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A Property Manager’s Guide to Dealing with Wasps

Jensen Wasp Nest on Home ExteriorIf in case you are like other people, you do not at all like stinging insects. But still, as a Jensen rental property owner, dealing with wasps is also a serious safety issue. Whereas wasps have a kind of bloated reputation for aggressiveness, a single wasp sting can lead to hazards that range from allergic reactions to being attacked by an entire swarm. This is furthermore certain and true if you disturb a wasp nest, either intentionally or by accident. If you determine there is a would-be wasp problem on your rental property, your best course of action is to deal with it immediately – and in the right way. To take care of wasps, you have various options before you. Which one you choose to do will depend on how big your wasp problem has become.

One of the most effective means to deal with wasps is to keep them off your rental property from the start. You can embark on this by knowing where wasp nests are likely to occur and taking steps to keep them at bay. Wasps tend to build nests in the protected nooks and crannies around your rental property, like under the eaves, in a shed, or inside a wall. Wasps can also live in trees or even in the ground.

To push wasps away from your property, try using one or more known wasp repellents on your property’s exterior surfaces. Studies have shown that the right combination of essential oils can keep wasps away. Particularly, a mixture of clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils sprayed around eaves, ledges, and crevices can drive wasps away.

On the actual and practical side of things, you can prevent wasps from congregating around your property by sealing off things they are drawn to, such as trash bins and cracks around windows and doors. Wasps are attracted to places with abundant food sources. One of those sources is exposed trash or compost mounds. Thus by advising your tenants to keep all garbage bins tightly closed and telling them to avoid composting, you can considerably lower the number of wasps around your rental property. You can similarly keep wasps out of interior spaces by regularly checking for and sealing up cracks, holes, or other entry points in the exterior.

As you’re working on sealing up potential entry points, it’s important to check for wasps that may have already gotten inside. If you notice wasps buzzing in the area, try to trace them back to the source. Killing individual wasps won’t help if there is a nest around. Just in case you do find a small wasp nest, it’s important to deal with it right away. The nuisance will only grow the longer the nest is there. One practice that has been seen to be excellent is to spray the nest and the wasps with a mixture of dish soap and water. The soap makes it impossible for the wasps to breathe, quickly eliminating them from the property. You can moreover procure sprays designed to kill individual wasps or draw them away from the house by installing a baited trap located quite far away.

Despite that these measures are generally effective for small numbers of wasps, large nests are another matter. Do not try to remove a large nest by yourself. Never hit or knock down a wasp nest, even if you think there aren’t any wasps inside. This is also true for spraying it with water or burning it. Both are horrible recommendations. Disturbing a wasp nest will result in an angry swarm of stinging insects that will attack you and any individual that’s close. If you or your tenants find a large nest on the property, make sure everyone knows to stay away from it and call a professional without delay. Even though wasps are generally not aggressive if left alone when provoked, they are known to cause serious injury or even death. With such definite dangers and risks, it’s vital to place confidence in a professional to remove the wasps safely and effectively.

Have you found the perfect investment home but need the perfect property management company? Reach out to Real Property Management Uintah. Contact us online or feel free to call us at 801-889-1517.

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