Susan Jefferson

How to get rid of wasps Wasps are one of the more unwelcome sights of the summer – buzzing menacingly around bins, the doors of your home and patio dining tables. While wasps have an important part to play in nature, they can also be a serious pest owing to their tendency to deliver multiple painful stings. As a result, the sight of wasps buzzing around your home or work premises is very often an unwelcome one - but be prepared as wasp season is due to get underway anytime now. Summer is officially wasp season with increasing numbers becoming apparent from May onwards. While August and September are usually the height of wasp season, wasps will become established from the very start of the warmer months. While wasps are excellent helpers in the fight to control plant-damaging insects for families they are certainly unwelcome in numbers. Plan ahead to avoid problems with wasps If you are concerned about the number of wasps that you are seeing around your home or business – or...

How to get rid of wasps Wasps are one of the more unwelcome sights of the summer – buzzing menacingly around bins, the doors of your home and patio dining tables. While wasps have an important part to play in nature, they can also be a serious pest owing to their tendency to deliver multiple painful stings. As a result, the sight of wasps buzzing around your home or work premises is very often an unwelcome one - but be prepared as wasp season is due to get underway anytime now. Summer is officially wasp season with increasing numbers becoming apparent from May onwards. While August and September are usually the height of wasp season, wasps will become established from the very start of the warmer months. While wasps are excellent helpers in the fight to control plant-damaging insects for families they are certainly unwelcome in numbers. Plan ahead to avoid problems with wasps If you are concerned about the number of wasps that you are seeing around your home or business – or...

Fair weather fiends or winter woes? How the weather might affect your need for Pest Services in Birmingham   There are times in the year when the threat of been invaded by bugs seems so ever-present it can leave us wishing for a change in the weather.    Pest control services in Birmingham are in demand throughout the year but seasonal changes can dictate, which unwanted visitors are making their way indoors.    Not surprisingly the weather has a major impact on insects and rodents that we hope would make their home outdoors rather than in the dark corners of our home or business.    How do the season s  affect pest services in Birmingham?   At any point in the year there is a chance you could find a pest in your home and need p est ser vices in Birm i ngham  but different weather brings different visitors.    Summer   The heat is a magnet for many insects and you travels further afield will have no doubt revealed how some larger insects thrive in the sunshine. Thanks to the G...

As the name suggests cluster flies are a problem due to their preference to gather in large numbers – but what do you do if they move into your home or business?   Cluster flies in themselves are not harmful to humans, so wh i le the thought of these insects making themselves at home in your house  or business  may be  unpleasant  they will not actually cause you any ill effects.    Looking like a normal housefly ,  expect for some tell-tale yellow hairs ,  cluster flies are slow mover s  that will fly languidly around your house and gather at the windows.    The main way in which they differ from other flying pests is that they are a problem in winter.   As heat - seekers  cluster flies  will appear on the side of homes or at windows as they aim to bask in the warm rays of the sun.    From here they will quite often head into the att ic  – or even the walls of your house or business – as they look for a warm place to rest  and hibernate before waking up in spring .   Why ...

Solar panels can be an excellent investment into your home but be  a ware  of  the need for bird proofing to help protect your investment.    Solar panels have grown   rapidly  in popularity over recent years and are a common sight on homes and commercial buildings –  but  they are also popular with the bird population.    As people become more aware of the need to make greener choices that will help to reduce the impact of our lives on the environment ,  solutions such as solar panels are becoming more popular.   Solar panels allow the home owner or business owner to benefit from a clean, free, readily available energy  source  that will ultimately save them money.    However, adding solar panels to your home costs money with the initial outlay often adding up to several thousands of pounds. Throughout the coming years this initial outlay will be offset  but   t he solar panels need to be kept in good condition.       While trees blocking the path of the sun to the panels ...

Solar panels can be an excellent investment into your home but be  a ware  of  the need for bird proofing to help protect your investment.    Solar panels have grown   rapidly  in popularity over recent years and are a common sight on homes and commercial buildings –  but  they are also popular with the bird population.    As people become more aware of the need to make greener choices that will help to reduce the impact of our lives on the environment ,  solutions such as solar panels are becoming more popular.   Solar panels allow the home owner or business owner to benefit from a clean, free, readily available energy  source  that will ultimately save them money.    However, adding solar panels to your home costs money with the initial outlay often adding up to several thousands of pounds. Throughout the coming years this initial outlay will be offset  but   t he solar panels need to be kept in good condition.       While trees blocking the path of the sun to the panels can be one p...

