You put a lot of work and money into your home. Not only do you want to create a comfortable, lovely place you can be proud of, but your house is an investment, too, and you want to increase its value. Regardless of how much you paint, fix up the garden, or upgrade the cabinets and counters, pests can infiltrate your home and cause serious damage. Often, this damage goes unnoticed until there’s an inspection or appraisal. To help you look for concerns as well as how to prevent them in the first place, our pest control company in Raleigh is sharing how pests can decrease your home’s value.

Termites Cause Structural Damage

The first issue on the list is certainly no surprise, but often, the damage they cause certainly is. Termites in North Carolina tend to be subterranean, meaning they burrow underground and build tunnels in dark, damp places to access food sources. This means they may be living in the soil around your home or in your crawl space and tunneling up to gnaw on floor joists and framing. In a short period of time, one colony can house thousands of termites, chewing through the flooring, wall studs, and other issues, drastically reducing the value of your home or requiring thousands of dollars in structural repair.

Carpenter Bees Damage Your Exterior Wood

While termites are the number one destroyer of wood elements around your home, they aren’t the only one. Carpenter bees are wood-boring insects, burrowing hollow tubes into wooden support beams, decking, and around the roof. Even though they don’t live in large colonies, carpenter bees can leave unsightly holes in the wood around your home’s exterior, and multiple bees can even cause a loss of structural integrity to wooden steps, posts, and railings.

Rodents Cause Electrical Problems

Rodents seek to find a warm, dry space with access to food, and because even rats and large mice can squeeze through tiny gaps, they can easily enter your home. Once in your home, they often begin chewing on your wiring, but why? Rodents’ teeth don’t stop growing, and gnawing on items helps keep them sharp and short. Wires are conveniently located between your walls and are easy to hold, so rodents use them.

Not only is this a serious fire hazard, but it can also lower your home’s value by requiring extensive, expensive electrical repairs to fix what rodents have destroyed. If you have concerns about wiring that may have been damaged, such as a faulty outlet or flickering light, you should have an electrician and an exterminator at your home immediately.

Mosquitoes Nest in Gutters

While mosquitoes may not cause structural damage, they can certainly cause prospective homebuyers to give your home a thumbs down. The most likely cause of swarming mosquitoes is standing water or areas of wet or decomposing leaves, and if you haven’t cleaned out your gutters lately, this is the perfect breeding ground. Clean out your gutters regularly or install guards over them to prevent clogs of leaves that cause standing water and contribute to mosquitoes.

Preventing Home Damage Caused By Pests

Rather than correcting damage to your home or waiting until an inspection to discover there’s a problem, it’s best to prevent pests in the first place.

  • Seal and patch gaps in your foundation walls and around windows where insects could enter the home.
  • Treat wood with a coating or sealant that repels or deters pests;
  • Periodically refinish your deck, railings, and other wood;
  • Install a chimney cap on chimneys to keep wasps and flying insects from nesting;

Most importantly, work with a pest control company to provide regular service to your home. Regular treatments and barrier sprays will keep pests far from your home, preventing damage and ensuring your home is a clean, safe place that anyone would want to live.

Schedule Pest Control in Raleigh

If you are concerned about pests around your home, we can help. We provide comprehensive extermination and pest control in Raleigh and the surrounding area to keep your home free from mosquitoes, rodents, termites, and other pests and insects. Call us at (919) 231-3292 or fill out the form below to get started.