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Just moved here from the West Coast, and we really like it here. Beautiful, green, slower paced, lower cost of living, nice people, etc. However, the bugs.... I don't mind bugs when they are outside, but when they come inside, it is another story. I'm wondering if what we are experiencing is normal. I don't think it is....
We moved to a townhouse apartment backing on woods, which may have been our first mistake. The first night here, we found 2-3 cockroaches upstairs (all windows and door closed). These were pretty big, so I don't think they were German Cockroaches. A few evenings later we found a big one (~1.5 inches long) in the hallway, one slightly smaller one on our bedroom wall, and two on the carpet in the upstairs bedroom. I told management, and they are going to have pest control come tomorrow.
Last night, we found a big 1.5-2 inch one in our upstairs hallway, another big one in the bathroom, a smaller one in another bathroom, and this morning, the cat was playing with a smaller one (~1 inch long) in our bedroom. Ugh.
I know these big ones generally find their way in from outside, and they ARE running all over outside. These apartments have a lot of crevices and openings where I imagine they are making their way in. We would like to buy a house in a few months, and I just want to get an idea if seeing this many cockroaches inside is normal. From my reading, I don't think it is. I think it is normal to occasionally see one, but not several 1-2 times a week.
Yeah, seems like there are an excessive number where you are. It's normal to see one here or there but not handfuls a week. I'd call a pest control company to spray personally, maybe your landlord would be willing to do this.
Just moved here from the West Coast, and we really like it here. Beautiful, green, slower paced, lower cost of living, nice people, etc. However, the bugs.... I don't mind bugs when they are outside, but when they come inside, it is another story. I'm wondering if what we are experiencing is normal. I don't think it is....
We moved to a townhouse apartment backing on woods, which may have been our first mistake. The first night here, we found 2-3 cockroaches upstairs (all windows and door closed). These were pretty big, so I don't think they were German Cockroaches. A few evenings later we found a big one (~1.5 inches long) in the hallway, one slightly smaller one on our bedroom wall, and two on the carpet in the upstairs bedroom. I told management, and they are going to have pest control come tomorrow.
Last night, we found a big 1.5-2 inch one in our upstairs hallway, another big one in the bathroom, a smaller one in another bathroom, and this morning, the cat was playing with a smaller one (~1 inch long) in our bedroom. Ugh.
I know these big ones generally find their way in from outside, and they ARE running all over outside. These apartments have a lot of crevices and openings where I imagine they are making their way in. We would like to buy a house in a few months, and I just want to get an idea if seeing this many cockroaches inside is normal. From my reading, I don't think it is. I think it is normal to occasionally see one, but not several 1-2 times a week.
Thoughts, kind people?
Palmetto bugs (big cockroaches, basically... that can fly) really love to try to get indoors on hot summer evenings. That you live so close to woods is a factor. If you lived close to water, too, that would be another factor. Do you ever open the windows?
I think the pest control is a good plan, but sometimes, they just try to get inside in some areas. These are not the type that'll lay a bunch of eggs and multiply in your home, though.
Still, they're icky, so I empathize.
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Thanks for the replies so far. I figured it wasn't normal. Pest control is coming tomorrow, and I hope that eliminates some of the problem. There are also unsealed areas behind the toilets and showers (the plates that cover the area where the pipes come in to the apartment are loose and not caulked). I doubt openings behind washer/dryer, fridge, stove, dishwasher, etc, are sealed. This whole thing might just speed up our plans to buy. And, I think I understand why so many houses have cleared grass around their property.
Oh, and to answer if we had any doors/windows open. No, we haven't. We rush in when we open the front door so we don't let in the critters. And, most of the roaches we've seen inside have been upstairs....
Do you think if we see the same approximate number after the unit is treated once or twice by pest control, that it would be just cause to break the lease? As in, not having to pay the lease-breaking penalty?
Thanks for the replies so far. I figured it wasn't normal. Pest control is coming tomorrow, and I hope that eliminates some of the problem. There are also unsealed areas behind the toilets and showers (the plates that cover the area where the pipes come in to the apartment are loose and not caulked). I doubt openings behind washer/dryer, fridge, stove, dishwasher, etc, are sealed. This whole thing might just speed up our plans to buy. And, I think I understand why so many houses have cleared grass around their property.
Oh, and to answer if we had any doors/windows open. No, we haven't. We rush in when we open the front door so we don't let in the critters. And, most of the roaches we've seen inside have been upstairs....
Do you think if we see the same approximate number after the unit is treated once or twice by pest control, that it would be just cause to break the lease? As in, not having to pay the lease-breaking penalty?
Pest control should help.
I would not assume you need to break your lease right away.
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Thanks RedZin. I was panicky when I saw the first batch of 4-5 last week, then I settled down and thought it was a one off. When I saw the second "batch" last night, I got panicky again. And, my husband accidentally brought one in with the trash can. It went under the fridge, which we moved and tried to hit it with a shoe. It darted away under the dishwasher. I'm hoping the one the cat was playing with this morning was magically the same one.
Thanks RedZin. I was panicky when I saw the first batch of 4-5 last week, then I settled down and thought it was a one off. When I saw the second "batch" last night, I got panicky again. And, my husband accidentally brought one in with the trash can. It went under the fridge, which we moved and tried to hit it with a shoe. It darted away under the dishwasher. I'm hoping the one the cat was playing with this morning was magically the same one.
It may have been. See how it goes after the exterminator comes out.
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I would say that is excessive, we usually find 1-2 per month. I'd definitely contact a pest services company for quarterly service. Even with pest control, we still see 1 or two but if they start increasing in numbers we can call them in between services and they will spray for no charge.
Thanks again for all the replies. When we look at houses, any advice for what to look for to avoid this much of a problem in the future. Wooded vs. non wooded lots, age of house, etc.? When living in our own house, I'd like to limit use of pest control if possible. I understand it will likely be necessary periodically....
Thanks!
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Pest control is coming tomorrow, and I hope that eliminates some of the problem. There are also unsealed areas behind the toilets and showers (the plates that cover the area where the pipes come in to the apartment are loose and not caulked). I doubt openings behind washer/dryer, fridge, stove, dishwasher, etc, are sealed. This whole thing might just speed up our plans to buy. And, I think I understand why so many houses have cleared grass around their property. 
