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What to do with the only residents left in the house – FLEAS

By
Real Estate Agent with Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida

 

With the majority of houses on the market that are Bank-owned and Short Sales, the owners are forgetting to take the fleas with them.  I showed homes all week and could not keep the fleas from biting.  I tried mosquito spray, wearing socks under my slacks, wearing hose, and nothing worked.  My legs look like I have measles. With the houses being vacant for so long, all the other bugs and insects are usually dead except for spiders which I have no problem with for I don't disturb them.

One friend suggested I start taking Vitamin. B's, and of course I am willing to try anything.  Since the market is a long time away from changing, I need any suggestions or help you can give me.

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Sharon Richards
Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Sylvie - Thank you very much.  I will definitely be buying that spray, for this market here is overflowing with REO's.  BYW, Happy St. Patricks Day!

Mar 17, 2009 01:34 PM
Gail MacMillan
Titusville, FL

Hi Sharon:  Hope you're all better from your flea experience...like you really needed that!

Mar 24, 2009 03:13 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Sharon - We have very few fleas compared to Florida.

 

Thanks for your comments and compliment on my camel riding photo.  It was a cool experience.

Mar 30, 2009 05:28 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

In my listings I just throw in a pest bomb and close the door.  Seems to do the trick.  When it's some one else's listings.  I keep a bottle of pet bed flea spray in my car and if my clients and I get into a situation where we need it we spray our slacks and shoes and I also spray the carpet of my car when I am done for the day if I have encountered fleas.  Hope these suggestions work for you.  I actually carried home fleas to my cats from a house once.  I have been much more careful since.

Mar 30, 2009 08:30 AM
Sharon Richards
Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Tammy - Thank you so much!  I will be looking for the pet bed flea spray.  Last week I have to use the pest bomb for my car.  I do not want to bring the fleas home.  Thanks for your help.

Mar 30, 2009 03:14 PM
Sharon Richards
Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Norma -  Then California is looking better every day, I am so tired of fighting fleas. 

Mar 30, 2009 03:17 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

I can't stand fleas!  I scratch until it's raw...  oh, my...what to do for fleas? Bombs....real ones lol

Apr 07, 2009 04:28 PM
Sharon Richards
Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Sally - I agree - can't stand fleas.  But Tammy's suggestion on using the pet bed flea spray is really helping. 

Apr 07, 2009 04:38 PM
Gail MacMillan
Titusville, FL

Hi Sharon, where did you find the pet bed flea spray?  Simon disappeared for 5 days, I thought surely someone had taken him in.  Last night he showed up limping, one his back feet is injured.  He's hobbling around OK, so I'm keeping an eye on him.  He doesn't want it touched and I can't see anything obvious.  Poor guy, he's so happy to be back.  He was all full of sand, like he was hiding in a hole.  So sad!

Apr 09, 2009 12:54 AM
Matt Listro
National Credit Fixers - Matt Listro - Vernon, CT
Your Credit Repair Expert

Hi Sharon: Gotta say - you learn something new every day at ActiveRain!  I never would have thought of that as a potential problem for Realtors. WOW - and ouch!

:)

Apr 10, 2009 07:29 PM
Toula Rosebrock
Diane Turton, Realtors, Forked River, NJ - Lacey Township, NJ
Broker/Sales Associate, Realtor, Lacey Township,

ToulaRosebrock.comHi Sharon:

OH...fleas....they love me too.

I heard something about taking lots of garlic.

But you need to Flea Bomb the properties.

 

Apr 11, 2009 01:01 AM
Sharon Richards
Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Matt - Thanks for stopping by.

Toula - Yes, I am using the flea bombs, but the flea spray is also working.

Apr 14, 2009 03:53 PM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

Having three indoor cats, I understand about battling fleas.  It sounds like you are more sensitive to them than I am.....good luck!

Apr 16, 2009 03:05 AM
Sharon Richards
Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Ann - Thanks for stopping by.

Apr 16, 2009 12:05 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Sharon:  I feel your pain.  I used to look like i had the measles from a flea problem we had as a child.  Those darm things are hard to get rid of.  As for the bites, I think cortizone would be about all I could think of.

Apr 16, 2009 12:55 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Sharon, that's pretty bad with the fleas but with vacated pets and the people that don't clean up and a warm climate, it is probably just a natural.

Apr 17, 2009 03:32 PM
Sharon Richards
Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Chris Ann - Thanks for your help, I will try the cortisone.

Gary - On my own Reo's - I use the flea bombs, but the problem is with other Realtors listings.  

Apr 17, 2009 03:50 PM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Wowl look at the response!  Skin So Soft from Avon - rub it directly on skin :-)

May 02, 2009 06:00 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

This is one situation that I am hoping not to encounter.

May 24, 2009 02:11 PM
Sharon Richards
Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Margaret - Thanks for stopping by.

Liz - Thanks for the info!

May 26, 2009 12:52 PM