Commercial property is an advantageous investment in the long run. However, there’s a lot more than you think that goes into protecting your investment for future years.
Keeping the building and its occupants safe and healthy is a priority that you cannot afford to compromise upon. So how can you go about with this?
Let’s Start by Listing out the Main Pests That Pose to be a Threat to Properties:
Rodents
Known to be the leading cause of several fires caused by them chewing wires, you’ve got more reason to enlist for rodent control.
They are carriers of diseases like Hantavirus, hemorrhagic fever coupled with renal syndrome, leptospirosis and plague.
Fleas/Ticks
As carriers of the Lyme disease, nearly 30,000 cases are brought to the limelight every year.
Bedbugs
You don’t have to wait for these pests to get out of control for great damage to ensue. They can even bring on a lawsuit by consumers who have gotten bitten! Watch out for these as they can survive in both clean and dirty climates. Typically, they are spotted in the upholstery of furniture, cracks in the furniture, any textile, and beds.
Cockroaches
Roaches can cause food poisoning, allergies, asthma attack and literally multiply at the speed of light.
Safety is of utmost importance to anybody whether on a commercial property or otherwise. Pest control and removal help protect the structural integrity of your property while also ensuring no health concerns arise due to the presence of pests.
Regular inspection can highlight at any breeding infestations or conditions that can bring on a concealed infestation. Although the above-listed pests can cause alarming problems, the one, most commercial property managers are wary of, are termites.
Do You Have a Termite Problem?
Ideally, you should have a reputed pest control company inspect your property for any signs of an infestation. If that is not the case, immediately partner with one to ensure you are backed by a proper control and removal program.
However, here are a few signs that might confirm termite activity:
- Damaged skirtings
- Wooden windows or door frames appear to look like dry rot
- The hollow sound of wooden structures
- Termite mud tunnels,
- Sticky doors or windows
Why do You Need to Sign Up for Pest Control Management in Advance?
Having a pest problem on hand can spiral out of control before you know it. Worse still, it brings with it health hazards and the threat of a structural damage to the commercial property.
Pest control and removal is an absolute must for schools, hotels/restaurants, and medical institutions. Along with having high hygiene standards to adhere to, these are places with absolutely no tolerance for a pest problem.
In order to set a good pest control system in place, you need to ensure a strong partnership is made between the building’s management, staff, the professional service as well as the occupants.
How can You Get Occupants & the Facility Management to Assist?
The hard fact is that even if you have a solid pest control program in place, negligence by occupants can act as loop-holes, finally leading to an infestation.
- Report any plumbing issues or cracks in the utility pipes and building façade.
- Include weather stripping as well as door sweeps around any gaps.
- Install windows screens and repair broken ones if any.
- Trash should be disposed of correctly and regularly
- Common rooms like the laundry area, kitchen, parking, pool-side, storage areas, etc. are to be kept clean and food must be stored away correctly at all times.
- Reduce landscaping and trim all greenery around the building, especially at the entry/exit points.
- Garbage dumpsters should be placed 15-20 feet from the building.
Getting the Right Pest Control Company On Board Starts with Asking the Right Questions:
- How many years have they been in the business for?
- What licenses and certifications do they have?
- Do they specialise in commercial pest control?
- Can they give you a customised pest removal solution in sync with your needs?
- Do they have a membership of the state and national pest control associations?
- Do they offer a guarantee? If yes, what documentation is given to support the same?
- Will they conduct an inspection?
Although pest control may seem like an added expense to maintain the property, it is one that can save you from greater monetary loss caused due to extreme repairs needed for structural damage and health problems the occupants and staff of your building might suffer. It is an insurance plan that secures your property for years to come.
About the Author:
Muzi Tsolakis heads Protech Pest Control. With over 2 decades of experience backing them, Protech has been successfully carrying out termite inspection and pest control for some of the biggest names in the commercial and residential space.