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WWIII: The Battle with the Ants...A Blogumentary

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Classic Property Management

   My house invaded earlier this year in a surprise move that has resulted in a massive list of casualties.  So far, all of the casualties have been on the side of the enemy, but they are casualties none the less.  These sneaky  interlopers can be found crawling out from under baseboards, switch plates, and doors.  They seem to have an unlimited supply of troops...as soon as one dies, five more take its place on the front lines...  I may be fighting a losing battle.

   Blast those ants!!  How many of you have ever been under a full fledged war over the ownership of your property?  I tried to play nice at first...spraying or wiping up any strays that I saw running across the counter tops.  But now, its time for desperate measures.  I am tired of being constantly on the defensive.  So I have devised a new plan of battle that will go into effect as of the posting of this blog.

   I am going to strike at them where they live!  No more cowering behind  my defenses.  I am going out into the field to face this menace head on!  My plan is to deploy "Ant Hotel" style poison traps around the areas that have already been penetrated by their scouts.  I will then commence massive air "Raid"s (pardon the pun) on their villiages and supply lines using chemical warfare in the form of aerosol insecticide.  Finally, I will beef up my defenses around the perimeter by utilizing granular poison at the base of my house.

   Make no mistake...it is still MY house.

   In order to document my ultimate victory, I will be posting a "Blogumentary" of my campaign, through which I will keep you all apprised of the battle, including graphic photographic images of the battlefield. 

   If any of you have tips and strategies that may help me in my conquest, please let me know.

 

For more tales of heroism and warfare, or solutions for today's rental market, please check out our website by clicking on the logo to the right!

Show All Comments Sort:
Jay LaGace
RE/MAX Realty Team - Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral / Lee County Real Estate - 239-443-8795

No, No No.... Dont break out the Missles and AK 47's at all.....

It will scatter the colonys and you will have a much worse problem.

It would be much easier for you to call a good exterminator, they would probably treat the home for 75 bucks or so...

If you choose to do it yourself, arm yourself with Sevin Dust, you know the white dust that your Mom put on the Tomatoe plants in the garden...Get a Bulb Duster, both can be purchased at Home Depot... Dust very lightly in each and every crack and crevice that you have, all void areas, inside electrical Outlets ( Be Careful ) ..... No Sprays of any kind, no bait of any kind, just Dust..

After the entire Home is done inside, get the outside treated with a Granual Bait, also bought from Home Depot. Treat your entire lawn, but do it real good around the outside of the house..

 

This should take care of all the Bugs for you..

Sep 05, 2007 01:13 PM
Deborah Burns ~ Seattle Real Estate Agent
Realty Executives -BRIO - Seattle, WA

Love the "Blogumentary"!  I am a sucker for heroism....

Disclaimer:  I rescue all spiders found in my home and practice a "catch and release" program into my yard!

Sep 05, 2007 01:34 PM
Birmingham Alabama Real Estate, Stephen Wolfe
LivingInBirmingham.com - Birmingham, AL

I had a problem recently to with ants and fleas, I know gross, the heat drove them in this summer. It was a hot one in Alabama. I went to SuperPets and bought some spray called Zodiac. I have not seen any live ants or any other little critters all week. Maybe this will help...

I am sure that powder will work too. I was just scared to use that with two kids under 3 years.

Sep 05, 2007 02:12 PM
Laurie Mindnich
Centennial, CO
I had ants, too- it forced me to balance any plates used on the coffeemaker, as an ant on my plate makes me sick.  I thought about just blowing up the house altogether to get rid of them, but that seemed a bit dramatic.  The ant "hotels" did a bit of damage to the enemy, but the Raid was the clincher.  I still, however, balance the plate on the coffeemaker, because there could be a sneaky invader hanging out...
Sep 07, 2007 01:30 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon
If you can't afford the exterminator, try WD40! This stuff is amazing! I had ants and after hearing this, I thought I would try it. You just follow the trail of ants and spray away the whole time. Then wipe them up! I haven't had ants in over a year, since doing this!
Sep 07, 2007 05:11 PM
Sharon "Toni" Brown
Exit Realty United - South Ozone Park, NY
South Ozone Park - New York City Real Estate
No useful suggestion here.  I basically clean their trail with bleach and that runs them and me out of the area.  Loved this post and still laughing as I comment.  Jay, the missile and AK47 comment rolled me on the floor.
Sep 08, 2007 04:07 AM
Gary J. Rocks
Juba Team Realty - Jefferson Township, NJ

Jonathan

Sounds like you have some time on your hands, if they are getting into your house try cleaning the house, I don't mean this as an insult but make sure you don't have particles of food on the floor or anything else that will attract them.

Pet food containers should be air tight, take pure white vinegar and apply it to the doors entry ways just a misting will do. Find the colony dig a large entry hole and a exit hole make sure they connect and make sure it is in the middle of the ant colony.

Fill the hole with kerosene and lighter fluid, stand back and light it, the kerosene will burn slower than gas and the lighter fluid will help with ignition and too slow the flame.

Burning them out leaves a residue behind and the ants will know its not safe to come back, for those who survive.

Sep 08, 2007 08:35 AM
Sarah Cooper
Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

Who knew getting ants could be such an adventure?!  I actually read your post out loud to my family, and that does NOT happen often!  (They are not so easily amused as I am.)  

I can't wait for your reports from the field.  Carry on, soldier. 

Sep 08, 2007 09:07 AM
John Evarts
Classic Property Management of Santa Clarita - Santa Clarita, CA
Jon, nice! You just learned about 6 new things to tell tenants that call with ants. Ok, now write one about the never-working garbage disposal.
Sep 11, 2007 04:25 PM
JANNA HELMICK
ALLEGIANCE REALTY - Lawton, OK

Is'nt it crazy how ants just come out of the woodworks for a crumb?  I say blow em up!  Thanks for the posting, this is my favorite group.  j

Sep 11, 2007 04:39 PM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging

Well, Jonathan, I just have to raise my hand and offer my two cents....my two GREEN cents.

I have never had a pest infestation, so I can't personally affirm anything that lies herein, but I do respect this woman's blog and the work she does.  For what it's worth, meet Debra Lynn Dadd and her (and her readers') GREEN PEST SOLUTIONS.

Cheers! from DC...

   Jaynee

Sep 12, 2007 12:18 PM