As a countr y the UK can generally regard itself as lucky when considering the  pests  we have to deal with but that doesn’t mean you can be complacent  – you never know   when you  may  need the help of pest services in Birmingham !   As frustrating as it can be ,  the Great British weather is helpful in keeping dangerous pests at bay with many preferring a warmer climate.    But there are still plenty of  pests  looking out for a warm home that could make their way into your ho us e if you are not careful.    While any creepy crawly is unwelcome in great numbers there are a few pests you  definitely would  not want to share your home with – and some that could pre s ent a health hazard.    Thankfully with the help of pest services in Birmingham ,  infestations caught early and treated properly can quickly  halt  a pest problem.    Mainly attracted by  warmth and a food source there are  a number of  different species that can become problem pests in Birmingham and across the UK.    M...

As a countr y the UK can generally regard itself as lucky when considering the  pests  we have to deal with but that doesn’t mean you can be complacent  – you never know   when you  may  need the help of pest services in Birmingham !   As frustrating as it can be ,  the Great British weather is helpful in keeping dangerous pests at bay with many preferring a warmer climate.    But there are still plenty of  pests  looking out for a warm home that could make their way into your ho us e if you are not careful.    While any creepy crawly is unwelcome in great numbers there are a few pests you  definitely would  not want to share your home with – and some that could pre s ent a health hazard.    Thankfully with the help of pest services in Birmingham ,  infestations caught early and treated properly can quickly  halt  a pest problem.    Mainly attracted by  warmth and a food source there are  a number of  different species that can become problem pests in Birmingham and across th...

Despite Brexit uncertainty and a preceding period of relative stagnation, house prices rose at the end of 2019. That’s according to the latest  figures from Nationwide,  which showed values standing at 1.4% higher in December than at the start of the year. The report also revealed that the average UK house price was £215,282 - so it’s no surprise that many first-time buyers struggle to find the spare cash to put aside for even a 5% deposit.   That’s where family members are often choosing to plug the gap. Those who are already on the property ladder or who have managed to accumulate significant savings, may be in a better position to offer a helping hand by providing a deposit as a gift. The following is intended as a brief overview, but if you would like further legal guidance on how to gift a house deposit, always seek the advice of qualified property conveyancing specialists. Anthony Stockton Solicitors can provide up-to-date advice should you find yourself in this situation.  ...

You’re fairly certain you have pests in your home – you’ve heard scratching, spotted the signs of an inse c t infestation o r  have even seen an unwelcome visitor scurry past – and now you are wondering what to do next.    The sensible answer is always to call pest control experts in  Birmingham ,  however, some people may be tempted to try to solve the problem themselves.    And while there is no shortage of DIY pest control solutions to try out at home – it is that word ‘try’ that becomes problematic. After  all,  if you have pests in your home we assume that you want a solution quickly.    Take effective action quickly with pest control in Birmingham   Putting traps in the wrong places, applying the wrong treatment or not being vigilant enough can leave space for the problem to worsen instead of actually tackling the problem head on.   The wrong traps, the wrong bait – you name it, it is enough for the pests that have invaded you r  home to go on living  there  without a pro...

The cooler months are upon us but it is not just your family that will be seeking shelter and warmth inside this winter, pests will also have their eyes on your Birmingham home. A warm place to live, food to snack on and shelter from the rain – sounds appealing, well it certainly is for some common Birmingham pests! Most domestic pests are domestic pests for a reason; they prefer to live inside than outside when the opportunity arises. Have you given any thought to the number of spiders you have returned to the wilds of the garden only to discover another one twice the size nestled happily behind the sofa? And while many of the pests you are likely to find in your Birmingham home are not dangerous, wanting to share your home with them is another issue. Avoiding pests in your Birmingham home So what should you do to avoid the seasonal deluge of creepy crawlies? Prevention is always better than cause and the start of autumn is a great time to get your house in order. The place to ...

Quips about old clothes looking moth-eaten are plentiful – but if you are unlucky to have suffered a moth infestation in your home you will know it is not a laughing matter. And unfortunately, it is not just old clothes that moths – or more specifically their larvae - will devour, new clothes, carpets and even pet fur are all on the menu! With such a penchant for fabrics the potential for damage in your home is high if moths decide to make it their home too – after all one hole is enough to ruin your favourite cashmere jumper. How to avoid moths coming into your home Moths are attracted to the light, even though they prefer to hide out and make their homes in dark spaces. Try to avoid leaving windows open while the lights are on at night-time as this will serve as an open invitation to moths. While moths may have come into your home un-noticed making sure you regularly clean areas they will typically make their home will help to keep any larvae at bay. Vacuuming under beds and sofas r...