers ... nothing will kill the mood of a potential buyer's enthusiasm like seeing bugs -- dead or alive -- in the home they were about to fall in love with!
Hi Cindy, I have seen this stepping over the bugs or bugs in general in way too many homes lately, particularly the vacant ones. Great reminder to clean up the mess.
I would agree completely! Stink bugs and lady bugs are pet peeves....not pets but pet peeves!
Maureen, true, it is definitely a mood killer for a potential buyer. I get skeeved out when I see any type of bug, I don't care what kind it is or if it's dead or alive. TX is really not the place I should be living...lol
Gary, it's a real problem, and has seemed to be worse this year. I see it alot in vacant homes.
Damon, eww, stink bugs are gross too, lady bugs...we don't have those inside of our homes just outside.
This can happen so easily in vacants with the heat!! Good Post Cindy!!!!
Cathy, I see it more often than not, especially with our heat and humidity, and this summer has been brutal! Thanks you're too sweet!!
They reall do seem to stake out the vacants. Just one of the many reasons we check on our props. Yes... I do have a mini vac... takes me 5 minutes to suck those dead guys up.
Lori, yes they do, they practically take up residency! A mini vac, I love it!
Having lived in south TX a hundred years ago, I know what you deal with, and it ain't pretty! I have staged many vacants in the mountains, (second homes) here in CO that have the "fly" problem, (no roaches in the high country!) Roaches or flies, they both creep me out, nasty little buggers!
Cindy, this is so true. When buyers walk in a home and see bugs, live or dead, it implies a lack of care and maintenance and will affect how they feel about the home.
Cindy- very good information. The first thing I look at when I'm at a Seller's home is the bugs, etc in the outside lighting . I'm from Houston and those cockroaches or Palmetto bugs (that's what they call them in FL) can fly. Can you imagine showing a room to a buyer and being buzzed by a flying cockroach!
good information
I really hate to see bugs in a home we are trying to show
your friend in Charlottesville
Thanks for the tips on the new products. The first place we had in West Texas had those HUGH water roaches comming out of the drains...Did we ever have to work hard to get rid of them. I know then are here in Houston, so far they are leaving us alone, but will get some Raid Max today.
Good advice Cindy. I'm glad you shared the outdoor product for mosquitos, too -- it's a great idea to minimize them when buyers are trying to imagine themselves enjoying the outdoor living space! I also love the idea of taking a small vacuum along to do some quick last-minute cleanup as needed. Thanks!
Cheryl, I've seen the fly problem in other parts of the country too. We have never had a problem with them, however my friend that lives 30 minutes West has them like crazy, but it's in the country. We are closer to the Gulf, don't know if that makes a difference.
Gabe, you probably see this alot too living in Florida.
Kathy, you bet they can fly, and they are HUGE!! Actually they can't really fly they climb up high and glide to the ground (or so I hear). I swear it's like a 747 coming right at ya...lol
Charles, it's probably hard as a REALTOR to show a house with bugs in the pathway, it has to get into a buyers head about the maintenance of the house.
Brenda, yuk, the drains? You're lucky if you haven't seen one here, they really come out when it's humid, and stifling at night. If I see one bug, I get the whole house sprayed, I hate them!
Leanne, That product works miracles. I counted 20 bites on my legs from walking from the back door to the car, I was one big welt! After spraying no mosquito's at all, I couldn't believe it.
Great tip Cindy. And in a couple of days don't forget to come to pick up dead bodies.;-)
I like Anna's comment! Moving from FL I have always hated palmetto bug AKA big flying roaches! and I am grateful I have not seen but one here in 9 years... but those other pesky little critters can be a huge turnoff for potential buyers and it's important to do bug patrol on a regular basis, even if the house is vacant. Decomposing insect bodies cause a lot of allergies too.
Cindy this is definitely not the glamor part of the business but it certainly is important to share. It always amazes me that sellers expect top dollar but present a vacant home with little dead bodies all over the floor. I usually sweep them up when I go on check up patrol. Fortunately have not come across too many kicking and running!
Like Karen said, I don't miss the days of la coucarachas in FL . You never knew when there would be a surprise visit!
Anna, like I said before, I'd rather not see them, but if I do, I hope thier dead!
Karen, I don't remember having them in Dallas when I lived there, I remember the first time I saw one of those gigantic palmettos, I thought I was going to die!
No it isn't Tessa, there's alot of non-glamour parts, which could possibly be another post...lol
Cindy your a brave woman. Good to know the product works even in the rain.
Cindy your a brave woman. Good to know the product works even in the rain.
Elysse, I'm actually terrified of any type of bugs, lol