What You Need To Know: How To Keep Wildlife Out of Your Home

By Jenni Boucher

Most people come to Florida for our beautiful beaches and tropical climate. Our entire state is a tourist destination for travelers from around the country and around the world. With all of the focus on theme parks, beaches and tourism, we often forget how close we really are to nature – until it invites itself in!

Interactions with wildlife are not uncommon for most residents, but the scenario takes a completely different turn when the interaction is inside your home. Opossums, raccoons, rats, mice, squirrels, and snakes are just some of the species routinely trapped inside Florida homes. Can you imagine going to the refrigerator in the middle of the night for a drink and being greeted by this guy?

Prevention is the best method for keeping wildlife out of your home. Don’t assume that there aren’t ways for pests to get into your home, even if you have a brand new home. Why? The Florida Building Code has tons of provisions for protecting your home from termites and other wood-destroying organisms, but very little mention of proofing for other pests. Nearly all homes have at least one access point where wildlife can enter, such as: broken or missing covers for roof vents, soffits, crawlspace accesses, or dryer vents. These holes/gaps don’t have to be large – animals can enter through holes the size of a quarter. There doesn’t even need to be an existing access – many animals can chew their own!

Once any access points have been discovered, make sure that they are closed-off immediately to keep animals out. Trim any tree branches that animals could be using for travel in and out of your home, and remove any landscaping that is within 12” of the walls of the structure. Make efforts to clean-up any vegetation, wood piles or rubbish in the yard that could provide cover for any animals already near your home. Make sure that all of your outdoor garbage cans have tight-fitting lids – animals love our leftovers! Raccoons especially love cat and dog food commonly left outside for neighborhood strays. Do not ever attempt to feed any wildlife, doing so removes their fear of humans and can make them attack humans in an attempt to get food.

What should you do if you suspect an animal is already in your home or soon-to-be-home? DO NOT TRY TO CATCH IT YOURSELF!

Most species of Florida wildlife can be vicious, especially when backed into a corner and/or protecting young, and come equipped with razor-sharp teeth and claws. In addition to the high likelihood of a hospital visit to treat the wounds they inflict, these animals often carry a host of parasites and diseases – like fleas, ticks, several worm species and rabies. 

Your best bet would be to hire a Wildlife Removal Specialist. Vastly different from a regular pest control company, these specialists have the knowledge and tools necessary to trap and relocate wildlife. Find out how the specialist intends to solve your problem. Some companies use poisons to kill the animals, but this is not the most humane method of removal and dead animals can leave a nasty odor if they die in an inaccessible location, like inside a wall. Some companies will provide a free inspection and estimate to establish the scope of your problem and what the best method of removal will be.

Got wildlife in your home? Don’t try to fix the problem yourself – this is a job for professionals.

Is Your Home Ready to be SOLD?

By Jenni Boucher

Selling a home is exciting and stressful process. By putting your home on the market, you are opening up your home for examination and evaluation by potential buyers and their real estate agents. Make selling your home an easier and less stressful experience by having a seller’s home inspection before the house goes on the market.

Why have a seller’s home inspection done? The reasons are many!

For sellers, it can often be hard to notice or evaluate the severity of defects in a home that they have lived in for years. Potential buyers will be scrutinizing nearly every detail of the home to ensure that they are making a wise investment, possibly the largest investment they will ever make. Having the inspection done prior to having the house put on the market has numerous advantages, including:

• You can choose your own inspector rather than be at the mercy of the buyer’s inspector selection.
• Seller inspections are easier to schedule since you are not working under the time constraint of a 5-10 day inspection addendum, allowing the seller to schedule the inspection around their other obligations.
• The inspector will be able to alert the seller to any immediate concerns, such as major defects or signs of an active termite infestation.
• The seller can assist the inspector during the inspection and identify any recently repaired or replaced items, or areas of concern.
• Knowing what issues are present ahead of time gives the seller the ability to repair the defects or at least get realistic estimates of the repair costs to price the home accordingly. Repair estimates obtained by buyers are often over-inflated and can dramatically affect the final price of the home. Having the repairs done prior to putting the house on the market also helps the house to show better.
• The report provides a third-party unbiased opinion that often helps relieve the concerns and unfounded suspicions of potential buyers.
• A clean inspection report is a great marketing tool to set the home apart from other competing listings and can help justify a higher price.
• The report might encourage the buyer to waive the inspection contingency, and help lighten negotiations and 11-th hour re-negotiations.
• The deal is less likely to fall apart, like they often do, when the buyer’s inspection report unexpectedly reveals a last-minute problem.
• The report provides full-disclosure from future legal claims, and also helps establish credibility with the buyer that the seller is being up-front and honest in their dealings.

There are several advantages for the real estate agent as well:

• Sellers can schedule their inspection at their own convenience with the inspector of their choice with little involvement from the agent.
• The seller is able to accompany the inspector during the inspection, allowing the seller to see their home through the eyes of a critical third-party, thus making sellers more realistic about their asking price.
• The agent is alerted to any immediate safety concerns prior to the home being toured by other agents or potential buyers.
• Repairs made ahead of time help the home to show better and can justify a higher asking price.
• Reports available online will entice buyers to tour the home.
• Clean reports and reports with reasonable work estimates are both great marketing tools.
• Negotiations go smoother with fewer unexpected surprises, reducing the need for 11-th hour re-negotiations, and the deal is less likely to fall through due to an unexpected surprise.
• Reports provide full disclosure protection from future legal claims.

Having a sellers’ inspection done also benefits the buyer:

• The inspection is done already and was paid for by the seller.
• The report provides an impartial third-party opinion on the condition of the home that is useful prior to making an offer on the home.
• The problems are corrected, or at least acknowledged, prior to starting negotiations.
• Negotiations go smoother and unexpected surprise defects are virtually eliminated.
• The report could assist in acquiring financing.
• The seller inspection allows the buyer to sweeten the offer without increasing the offering price by waiving the inspection contingency.

Whether you are buying, selling, or listing a home, having a sellers’ inspection done prior to the home being put on the market carries numerous advantages for all parties involved – it is truly a win-win-win situation.