Attack of the Creepy Crawlies

Today’s Wiki Wednesday Feature: Bugs Be Gone

It’s summertime. And for most people, that means backyard barbecues, family vacations, and just plain enjoying the sunshine. (Here in Seattle, it’s finally starting to look like summer.) But what else does it mean? Bugs. (Cue the scary music and bloodcurdling scream.) Yep, summer means lots of creepy creatures climbing out of the woodwork — and into your house. Just yesterday, I escorted a gargantuan spider out of my kitchen. Man, those suckers move fast!

In my daily cruise through the Real Estate Guide, I came across Bugs Be Gone, a helpful little article created by the folks at Quicken Loans. The article outlines a number of ways for you to keep these unwelcome guests out of your house, including making sure you don’t have dirt or firewood piled against the siding of your house or fence (it’s heaven for termites) and keeping your food in sealed containers and your kitchen spotless (to keep ants out). The article also recommends repelling bees by ensuring that any wood on the exterior of your home is finished or painted. It’s a good reminder to keep up on those repairs that you’ve been meaning to get to. Otherwise, you could have a bigger problem on your hands — or more likely, many problems with many little legs.

Another truly icky issue that I keep seeing in the news is the current bedbug outbreak that’s sweeping the country. According to this San Francisco Chronicle article, there are bedbug outbreaks in all 50 states, and pest control companies nationwide reported a 71 percent increase in bedbug calls in recent years. These little buggers, which bite and suck the blood of unsuspecting victims as they sleep, are extremely difficult to exterminate once you have them. Yikes — don’t let those bedbugs bite!

Ed: Wiki Wednesdays is a weekly feature that highlights helpful or interesting articles from the Real Estate Guide.