Real Property Management Executives Greater Atlanta

A Property Manager’s Guide to Dealing with Wasps

It is highly likely that you, like most people, detest stinging insects. However, as an Alpharetta rental property owner, dealing with wasps also becomes a very serious safety concern. Although wasps have a somewhat exaggerated reputation for aggressiveness, a single wasp sting can lead to hazards that range from allergic reactions to being attacked by an entire swarm. Disturbing a wasp nest accidentally or on purpose can also lead to an attack. Should your rental property have a potential wasp problem, you must immediately act on it. Here are some options for dealing with wasps. Your choice would depend on how big your wasp problem is.

It is best to, first of all, keep wasps away from your rental place. You can begin by identifying areas that wasps nest in and take steps to keep them at bay. Wasps usually make 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 nest in trees on even in the ground.

You can also use wasp repellents on your property’s exterior surfaces to keep wasps away from your property. Some studies indicate that the right combination of essential oils can effectively keep wasps away. In particular, a mixture of clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils sprayed around eaves, ledges, and crevices can keep wasps away.

Wasps like trash bins and cracks around windows and doors. Sealing these off could help keep your property free from wasps. Wasps congregate where food sources are. Exposed trash and compost mounds are some of these sources. Ask your tenants to keep your rental property clean by closing all garbage bins and avoiding composting. Doing so will help bring down the wasp population. You can also keep wasps out of interior spaces by regularly checking for and sealing up cracks, holes, or other entry points in the exterior.

In addition to sealing potential entry points, you should also check for wasps that might already be inside your rental home. Should you notice wasps buzzing around, try tracing them back to the source. It is useless to kill individual wasps if their nest still remains. In case you manage to locate a small wasp nest, you should deal with it right away. You will continue having a wasp problem if you just leave the nest alone. A proven tip makes use of a mixture of dish soap and water to spray on the nest and the wasps. The wasps will have a hard time breathing because of the soap, quickly ridding your property of them. Some stores also sell sprays that target individual wasps. You can also draw them away from the house by setting up a baited trap far from the property.

Bear in mind that these methods are generally effective for a small number of wasps. You need a different approach for dealing with large nests. Do not try to remove a large nest by yourself. Never hit or knock down a wasp nest, even when you don’t think there are any wasps inside. Burning it or spraying it with water won’t help either. These are not good ideas. Disturbing a wasp nest will result in an angry swarm of stinging insects that will attack you and anyone else nearby. If your tenants find a large nest on your property, caution them to stay away and call a professional immediately. Wasps are usually not aggressive when left alone. When provoked, however, they can inflict serious injury or even death. With these risks, it is best to call on a professional to remove wasps safely.

Have you found the perfect investment home but need the perfect property management company? Reach out to Real Property Management Executives Greater Atlanta. Contact us online or give us a call at 678-765-8383.