When you live in your own home, there are many maintenance tasks you should take care of to protect your investment and to help it build value each year. Over time, a property with shared walls and shared common areas with other residents, such as a townhouse or condominium, can have pest problems that will usually occur between units and transfer through many of the common areas. Here are some recommendations to help you keep your townhome free of pests and the damaging activity that they can cause if your home experiences this type of issue.
Understand Your HOA's Regulations
As a homeowner and a resident of the HOA community, it is your responsibility to understand many of the HOA's rules and regulations surrounding your property and your interest in its value. You pay your HOA dues each month and the HOA, in turn, is responsible for maintaining the specific areas and coverage they have outlined in their agreement. When you buy an HOA-managed property, you should always get to know the restrictions so you don't get in trouble with the HOA, but the HOA should also keep up on their end of maintenance, including pest control.
Talk to your HOA or read through the CC&Rs, which are the property's covenants, conditions, and restrictions, and they will tell you in detail what part of the pest control the HOA will cover. You might find that the HOA is responsible for handling pests that are within the walls between units or in the attic space. They may also be responsible for cleaning out pest problems outside and around the property, including in the clubhouse, playground, swimming pool, and any other common areas on the property. Pest control can include dealing with many types of pests, such as wasps, fire ants, mice, cockroaches, spiders, and rats. The HOA should provide a regular pest control service to these areas and also provide you with the option to have your unit treated at your own cost.
Do Your Part
As a responsible homeowner, you want to take advantage of in-home pest control treatments to help the battle against pests that come from exterior sources. When you are constantly taking preventative action against pests, it is easier to keep them away. You can arrange a monthly, quarterly, or seasonal pest control treatment for the interior of your home and around door frames and windows. Do your part by cleaning your home to avoid piles of papers and debris that can harbor pests. Clean up food and drink spills to avoid attracting mice, ants, and cockroaches, as it is easier to do so than to hire pest control to exterminate them once they are inside your home and have done damage.
For more information on HOA pest control, contact your HOA to see what pest control services they offer.
Share22 April 2022
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