Dealing with rodents can be expensive not to mention gross!  While dealing with a rodent problem at one of my rental homes I learned that rats have been particularly bad this year in Lacey and Tumwater.  I thought it would be great to post some helpful tips on keeping your home pest free.

• Keep all pet food off the ground and in sealed containers.  Once you see that your pet has eaten pick up the dish.  Rodents love to hoard pet food.  A garbage can with a tight lid is a great way to store it.

• Make sure all trash receptacle areas remain closed.  If you keep your trash under the sink or in a closet make sure those doors close properly.

• Keep your garbage to a minimum.  If you have to take a few trips to the dump before your weekly garbage pickup it is well worth it.  Nothing is more attractive to a rodent than an over flowing trash can.

• Make sure your crawl space cover fits properly and is in good repair.

• Make sure all your crawl space vents have screens.  The cable guys love to knock these off while running your cable.

• Keep all food off the ground.  Just because you have room on the floor of your pantry that doesn’t mean you should store food there.  Use these areas for non food items.

• Keep your lawn and landscaping neat and clean.  Cut back vegetation that gives rodents shelter and food.

 Share this information with your neighbors.  If your neighbors have rodents they will be coming to your house next!

Sharp Contracting LLC, Formerly Sharp and Sharp Holdings LLC, has developed a new business model and is offering its contracting services to Realtors in the Thurston County Washington area.

Sharp and Sharp Holdings (Contracting) has been doing business in conjunction with Phil Sharp Homes for several years; investing in residential real estate, remodeling and “flipping” properties owned by SSHLLC, as well as Phil’s investor clients.

Sharp Contracting is a full service general contractor, offering whole house remodels and additions, Kitchen and Bath remodeling, Window, siding and door replacement etc.

Sharp Contracting also does work order and inspection repairs at competitive prices for fellow real estate agents in the area.

Custom Construction Large Remodel Kitchens and Baths Ceramic and Stone Tile Windows, Doors and Siding Interior and Exterior Painting Decks, Concrete and Gazebos Shops, Barns and Garages Full Demolition/Disposal Service   Light Utility Work Trenching, Digging

Click on the Photos above, or visit our website; Olympia General Contractor.com

I just read an article by Rich Jacobson, on Active Rain, about Hazardous waste (Paint) disposal in Kitsap County.  It appears that they have gotten a clue up north and decided that it made sense to allow people to dispose of HAZMAT at their landfill, rather than what happens here on the backside of Ft. Lewis.

Having spent some time cleaning up the backside of Ft. Lewis in my day, it always infuriated me that Thurston County made the rules (and cost) of disposing hazardous materials such that many people take the low road, and leave a mess for others to clean up…across the county.  Yes, you can currently take it to the landfill, but take your checkbook.

I plan to point out Kitsap County’s “free” turn in to the manager of our landfill, and hope to be pleasantly surprised.   I have been down the road of trying to dispose of a tractor tire (no matter how much I was willing to pay, they wouldn’t take it), and paint (I seem to recall $6.00 per pound).  I even pointed out that some would dump the tire in the woods if we didn’t make things easier…point not taken.  (The tire is now yard art, I plan to leave it to my kids).

If anyone would like to comment or has any insight on this I would love to hear about it; if not, those of us who can afford the landfill (and the headaches) will continue to go there, and everyone else will continue to go to Ft. Lewis, or possibly your back yard.