Roof Rats And Other Creepy Things Invading Your Home?

By Nancy Minor

EEK !!! Noisy, smelly squeaky things in the attic. ? It may be squirrels or even worse it might be rats. No matter which, they are not good visitors to have. 

I have learned over the last few years that rats have created their own urban flight. In the past, many considered rats to be an inner city problem but they are now a universal problem and one you need to be aware of if you are buying and or selling. 

I do not remember rats even being a word used when I first started selling real estate. Rodent problems are now mentioned in about 25 percent of our inspections.

Our neighborhood designs and close proximity of homes makes it easy for these varmints to travel. Our homes are not constructed to prevent entry by critters so many homeowners have already had to deal with squirrels who have taken up residence in their house. 

Now they have company. Roof rats are becoming a community concern. Our larger population and our increased amount of garbage are providing havens for the nasty rat community.

People always thought rats mean dirty, filthy lifestyles. That is not what rats mean today. Rats travel in packs and are looking for shelter, food and water supply. 

Roof rats come home at night after a busy day searching for water and food. They go to their nest in your attic.  During the night they explore and search for water sources. Rats can be heard in the walls and the attic in cleanest of homes.

Selling your home is not easy when you have squatters. You may think they are gone but it is said, “for every one rat you know about there are 10 on the prowl that you do not see or hear.” A mama rat can produce 200 offspring in a two-year period. 

If you think, or know you have had squirrels, rats or bats in your belfry then call an exterminator or an expert in pest removal. It is not cheap but it will most likely help you to sell your home in the future. Be able to document that your visitors have made an exit because they may have left a trail that any good home inspector can spot.

The exterminators or pest removal experts will help eliminate the unwanted guests and then will secure your home against future invasions. It is very important that you also have someone who can eliminate animal feces. The feces dries up and then is absorbed in the air. Rat experts say diseases carried by rats are spread in rat urine as well.  

Once removed, how can you prevent their return? A barrier can be created around the home. A fine wire mesh is inserted at entry points from the basement to the attic.

What attracts these pest? The experts say that dog food left out and bird seed are popular targets of these critters.

And during the fall these pest are looking for a warm place to stay.

This is not a pleasant topic but appropriate few weeks before Halloween. Do not give these critters a hiding place or food to eat that may create a selling nightmare in the future.

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