In order for any building to be successful in pest management, all critters must be considered: roaches, bedbugs, and mice, pests both seen and un-seen.

Let’s face it, no one wants to talk about pests except for pest control professionals or other such enthusiasts, and the topic is largely unwelcome in most multi-family dwellings unless you’re speaking of ongoing maintenance. The first step to success comes when either you or your residents see, feel, or smell something out of the ordinary. This is the time to look further for signs of a problem. A problem is confirmed when the residents see roaches on the wall, feel the bite of a bedbug, or find mice droppings. What you hope happens next is the resident sounds the alarm and

reports the issue or sighting. If residents hesitate or don’t report the problem at all, it is often due to fear of unknown charges, embarrassment over perceptions of housekeeping and/or living conditions, or they may have developed a cultural or social economic tolerance for pests. After all, pests don’t bother everybody.

Communication is key to encouraging residents to do their part in successfully keeping the community pest-free. As a manager or unit owner, it is important to share guidelines for transferring or receiving used furniture. The guidelines should explain how alternative living arrangements such as travel, or multiple hotel stays, or even room sharing and frequent guests, can bring unwanted pests into their home. If you are renting your unit, you could provide a rider to your lease with specific guidelines for reporting pests. Some municipalities have very specific requirements of landlords for bedbug issues. If you are a community manager, it is helpful to include the information in your orientation information or welcome packet. In all instances, it’s a great idea to give some examples of what you want reported and be specific. If you say please report

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