Keeping your residents happy is the most important thing community managers can do to improve resident retention. When pests take over, this alone can be enough to drive even your most loyal residents away. We at OccupancySolutions.com want to help community managers to better maintain happy residents, and this means getting on top of any common resident pain points – like pests.

Pests can refer to a lot of different critters depending on where your community is located, but a few tips can help community management teams to stay ahead of pests no matter which ones they’re dealing with:

  • Carry out regular inspections – If your community maintenance team carries out regular inspections of residences, communal spaces, and the general property, they should include pest checks within their inspection lists. Pests of all kinds like to leave their mark, and seeing those signs early can help to make sure any presence is brief. Training maintenance staff on the signs of common pests can help them to better understand just what they’re looking for.
  • Manage trash quickly – What we may see as a dumpster or disposal area many pests see as an opportunity for a meal. Managing and maintaining trash facilities or receptacles around your community can help to make your space less attractive to pests looking for “supplies”. 
  • Keep up with landscaping – While some may think that overgrown vegetation or wild green spaces look rustic or serene, pests see these areas as a perfect new home. Keeping up with regular landscaping and taking care of piles of leaves, fallen branches, ponding water, and tall grasses helps to make your community look less attractive to pests in search of a space to settle in.
  • Respond to pest issues promptly – If pest issues do arise, it’s important that any resident complaints are taken seriously and handled promptly. Time is the biggest contributing factor between a nuisance pet presence and a full infestation.

Keeping pests out of your community is critical to keeping residents safe, healthy, and happy within their homes. To learn more about practical factors contributing to resident retention, contact us at OccupancySolutions.com today.