Need a Recommendation for a Roach Exterminator
I have a ten unit building in PS. There is no infestation but a hugh roach is popping up fairly frequently. Two tenants have complained, and one is phobic about it. Threatening to move out if something is not done “immediately”. I see one in the basement sometimes. Is an exterminator a one time thing…
I have a ten unit building in PS. There is no infestation but a hugh roach is popping up fairly frequently. Two tenants have complained, and one is phobic about it. Threatening to move out if something is not done “immediately”. I see one in the basement sometimes.
Is an exterminator a one time thing or does he have to come on a regular basis?
How much does it cost?
Any recs?
Palmetto bugs. Have an exterminator treat the place as recommended by slopegirl and follow up by putting down a bunch of mouse sticky traps in your basement/cellar (they’re attracted to them). Follow up by replacing the stickly traps about once per month. Also, check that you don’t have any leaky pipes. In this season it’s definitely water they’re looking for. In winter, heat seems to be sought.
We used Bob’s Pest Control this spring, I think it was $75 to spray the 4-story building + cellar. We did it as preventative. He was very nice and lives in the neighborhoood.
Bob’s Pest Control:
602 5th Street Brooklyn, NY 11215-3504 – (718) 768-6430
Our 4-unit building uses Orkin. We pay them about $300-350 (can’t remember exactly) per year and they come quarterly to spray/put traps wherever we want (which is usually just in the basement). We’ve never had a single small roach anywhere, and only the occasional waterbug (cringe!) in the basement and garden-level apartment. In addition, that contract allows us to call them to come do additional treatments anytime in between the regular quarterly visits at no extra charge. So if, for example, we see that pesky waterbug in the basement several days in a row, we call them in to do their magic, and that’s always eliminated the problem immediately. Money well well spent!
Tenant issues aside, if you’re going to call an exterminator I’d recommend Mario of Bravo Exterminators. He serviced my 5 storey (incl basement) row house a few months ago for a couple hundred bucks. There have been basically no roach sightings until last week which, I assume, is because of the heat/season. Anyway, great guy, very knowledgeable and professional. I got his name/number off this forum: 212-465-7579
We’ve been seeing waterbugs in the basement lately too. 2 or 3 of them over the last couple weeks. Maybe because it hasn’t rained very much this Summer and they’re going searching for moisture indoors?
I agree with Pete, let her move out. Nobody is ever thrilled to see roaches or waterbugs but to have a major freakout over sightings of roaches anywhere in NYC? Too much weirdness. That’s a sign of major entitlement. Everybody in NYC can and does have roaches occasionally but just not her because she’s special or something.
Combat makes bait traps for waterbugs – seem to work pretty well. I think they’re basically inescapable due to the fact that, yes, they fly (eeeew! Had one that flew in my bedroom a while ago – so horrible!), and when they don’t they do like to hang out in basements. Fortunately, they usually aren’t numerous; it’s more the ick factor than anything.
And, BTW, it seems that cockroaches may provide new antibiotics – http://bk.ly/tQm So maybe tell your tenant to start eating them to boost her immune system.
If I had tenant like that, I’d be happy if she moved.
Sounds to me what you are describing is often called water bugs. They are attracted to moist areas.
Sorry, don’t know any exterminators….but once in awhile I just set off one of those ‘bombs’ in the basement..can be bought most any hardware store.
Yea I do want to get them off my back – the two tenants, I mean. Especially the phobic one. She just moved into this apartment from one upstairs. She was living in that one for ten months and saw a total of three roaches. For each sighting she flipped out.
BTW, the two apartments are the two on the ground floor (right above the basement). I have noticed recently a few huge roaches in the basement. Maybe I can get an exterminator to just deal with the basement and the two apartments.
I would appreciate a rec.
If your tenants see a mega sized roach like you describe, there is less to be worried about. The big boys can fly, and they do. They likely came in through a window. A thorough coating of Raid Max in the blue and silver can at all baseboards and threshholds is sufficient to take care of that. It’s when you discover a bunch of baby roaches scurrying about that you need to worry – it’s the sign of an infestation requiring repeated spraying or the services of an exterminator. But, if you want to shut up your tenants, then go for a regular (monthly) extermination contract. I’ll leave it to others to recommend a company.