Like pretty much any aspect of vacation home ownership, waylaying a pest problem before it becomes an infestation can prevent a lot of headaches.  However, if you're one of the unfortunate souls who must deal with a full out infestation each year, here's an inventory of the most common household pests and how to get rid of them.

Cockroaches One of the most dreaded and loathsome of all household pests.  Cockroaches prefer to hideout in dark, damp areas and will eat pretty much anything (crumbs, glue, paper, plants, etc.). How to prevent them:  Caulk all openings in ground level walls.  Remove wet leaves from window sills.  Keep garbage receptacles out of moist areas where possible.  Keep all food in airtight, insect-proof containers and repair damp areas.  How to get rid of them: The most effective method is the combination of bait stations indoors and residual sprays along the perimeter of your home.
Fire ants A resilient and pesky import.  Fire ants are tough to prevent and even harder to get rid of. How to prevent them:  Apply bait each fall to help prevent a spring infestation. How to get rid of them: Use the “two-step method” of baits and mound treatments.
Carpenter ants The largest variety of common ants in North America.  These nocturnal insects nest in wood and move into homes with consistent food supplies.  (Carpenter bees are somewhat similar in that they burrow through wood but don't eat it.) How to prevent them:  Remove dead wood from exterior of home and do not store firewood indoors or against the house.  Keep tree limbs well trimmed and away from your roof.  Find and seal all cracks in the foundation of your house. How to get rid of them: Find the nest (also called a gallery) and spray aerosol or dust insecticide directly on it to kill the queen and effectively snuff the colony.  Once you've had an infestation, regularly spray a residual insecticide along the perimeter of your house to deter a repeat stay.
Sowbugs Rotten-wood-eating crustaceans (also known as roly-polys) that tend to hang out in dark, damp environments. How to prevent them: Keep your basement dry and well-ventilated.  Remove moisture-harboring materials such as firewood and grass clippings from the areas of your yard near your foundation. How to get rid of them:  Vacuum any area where you've seen a sowbug.  Treat the exterior perimeter of your home with a residual spray.
Earwigs One of the most common outdoor pests and ugly to boot.  How to prevent them:  Apply chemical treatment in June or July of each year along the foundation of the house, under porches, and around the base of trees and fences. How to get rid of them:  Reapply the chemical treatment once every two weeks.
Mosquitoes With the onslaught of mosquito-borne diseases each summer, it is imperative that you take measures to prevent and control these uncouth bloodsuckers. How to prevent them:  Remove their habitat by eliminating receptacles for standing water (bird baths, rain barrels, etc.).  Keep the water in swimming pools circulating and securely cover them when not in use.  Make sure that windows and screens are “bug tight.”  Replace outdoor lights with yellow “bug” lights. How to get rid of them:  Apply an ultra-low volume (ULV) adulticide spray.
Silverfish Appreciate warm temperatures and often frequent furnace rooms.  Silverfish are nocturnal and prefer to eat starchy materials likes wallpaper paste and glue, as well as paper. How to prevent them:  Don't leave old books and papers in warm, unventilated areas. How to get rid of them:  Cover small jars with masking tape, fill them with water, and leave them in the infested area.  The silverfish will crawl in and be unable to get out.  Then vacuum the area for eggs.
Termites The silent structure-killers.  They may prefer decaying wood, but have no qualms eating away at your healthy wood walls.  An infestation is indicated by ¼ to ½ inch tubes running from the soil to the homes interior. How to prevent them: When building a new house, pre-treat the soil with a termiticide before construction.  Do not allow wood, stucco, or other cellulose materials to touch the soil.  Check for excessive moisture. How to get rid of them: Contact a professional immediately.
Spiders These eight-legged spinsters have had hundreds of horror movies made about them for a reason—they're scary (and sometimes deadly). How to prevent them: Eliminate clutter in storage areas.  Frequently dust and vacuum around windows.  Keep the weeds trimmed along the foundation of your house. How to get rid of them: Vacuum all visible webs.  Apply a residual treatment to the perimeter of your home.
Fleas/Ticks These bloodsuckers are most often brought into your home by an animal.  If you don't allow pets in your rental, you've either had an unauthorized pet or worse--- a less domesticated mammal on the premises. How to prevent them: Don't allow pets or if you do require that all pets be treated with a flea control such as Advantage.  Pre-treat your home in the late spring before flea season. How to get rid of them: 1) Bomb the house with a growth inhibitor 2) Vacuum all carpets, rugs, and couches 3) Wash all bedding in hot water.
Squirrels Smarter than your average rodent and twice as big.  Squirrels like the warm confines of your attic and will make it their home if there is a constant supply of food. How to prevent them:  Remove food sources (i.e. bird seed).  Install gutter guards  and cover down spouts.  Also, try Squirrel Repellent Pouches.  How to get rid of them:  Live traps are the only way to remove a squirrel from your home.  Once captured relocated the animal 4-5 miles from your home.
Raccoons Highly intelligent and highly destructive.  Have one of these big boys move in and havoc will be wrought! How to prevent them:  Put screens over chimney flutes, close garage doors, keep garbage in closed containers, and keep tree limbs trimmed so that none hang over your roof. How to get rid of them:  Call a professional to set up traps—it is not a good idea to try to corner a raccoon on your own as they can be very vicious.
Mice They may be furry and cute in the pet store, but nothing will send a renter screaming like seeing a mouse in your rental home.  A female mouse can have up to eight litters of four or five mice, so unnoticed, they can take over in a hurry. How to prevent them: Screen the foundation of your home and the vent pipe on your roof with 1/4"mesh hardware cloth. How to get rid of them:  Use spring traps with bait such as peanut butter, cheese, bacon, or bread.

© Copyright 2006 HomeAway, Inc.

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