I hope everyone enjoyed the Memorial Day Weekend with family and friends and remembered those who, over the last 242 years of our existence, sacrificed for our democracy and freedom. I also hope there will be fewer wars and more diplomacy and communication to solve disagreements and issues.
When you or your agents are showing your home, do you worry about insects in and outside your home this summer? With all the rain we have had during the winter and spring and may continue to have going forward, mosquitoes and other annoying flying insects could be a real pain in the butt, a hazard and and a turn-off to your purchasers, assuming you have a very pleasant rear yard to relax in.
Standing water is a huge breeding ground for those pesky litter critters as well as their potential dangerous bites and itchy aftermath. The last thing you need is to have your buyers bitten and become irked when viewing your backyard. Any time it rains, make sure all those pans, buckets or whatever you may have that collects rain water are dumped out and turned over, so water accumulation is eliminated. Also, the closer you are to lakes, oceans or swampy low-lying areas, the greater the opportunity for mosquito infestation.
Nassau and Suffolk counties and state-owned properties have many areas, especially recharge basins where water sits and accumulates as a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. You can reach out to the public works and health department in your county to ascertain if they will be spraying larvicide to kill the mosquito eggs before they hatch in those areas again this summer. West Nile Virus is directly related to infected Asian Tiger mosquitoes that carry the disease. Last year Nassau and Suffolk counties had reported cases, including some that were fatal.
So one should cover arms and legs, especially in areas with mosquitoes and be cognizant of any bites that cause mild symptoms of fever, headache and body aches, a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Symptoms in more severe cases can include high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. Individuals most at risk for severe infection include those over the age of 55 and those with chronic illness or compromised immune systems.
Deer ticks, which cause Lyme Disease, is another serious issue in Long Island, especially where tall grasses and vegetation exist. One should always wear clothing to cover arms and legs when walking or hiking, especially in Suffolk County. Flea bites are another insect, although much less dangerous, but annoying, which your pets should be protected against. Here is a link to assist in your search for natural remedies for your pets: https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/natural-solutions-tick-season/
As the warm humid and hot weather becomes the norm, homeowners themselves don’t need any of those issues to cause buyers not to consider your home. I have seen many homes over the years, where the homeowner goes out and purchases bug zappers. It may appear that you are reducing the population of all sorts of flying insects, including mosquitoes, but I beg to differ and the reason is that the light that attracts them does just that, and you are just attracting a greater population of insects to your property.
Citronella drives away bothersome insects such as flies and mosquitoes. You can combat the bugs further by also combining the torches with citrus candles for twice the pest-fighting action.
Spray water with lavender or eucalyptus around your patio to create a natural pest barrier. Spraying it on you can also help keep bugs away. Vinegar is a natural deterrent for ants. A combination of half apple cider vinegar (although normal vinegar works just as well) and half water in a spray bottle works perfectly to repel those pests. This concoction can be sprayed around the perimeter of your home, on the legs of tables that have food served on them or even around a screen house or tent. While vinegar is an effective item you can use to get rid of ants, you will need to reapply, as the residual effect is minimal.
Another useful ant deterrent is cayenne pepper. When sprinkled in places where ants tend to gather, like areas near sugar and places where crumbs linger, they stay away. The pepper’s spice serves as a deterrent for the ants by telling them that none of the sweet stuff that they’re looking for is there. It acts almost like caution tape. It can get a little messy, so try to sprinkle the cayenne pepper in areas that aren’t used as much, like a cabinet, especially ones that contain baking supplies or other sweet goods.
Another natural deterrent is peppermint oil. Not only does it repel ants, it also repels spiders. In fact, peppermint keeps most pests away, including aphids, beetles, caterpillars, fleas, flies, lice, mice and moths. There are three ways to effectively apply this oil: soaking cotton balls in the oil and hiding them where the insects gather, applying the oil directly to the affected areas, or diluting it with water and spraying the perimeter of areas you’re trying to protect. If you’re diluting the oil, mix 10 drops of peppermint essential oil and 16 oz. of water, then pour into a spray bottle. Peppermint oil can also keep some of the spiders out of the areas of the home where they frequent most, in addition to making the house smell wonderful. While this appears to be a simple solution, it’s a game of strategy by putting the oil in locations where you suspect pests are entering. With a little trial and error, you should be able to target and focus on those specific areas. It’s all about where you put it, using doorways and entrances to your advantage.
Getting rid of crickets in your basement can be done in two ways. Fill a bowl with a few tablespoons of molasses and then fill half way up with water and place in those areas in your basement where you notice the populations of crickets. As they get attracted to the molasses and go in and get stuck and then drown, replace as needed. Also, sticky traps work extremely well, too, and are another natural way to minimize them. There are also cricket bait you can purchase that will work too.
Finding natural solutions for keeping away mosquitoes is always a challenging process. Using a mixture of lavender oil and eucalyptus oil can help keep them away and heal any existing bites. The mixture has a nice fragrant smell compared to most cans of spray you can buy in the store, and it’s as affordable as a bottle of DEET, which you should use as a last resort. But be careful and use precaution and ask your doctor for advice before using.
Lavender oil is one of the only essential oils you don’t have to dilute with water to use on the body, although it’s recommended that you speak with your doctor first. All in all, these bug deterrents all do their jobs well, and finding some natural options for your household and family is always a plus.
Lastly, here are some choices in plants that you can grow or purchase to strategically place around your home where you know previous issues with mosquitoes existed or might be:
1.) Citronella grass
2.) Basil
3.) Catnip
4.) Catmint
5.) Rosemary and thyme, which lasted longer than DEET as per Seoul National University, in Seoul, Korea.
6.) Additional link to other plant repellents: https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&source=hp&ei=JpzsXJXvE8js_Qa2mbIo&q=plants+that+repel+mosquitoes&oq=plants+that&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i67l3j0l2j0i67j0l4.5005.6560..10527…0.0..0.178.1151.8j4……0….1..gws-wiz…….35i39j0i131j0i20i263j0i131i67.0SZlzQwvqDs
You can call your local exterminator, if you don’t want to bother doing it yourself, but the natural way is always safer and you’ll save money and have potentially less issues with your children and pets.
Eliminating unwanted insects inside and outside your home will add to the desirability of your home and property, while keeping buyers in the game when viewing your home for sale or rent and will add to maximizing its appeal.
What natural remedies have you used to keep the bugs away?
Philip A. Raices is the owner of Turn Key Real Estate @ 3 Grace Ave Ste 180 in Great Neck. He is a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S.) He can be reached by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.Com or by Cell, (516) 647-4289 to answer any of your questions. To search for property, see what your home is worth or homes that have sold in your area, go to: WWW.Li-RealEstate.Com or we can provide you a free price evaluation, without obligation and or any strings attached!
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