Had a 6500sqft house today with copper gutters and homeowners out of town. Took my time, started in the back and did the front last because the sun was just baking it and I needed to babysit my mix. Started washing the shutters and hundreds of boxelder bugs started crawling out and climbing towards the gutters…
I haven’t slept too well this week because i’ve been too busy so I took a picture to make sure I wasnt hallucinating and unfortunately they were real. I finished up rinsing trying to knock as many as I could down but I really had no idea what to do. I couldnt leave all these bugs on the house so I spent the next hour and an extra 5 gallons of bleach playing space invaders.
Has this ever happened to anyone? I had no clue what to do and I couldnt bare to imagine the owners coming back and seeing their house covered in little black bugs. I’m going back after my jobs tomorrow to see if there are any survivors or stains that the wounded might have left behind.
Yea. Only issue was them being out of town and out of contact. Pest control is gonna have to take care of that before I go back but I hate to leave a house unfinished.
Go finish washing the house and leave an invoice. Bug control is not our bailiwick and they’ll go back to doing what they do thirty minutes after you leave
In my neck of the woods I see a lot of brown bats behind shutters. I know they are there as soon as I start washing and a lot of brown comes out from behind the shutter. They are protected, so don’t kill them. When they come out they normally will try to find someplace nearby and shady to hide, so don’t be surprised if they just fly to the next shutter.
If I wash the front again and the bugs aren’t gone it’ll just leave more bug juice. Kind of a never ending whack a mole. I quoted this house at the top of my range so I don’t have a problem with an extra trip to keep them happy. I do a lot of work for them and we have a good relationship too so maintaining a top tier service is very much worth it
Oh yea I forgot that part. There were a couple spots where they had left some brownish stuff. SH gets it right up. I just slept for 10 hours to regain my sanity when I go back there today. They have the pest guy coming this morning
Mainly just apartments. I haven’t worked but two days in the last two weeks but yesterday I did 11 houses that I kept putting off. I didn’t even bother the guys, let them keep on keeping on with apartments. Wednesday was the three year anniversary of son passing and I needed to get out and do something to keep my mind occupied. I do about one house for every 25 that call and usually just for old customers.
Today would have been Justin’s Birthday. Much to my chagrin he was an IHOP kid and I’m a Waffle House guy. We’re having his 24th birthday party at IHOP today at 4. His baby brothers are 18 and 16 and are the reasons my wife and I keep keeping on.
My heart breaks for y’all today. I met your youngest last week when he filled up my SH drum. He’s a great kid with a great dad. I’ll be praying for you and your family this week
@Innocentbystander Thinking of you and your family on this day. I am certain there are many great times and stories to remember and share. I would be on the “Waffle House” team. Can’t go wrong with hash browns with a slice of cheese on top! My thoughts and prayers are you you and your family.