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How to get rid of ants with three ingredients

Once they enter, it’s hard getting them to leave. Once they find something they love, they invite the whole clan in to enjoy it.

You can use the following simple household ingredients to take on the army.

1. Sugar

2. Water

3.Borax.

Be warned though, these traps are not safe to consume so keep them away from kids and pets!

 Create the trap!

 In a small bowl, mix 3 tablespoons of sugar with 1 tablespoon of borax. Take it easy with the borax as the ants won’t take the bait if it’s overpowering.

Separate the mixture into 2-3 containers – make sure they’re sealable!

With a dropper to teaspoon, drop a few drops of water into each container. You want a paste like consistency, so add the water slowly. Stir until it’s     the consistency of maple syrup.

Seal the lids tightly, and then pierce small holes into the lid so ants can     crawl in.

 Once they have crawled in, they will take the borax back to the nest and eventually, the borax will take care of the entire colony.

 Now that the ants have been taken care of, let’s stop more from entering your home with these easy prevention tips.

An easy way to do this is to half fill a spray bottle with vinegar, and the rest with water. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid and shake. Spray this where the ants used to be seen or are entering your home.

 Easy ways to stop ants:

Keep pet food off the floor, or create a moat by putting the bowl on a saucepan and filling with water creating a moat.

Never leave food scraps laying around, especially the sweet ones. Wipe down any food, sauce or sweet condiments before putting them away.

Rinse recyclables or Tupperware containers before storing.

Spray the same vinegar and water mixture mentioned above in your bin each time you replace the liner.

With these tips, you’ll have the army in a retreat in no time!

[agentbradstewart-blog]

5 Tips to keep cockroaches at bay

Every Summer, cockroaches seem to find their way into our homes and always at the most inconvenient of times. Below are some practical tips to help you rid them forever.

Unfortunately cockroaches are a reality of urban life; you are not alone if these creepy little critters gross you out! Follow these below tips to best prepare yourself against roaches.

1. Natural

Boric acid & diatomaceous earth are winners when it comes to killing roaches at home. Take three parts boric acid powder and mix thoroughly with one part sugar and sprinkle this mixture where the roaches frequent – think cupboards, in the pantry and in the laundry.

Keep Boric acid away from little feet and paws, however diatomaceous earth is non toxic and non carcinogenic.

 2. Seal cracks and holes

If you’re enjoying apartment living, especially an older block or complex, you’re likely having visits from cockroaches attracted by the less than hygenic standards of some of your neighbours. By using silicone or a no-more-gaps type product to seal any holes or cracks you may have can help prevent the unwelcome creepy crawlies.

 3. Fix water leaks

A little known fact is that cockroaches can survive up to a month without food, but only up to a fortnight without water!

Dry up the water source by checking and fixing all the leaks in your home. Wipe down bathtubs, kitchen sinks and wring out dish-cloths and tea towels after use.

4. Be clean!

Pests and roaches in particular love dark, greasy grimy areas. If your kitchen displays the following, get cleaning!

Stove or cooker spills

Greasy kitchen appliances

Crumbs & small food scraps

Open food

Dirty dishes

Open pet food

Open bins

If you clean your kitchen as you go, store all food in airtight containers and empty your household rubbish nightly, you greatly improve your chances of having a cockroach-friendly environment.

 5. Bring in the big guns

If all else fails, it’s time to call a reliable pest control company to come and spray your home. Before this is done, ensuring your property is clean and not roach-friendly will help keep them at bay.

Many treatments are toxic and can be harmful, however there are some non-toxic products out there. Speak to your pest control expert for the solution that is best for you.

When trying to get rid of roaches, there is no one size fits all approach – a combination of all the above points helps achieve the best result.

Keep your eye out for next week’s blog where we talk about 3 simple ways we can keep ants at bay!

[agentbradstewart-blog]

5 things to do before you list your property for sale.

1. Consider your timing

As selling your property for it’s maximum value is the goal, it’s important to understand seasonal and economic factors that cause the market to cool at certain times of the year. Times like Easter, school holidays, EOFY and Christmas are times where the market usually slows while people are away on holidays or are pre-occupied with other things. Each market does respond differently to these times of year and a great agent will be able to assist you in timing your sale correctly.

 2. Speak to a mortgage expert

Buy before you sell or sell before you buy? To bridge or not to bridge? How long does it take for your bank to assess and approve loans? What can you afford? Knowing these factors will help you save time and will ensure you are looking for the correct properties in your price range. Being finance ready will also allow you to pull the trigger when you find the perfect property.

 3. Speak to a Solicitor/Conveyancer

The contract of sale needs to be prepared before any agent can speak to or market your property to any potential buyer. Preparing a contract can take in some instances 7-14 days depending on your local council.

4. Select an Agent

Naturally, this is the most important part of the process as the agent will have a direct impact on the end result. Choosing an agent based on commission or marketing costs is usually a recipe for disaster. An agent should be chosen for their processes, sales strategy, marketing and negotiation skills. An agent with a great profile in the region you are selling in is also very important. More listings equals more inspections which equals meeting more buyers each week.  

 5. Prepare the home for sale

Ensuring you property is presented well is key as buyers in this market are quick to dismiss properties on appearance. Please see my previous blog – 5 tips to prepare your home for sale.

[agentbradstewart-blog]

5 ways to present your home for sale

In a market where value is at the core of buyer behaviour, one key thing you can do to make sure your property is seen in the best light is to ensure it’s presented correctly.

Human nature tells us that a buyer will first look at a property logically, before the emotions kick in – and it can only take a few seconds for a buyer to fall in love – or dismiss your property based on it’s appearance.

There are a few key things to ensure your property is presented in it’s best light for sale;

1.       De-Clutter!

Whilst you may be living in your home while it’s on the market, ensuring that any un necessary or unused items are packed away is important.  Personal photos, trinkets and other effects should also be packed away as a buyer may find it difficult to imagine themselves in your home.  The simple rule of thumb here is, if you don’t need it for day to day life – pack it away!

2.       Clean

It goes without saying, ensuring your property is as clean as a whistle is a given. Pay attention to stoves, range hoods, vents, cobwebs and other areas to give buyers the impression that the property has been well looked after and maintained.

3.       Repair

Some instances may call for quick and easy spruce ups – ensuring paint and flooring are in great condition are key. Create the impression that a buyer can just ‘move in’ always helps.  Ensuring that the property is in a neutral color palette is also critical, as loud and very personalised tastes don’t suit everyone!

4.       Style

Consistency and simplicity are key when styling a home for sale. The less is more approach here is very important and giving each room a light, bright, homely feel will make it easy for buyers to imagine themselves living in the home. Professional styling is definitely worth the investment should the property be empty.

5.       Don’t forget outside!

Buyers will make a judgement of your property before they even get out of their car, so ensuring your properties kerb appeal is at it’s maximum is one of the most important things you can do. Ensuring windows, bricks, driveways and paint are clean as well as the lawns freshly mowed and gardens are in great condition are very important. Buyers will imagine driving into the driveway as part of the emotive side of the purchasing process, so ensuring the front and back yards are manicured is crucial.